They learn how to control their drinking and what to expect from the effects of the alcohol (Nayak 141-142). This may be true for some parts of the world, but it does not deem overall success in achieving overall healthy drinking habits. It still leads to harm development and early age drinking still has potential to raise the risk of alcohol abuse in adult life. As an example, by Wechsler and Nelson, most European countries have lower drinking ages, this has resulted in a rise of drinking problems among teens and the amount of binge drinking is doubled that of the U.S. When New Zealand lowered their drinking age in 1999, they were definite increases in the number of emergency injury influenced by alcohol, as well as the higher rate of
Since teenagers are immature to make their own decision, it is vital for adults to inculcate a correct attitude towards drinking. Nevertheless, it seems that nowadays many schools and parents only focus teenagers’ academic development. They neglect teaching youngsters with a sense of individual responsibility after drinking. Because of ignorance and lack of education from adults, teenagers have not take health issues into account after drinking harder alcohol. As a result, the problem of alcohol abuse and drinking deaths become graver among college students.
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?
However, these teenagers also live in fear of getting caught for drinking and thus, consume their alcohol in unsafe environments; typically, these dwellings are where they can “escape” disturbances and predicaments, but usually encounter more. These environments are generally unsupervised and in groups of “children” that are ignorant of responsible drinking habits. Due to their apprehension of being caught, teenagers tend to never confess to an adult of the troubles they encountered as they drank and, therefore, may further affect their experience. Thus, if the drinking age was lowered to eighteen, a teenager would have the ability to be more straightforward with their drinking and would be able to drink in more supervised locations. They would also begin to drink in moderation since there is no longer the appeal of a “forbidden” rebellion.
The drinking age isn't meant to be a big deal, but the first couple years of lowering the drinking age could cause many students to be reckless. There are many responsibilities that come along with drinking at a low age, most importantly drinking and driving. Lowering the age will reduce all such problems, but at first will seem extremely hectic. Lowering the current drinking age of 21-and-over will allow young Americans, most of who are perfectly capable of drinking responsibly; to no longer drink in private or in short amounts of time, thus alleviating potentially dangerous conditions. Drinking privately is extremely unsafe and when kids are in a situation they can't handle, they can then ask for help.
Many people see 18 year olds as irresponsible, immature kids but not every teenager is. Not all teenagers want to get drunk every night. Some just want to have a glass of wine or a cold beer at the end of a long day. I feel that this law should be changed for the people that will not abuse the power and let the ones that will pay the consequences of their
It can lead to memory loss, and permanent brain damage (Minimum Drinking Age). Some states allow parents to teach their children to drink responsibly before the age of 21, but there’s no evidence that this approach actually works. Although, when teens feel they have their parents’ approval to drink, they do it more and more often when their parents are not around. Many activities have ages of initiation. An average person must wait until age 16 to start driving, age 18 to marry without parental consent, and age 35 to become president (Minton).
More watchful parents and closely monitoring a child's friends will lessen or eliminate the ease of accessibility to not only marijuana, but other drugs as well. As a society, we have failed our youth in many areas of life. Youth need positive role models that are concerned about protecting them from harm and leading them in the right direction to go on a lead productive, drug-free lives despite any changes made to the laws. Being that age restrictions are put on everything else, there should be legal age restrictions for people who can legally purchase marijuana. People who can legally purchase marijuana should not be allowed to be around anyone under the age of 21 while the are under the influence or have marijuana in their possession.
This means that “responsible, educated” 18-20 year olds are binge drinking, which is bad enough, but add into the mix our inexperienced 16 year olds who are highly influenced by peers and often make bad decisions and it is a recipe for disaster. Many high school and even middle school students are also binge drinking and partying, and underage DUI’s are at an all-time high in our country. However, it stands to reason that if you were to send a 16 year old out of state or even just a few hours away it would be much easier for them to drink without their parents finding out. Sending a teen off to college is a symbol of passage into adulthood. You cannot expect to send a 16 year old to college and still have full control over their curfew and monitor their social life.
The Dangers Of Teen Drinking While alcohol is legal to people age twenty-one and up, most teenagers partake in events that involve alcohol. However teens do not realize that alcohol is a drug. Averaging from the age of twelve to seventeen, alcohol is the highest used drug. (DiscoveryHealth.com) Teenagers may just think of this as a beverage to become more social or to fit in but do not realize the hard facts of alcohol. It has lasting effects on a developing brain of a teenager, it can affect everyday life, and the long term effects of alcohol can permanently damage one's body.