“More than 1,700 college students in the U.S. are killed each year—about 4.65 a day—as a result of alcohol-related injuries” (The Marin Institute). With a number as high as this, lowering the drinking age would only increase this ongoing problem of underage drinking. It has even been proven by the Marin Institute to be the leading cause of death among teenagers. Many adults feel as if the 18 to 21 age groups cannot handle drinking responsibly, then they should not be permitted to use it. Alcohol is a very serious depressant and one of the leading problems for death (Hanson, 2007).
I believe that we should focus on safe drinking more than age restrictions. We need to educate teenagers about safe drinking. Lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 with providing proper education will decrease illegal and binge alcohol drinking on teens. I agree that something has to be done with the problem of alcohol abuse in this country, but why not start from the bottom and steadily increase as we teach teenagers how to drink responsibly? Then we need to learn to trust them.
Evidence it can work/FACT/citations: A teen from Kentucky University said that “Yes, lowering that drinking age would help because it wouldn’t be seen as the forbidden fruit, and it would be less tempting” 3. Drawbacks (cons/negatives): Lowering the drinking age will make alcohol less of a taboo, take away the thrill that many young people get from breaking the law, and make alcohol consumption a more normalized activity done in moderation. B. Possible Solution #2 - Lowering the drinking age in general would be more of a success than the 21-age law. 1.
The debate over lowering the drinking age has once again been presented to the nation. Supporters of lowering the drinking age have varied reasons for their support. The old argument that if an 18 year old can vote, sign contracts, join the armed forces, and get married, he or she should be old enough to drink, has once again reared its head (Lower). Deputy
Lowering the drinking age, I feel would be the best solution to solving the underground drinking problem, it would allow for drinking to be more “open.” Having the drinking age at 21 allows for there to me more difficulty in keeping track of the kids who use it because they do it secretly and tend to abuse it more. If the drinking age was lowered across the world, I think there would less binge drinking amongst the teens and would allow for the elders to have more control over the consumption of alcohol. Drinking at any age under 18 should not be allowed but once you turn 18 you should be allowed to drink legally. When one turns 18 they assume adult penalties, are allowed to vote, die for their country, and even get married. So why can’t they enjoy a few beers legally?
Unfortunately many states have taken the easy road and have become over-reliant on the federal government for support. In return they are forced to relinquish power and freedom. This is one of the “cons” to following the federal mandate of the universal MLDA of 21. The main argument against lowering the MLDA again, is the inevitable rise in drunken driving related deaths. In the 1960’s and 1970’s when many states had lowered the MLDA, besides the rise in drunk-driving deaths, studies showed that people raised from childhood in under-21 states were involved in higher rates of alcohol and drug use as adults, and had a higher rate of homicides and suicides.
Minimum Legal Drinking Age The current legal drinking age is twenty one years old; however, there has been an interest in lowering the drinking age down to eighteen years old. A teen can become an adult in every arena of life at this age, except being legal to consume alcoholic beverages. One may choose to lower the drinking age because many teens do not follow the rules anyways. In high school parties, it is common for there to be drinking. The drinking age should not be lowered because seniors in high school can contribute to the underage fourteen to seventeen year olds’ desires to experiment with alcohol.
Britney Pickering Mary Fahey English 1A; 2-3:20 16 April 2014 Legal Drinking Age: The American drinking culture is a nice chunk of American history, especially when one targets the youth and their rambunctious acts of drinking alcoholic beverages. All around drinking culture tends to be a very important factor when it comes to youth’s social life and although the legal drinking age is 21, everyday that law is broken. According to a study conducted in 2007 by NESARC, in the past years, 46% of young adults involved themselves with extensive drinking that were well over the suggested limits (Nakaya 39). This subject is crucial for others to investigate, especially that of the younger generation, because it will allow insight behind the
If we educate our young adults at the age of 18 that binge drinking is not cool that’s what they will think. If we educate them In large groups of kids, such as anyone who wants to drink legally, then all of them will have seen what can happen. It will unlikely that a large group of college students will think binge drinking is cool, and that they will effect others around them, and eventually starting a trend of binge drinking. http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/8-health-benefits-of-drinking-wine "Every year, there is a flurry of headlines about the health benefits of wine. But can drinking wine really make a difference?
If the age is lowered, young adults won't binge as often making it safer and not something that's done to be “cool”. Learning how to drink at a younger age allows responsibilities to be taught before kids are sent to college. Lowering the high drinking age in the United States will reduce the irresponsible drinking habits amongst the youth in America.