Lower The Drinking Age Essay

Lower The Drinking Age
Should the Drinking Age be Lowered from Twenty–One to a Younger Age
When people think of drinking, they think of fun games and parties. However, this depiction is
wrong. When individuals under twenty–one drink, consequences emerge. In the United States, the
minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) is twenty–one. According to the National Highway Traffic
Administration (NHTSA), the legal drinking age set at twenty–one saves about 900 lives on the road
annually (James C. Fell). By having the drinking age at twenty–one, the amount of alcohol consumed
decreases. Less drinking results in a drop in potential risks and dangerous acts often associated with
alcohol. Individuals under the age of twenty–one are not mature enough to make good choices.
Therefore,...show more content...
Toomey. "Effects of Minimum Drinking Age Laws: Review and Analyses of the Literature from
1960 to 2000." Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 2002. Web. 12 May 2016.
Fell, James C. "An Examination of the Criticisms of the Minimum Legal Drinking Age 21 Laws in
the United States from a Traffic–safety Perspective." Underage Drinking Enforcement Training
Center. Pacific Institute, 2008. Web. 12 May 2016.
"Dangers of Teen Drinking." Federal Trade Commission. N.p., Sept. 2013. Web. 12 May 2016.
"Policy Statement––Alcohol Use by Youth and Adolescents: A Pediatric Concern."Pediatrics.
American Academy of Pediatrics, 2010. Web. 12 May 2016.
"The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking."US Department
of Human Health and Services (DHHS). N.p., 2007. Web. 12 May
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

Lowering The Drinking Age To 18 Essay
Whether Or Not Should Drinking Age Be Lowered From 21 to 18 Years This discussion has been
going on for long on many forums without a decisive conclusion or agreement. This is mainly
because both the arguments for lowering the age to 18 years and not lowering have some
substantial facts to support them. The people who are against lowering the drinking age come up
with a number of arguments which are explained below. Several states like Michigan,
Massachusetts, and Maine in the United States of America lowered their drinking ages to 18. As a
direct result there was increase in alcohol related clashes. This clearly shows that the teenagers are
not ready to be left to drink freely. This situation can be attributed to the fact that the...show more
content...
Another argument supporting not to lower the drinking age is that the earlier a person begins
alcohol use, the higher the chances of that person becoming an alcoholic later in life and thus
harming their brains. But this is not entirely applicable because starting drinking at the age of 21
can also lead a person to becoming an alcoholic as well. There are statistics that alcohol
consumption has lowered since 1984. Some attribute this to the fact that drinking age is set at
21, but this is not absolutely the reason because even where it is set at 18 people make their own
choices of whether to drink or not. It is also evident that setting the drinking age at 21 against 18
does not eliminate teenage drinking problems; instead it just keeps them on hold until the teens
get to 21 years of age. In some cases keeping the minimum drinking age at 21 encourages teens to
drink more. Hence drinking age should be set at the age of 18. Here are some of the reasons why.
Why the drinking age should be lowered to 18 Turning 18 years means that a person has become a
responsible adult. Thus one receives the rights and responsibilities of an adult which includes;
taking responsible of life and death, be prosecuted as an adult, can join the army, sign contracts and
the right to vote amongst others. All these shows that at 18 a person can do all the things that a 21
years person can

Essay On Lowering The Drinking Age
Alcohol having a set age limit has made it more appealing to teenagers than anything else, so why
not lower the drinking age? This has been a hot topic for many of decades but has started
becoming more relevant in today's social scene. Teens are still going to drink whether the law is
changed or not so why go through the steps of changing it? For starters if the drinking age was
reinstated at eighteen where it was for many years (in certain states). Youth would be more informed
of alcohol and how making certain decisions while under the influence could alter their lives, instead
of treating it as the forbidden fruit. Everything changed in 1984 when the National Minimum
Drinking Age Actwas passed and now federal law has it listed as no one under the age of 21 can
buy or consume alcohol, this is where it stands today. There are numerous reasons backing why
lowering the drinking age to eighteen would be both logically and socially acceptable, reasons
ranging from at the age of eighteen your classified as an adult to how many countries have had
lower drinking ages to eighteen or even younger and have had less issues surrounding the
consumption of alcohol. There are many perks and privileges that become available when someone
turns eighteen, but legally drinking is not one of them. But once a seventeen year old turns eighteen
the world opens...show more content...
If the drinking age was reinstated to eighteen parents in theory would be in charge of teaching their
youth limitations. Clearly, the common denominator of success is parental involvement (Teens &
Alcohol When Saying No Isn't Enough, 11). Agreeing with this statement would me to agreeing with
being an active presences in your teen's life. Teaching them the understanding of alcohol is what is
key to making them become responsible consumers. Psychology studies have also shown that the
best 'back bone' for youths is a connected

Lowering The Drinking Age
Lowering the drinking age in the United States Alcohol is many people's drink of choice in
several different situations. Whether it is a casual get together or a crazy out of control party, it is
not hard for adolescents to get their hands on the substance even if it is illegal for them to purchase
and drink it. However, even the parents and lawmakers of the most respectful teenagers can not
ignore the growing rate of adolescents drinking earlier than 21. While it may be fun in the moment
teens miss the steps of drinking responsibility and the long–term effects of partaking in it. Even
though some lawmakers claim that lowering the drinking age would negatively affect the country,
the long term effects of individuals drinking earlier could...show more content...
On the positive side, it could be beneficial to the country because the amount of alcohol that this
age range actually consumes is borderline excessive compared to older age groups. Research
suggests that, "lowering the drinking age in the U.S could prove to be beneficial"(Mahaleris).
About 65 percent of students over the age of 18 regularly consume alcohol and considering the
percentage of students in college who drink underage regardless(Mahealeris). They do so in
places where alcohol is not permitted, it is clearly present and is not easily ignored(Mahaleris).
Since these underage kids drink so much alcohol it is obvious, they have to get the alcohol from
somewhere. Purchases naturally benefit the country because of the taxes the government takes out
of it so if the purchase of alcohol increases money that the government has will skyrocket
compared to the estimated amount of alcohol people that can legally buy and consume it bring in.
Although, the growing rate of young adults buying alcohol may affect funding negatively. On the
other hand, from the outside looking in no one realizes the negatives. In many places in the
country this issue has already started being discussed and are reviewing what would happen as a
result of going along with the bill. For example Nicole herself writes that, in Wisconsin a bill about
this topic was proposed and would have to gain

SUMMARY Lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 will delay underage drinking, as well as
terrible injuries or deaths that result from such conduct. Keeping the drinking age at 21 is
driving to more cases of binge drinking in a short time because it has become a ritual among this
age group. However by lowering the drinking age to 18, the binge drinking practice will decline,
because it will demystify the drunken experience therefore viewed the moderate consumption of
alcoholic beverages becomes a disciplined behavior. Roughly 11 million young Americans
consume alcohol, and an upsetting number of them drink way too much, for the purpose of my
research, described as guzzling five or more drinks in a row, one or more times in a two–week period.
...show more content...
Prohibiting this age group from drinking in bars, restaurants, and other licensed locations causes
them to drink in unsupervised places such as fraternity houses or house parties where they may be
more prone to binge drinking and other unsafe behavior. Considering the societal impact of binge
drinking (by the numbers) and the marketed number of young Americans' lives spared by MLDA–21
since its inception it behooves politicians to change the federally coerced prohibition law and to
teach responsible drinking techniques for those who chose to consume alcoholic beverages. The
records show that as a nation we have two strikes on prohibition laws that failed in the past
(Thornton, 1991) notwithstanding, the general good intent for controlling irresponsible drinking
problems. The non for profit organization Choose Responsibility (CHOOSE RESPONSIBILITY),
pro–lowering MLDA–21, openly publishes statistics that on the surface would validate the current
prohibition stance, however when analyzed by removing any cognitive biases those who genuinely
care can see that despite the MLDA–21 law, an alarming number of underage Americans are
drinking, and many are drinking worryingly. "Alcohol is a reality in the lives of young Americans.
It cannot be denied, ignored, or legislated away" (CHOOSE

Lowering Drinking Age
Lowering the Drinking Age In The United States, the government has set certain rules and limits on
society for reasons such as protection, safety, stability, order, and success. For example, in 1984,
The U.S. gov't has set an age limit on the consumption of alcohol, in order to lead safer and
healthier lives. One reason it is believed to be safer if one cannot drink alcohol until the age of 21,
is because the brain has not fully developed and the consumption of alcohol will interfere with that
development. But is it really safer if the drinking age is 21, rather than 18? Many people will
believe that it is safer, because that's what the gov't tells them, but those people will often fail to see
the whole picture. Other than brain development,...show more content...
Because the drinking age is lower in other countries, such as Europe, the drinking that occurs there
demonstrates moderate, responsible alcohol intake and allows teenagers to ease into drinking at
their own pace. One of the main reasons of binge drinking, drinking in unsafe environments, and
alcohol related accidents is because teenagers enjoy the thrill of being able to do something that is
illegal. However, in countries such as Europe, having a glass of wine at dinner or a beer while
watching television, isn't anything out of the ordinary to them. Since their parents allow it,
because the government allows it, there is no real motive to hide in a basement or dorm room
and binge drink. They are also provided with a safe environment with legal adults who will know
how to react in a dangerous situation. Often when teenagers are drinking and faced with a
dangerous issue, such as if someone is too drunk and unconscious, they flee the scene in fear of
getting in trouble. Any legal adult would take the right actions and give that person the treatment
and care he or she needs or take them to seek medical help. That kind of care can be seen in other
countries, where it is not wrong for an adult to be at the scene with teenagers drinking if it is legal.
If the drinking age remains 21 here, there will be less and less adults at a scene of underage kids
drinking, and therefore there will be no supervision if something goes wrong. According to the World
Health Organization, 15 and 16 year old teens in many European states, where the drinking age is 18
and often not enforced, although have more drinking occasions per month, they have fewer
dangerous, intoxication occasions than their American

Lower the Drinking Age
Lower the Drinking Age Everyone knows that it is illegal to consume alcohol under the age of
21. Why is 21 the "magical" age that makes a person intelligent and mature enough to consume
alcohol? Sure, some adults abuse alcohol and some teenagers would be perfectly able to drink
responsibly, but why not 18 or 35 or 40? This seemingly random number, 21, is associated with
adulthood, as if the day a person turns 21 they know everything and are mature. The drinking age
should be lowered to where one can learn to drink responsibly. First, the drinking age used to be 18
in some states. Many of today's parents were legally allowed to drink at 18. Today, teenagers are
faced with more responsibility and are treated more like adults...show more content...
These all may be helpful but if the drinking age was 18 again, this funding could be used for much
more worthwhile programs, such as educational grants, scholarships, financial aid, and funding for
educational departments within the college or university. Fifthly, with the focus on education
about safe drinking instead of restriction, many problems would decrease. American teenagers,
unlike European teenagers, do not learn how to drink gradually, safely, and in moderation.
Though the per capita consumption of alcohol in countries like France, Spain, and Portugal is
greater than in the US, (the rate of alcoholism and alcohol abuse is lower). This comes from
educated and gradual drinking. Alcohol is not seen as a magic potion, there is little social pressure
to drink, irresponsible behavior is not tolerated, and young people learn at home from their parents
how to handle alcohol in a responsible way in Europe. Lastly, if the drinking age would be lowered
to 18, everyone would benefit from it. Students would drink less, their drinking environments would
be safer, and the general public's tax money would be put to better use. Even though many would say
that there are many benefits to the higher drinking age, but the benefits of the lower drinking age
outweigh the benefits of the higher drinking age. Because the 21–year–old drinking age is not
working, they need to change the law and teach responsible drinking

Lowering The Drinking Age Essay
On July 1, 1971 the 26th amendment was passed which lowered the minimum age to vote from
twenty one to eighteen years old. Shortly after the amendment was passed twenty nine states
across America started lowering the drinking age from 21 to either 18,19, or 20 years old. This
new freedom for young adults only lasted for a brief time by 1984 the Uniform Drinking Age Act
was passed. The Uniform Drinking Age Act forced states to change the drinking age back to twenty
one years old; by reducing the federal transportation funding, for each state that did not have a
minimum drinking age of21. This act has caused controversy for years, there even is group of 136
college presidents called Amethyst Initiative that support a lower minimum legal...show more
content...
These statistics' prove Engs theory that because Alcohol consumption is illegal for young adults
tend to consume alcohol and abuse alcohol more often. If their theory was true the binge drinking
rate for 21 to 25 years olds would not be 45.5% in 2010. Another statistic that proves Engs
"forbidden fruit theory" wrong is the statistic noted by the University of Michigan's Monitoring the
Future study, they found that a proportion of those 19– to 22–year–olds that binged drank two
weeks prior to their surveyed in 1984 was 40.7% and their current study in 2006 found that only
38.1% binged drank 2 weeks prior to the recent survey, Which; proves that the 1984 act has
decreased binge drinking by 2% in America. This drop in binge drinking rates may only be a small
drop in binge drinking rates. Which, convey that Americans do have a high percentage of binge
drinkers. This problem brings up another argument that supporters of lowering the drinking age
bring up. Supporters of lowering the MLDA compared America to other countries that have a
minimum drinking age of 18. Supporters of lowering the MLDA say that in countries where the
drinking age 18 young people drink smarter. John McCardell points out some interesting statistic he
states" in southern European countries ratios of all drinking occasions to intoxication occasions
were quite low roughly one in ten while in the United States, almost half of all

Essay On Lowering The Drinking Age
Lowering the Legal Drinking Age Most of all society has drank, or does drink before the legal age of
twenty–one. Just because the law states the legal drinking age is twenty–one does not mean society
listens to it. Lowing the drinking age to eighteen could possibly lower the amount of injuries
unreported because people would try to seek help instead of trying to keep the problem under the
radar. On the other hand people older than eighteen are likely to be more responsible with the
actions that person has to deal with. Drinking constantly or being sexually irresponsible is just a few
of the concerns of being under twenty–one (Drinking Age ProCon.org). Although the drinking age is
twenty–one underage teenagers still have a source to get alcohol and to consume it, so to lower the
age to eighteen would keep the underage drinking down....show more content...
In 2006, 72.2% of twelfth graders reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lives" (Drinking
Age ProCon.org). Already underage drinkers spend a decent amount on alcohol. Just only
imagine if the legal age were to go down to eighteen. The frontal lobe of the brain can be damaged
in a young person brain which effects emotional development, a greater chance of addiction, as
well as depression. Also lowering the age to eighteen would reduce the amount of fatal injuries due
to alcohol because people would seek medical attention (Drinking Age ProCon.org). "A 2009 study
published in The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs found that between 1998 and 2005, the
number of cases of alcohol poisoning deaths among 18– to 24–year–olds nearly tripled, jumping
from 779 cases to 2,290"

There always has been controversy as to should the united states lower the drinking age to 18.
Eighteen year olds should have the right to drink. By lowering the drinking age to eighteen it
will give people supervision, teach responsibilities, and eighteen years olds are already
considered adults; however, it may cause binge drinking, it will lead to more deaths, and drinking
damages brains cells and especially the body itself. Lowering the drinking age to eighteen would
be good for supervision because the drinkers will drink in public where there everyone watching
them. Likewise that will have the drinkers drinking responsibly because they will have to follow
regulations for drinking in public. In addition they are adults already....show more content...
Besides alcohol goes all the way back to the late centuries and back then young youth were
drinking. Governments think! To begin with lowering the drinking age to eighteen would be good
for supervision. For example being able to drink at age eighteen will have the citizens drink legally
in bars, restaurants and other licenses establishments ( DrinkingAgeProCon.org#4).In fact all
licensed establishments have a time that says only certain amounts of drinks to a person. Future
more that will cause the workers at the restaurants or at the public place to be notify how much that
one person had to drink. Which that will prevent that one person from not over drinking. Or if the
person already drink intoxicant the workers can assistant them the safely route to be getting home,
safe and un harm. According to the website (DrinkAgeProCon.org#4) it says "allowing eighteens to
twenty year olds to drink alcohol in regulated environments with supervision would decrease unsafe
drinking activity". In fact having restaurants or any licensed establishment's serving alcohol to
eighteen years olds would help the economy because the age group went down then" greater
amounts of tax revenue should be collected by the government (DrinkingAgeProCon.org#4). So
public drinkers will be in save drinking because there will be regulations to be follow. At the same
time they would be making money for the government, how can the government

Essay On Lowering The Drinking Age To 18
My chose to do the policy where we should lower the drinking age from twenty one to eighteen.
There are many arguments where you could lower the drinking age. Some say that lowering the
drinking age would stop underage drinking and control binge drinking. I think it would stop those
things to like lowering the drinking age would cut out a lot of underage drinking because most kids
don't start liking alcohol until there about eighteen anyways. The drinking age should be lowered to
eighteen because there has been many problems that have caused life threatening dangers to these
teens. The age eighteen is where you start to become an adult so people should have the right to
drink when they turn eighteen ("Drinking Age"). It also should be allowed...show more content...
They even say there are less drinking and driving fatalities in many other countries that have the
drinking age at eighteen ("Drinking Age"). It shows that the percentages of fatalities that occur
have nothing to do with the MLDA ("Drinking Age"). The MLDA is having no effect because
teens are are still consuming alcohol illegally. The drinking age of 21 promotes teens to get fake
identification so they can get alcohol. Lowering the drinking age would decrease the number of
false identifications. Especially since there is a lot of terrorism and fake identifications right
now we need to get rid of that stuff ("Drinking Age"). I believe that there are a lot kids that like
alcohol at the age of 18. They should have that right to have a drink and enjoy it. Although there
are many pros to the drinking age being lowered there are also many cons too. A lot of people in
the United States want to keep the drinking age the same.They say that if we lowered the drinking
age more teens will want to drink and it could cause bad things to happen ("Odyssey"). In many
other countries the legal age to drink is under eighteen and they have proved that there are more
people who consume a big amount of alcohol and they think

In conclusion, the minimum drinking age should be lowered to the age of eighteen. The legal
drinking age of twenty–one has not been effective and has not been fully enforced to stop underage
drinking. With this in mind, lowering the drinking age will now allow underage drinkers to drink
legally. At the age of eighteen the law claims to have many rights and privileges such as purchasing
cigarettes, buying property, marriage, voting, and enlisting in the military but they are not able to
consume and purchase alcohol. Young adults should be allowed to make their own decisions and
the consumption of alcohol should be one of them. Not only will these young adults be able to
drink legally, but also they will be more supervised. They are afraid of

Lower the Drinking Age Essay examples
When people turn eighteen they are finally considered an adult. They can join the army, vote, buy
cigarettes or tobacco products, get a tattoo and even die for our country. Although everyone
considers that person to be an adult, they are still not old enough to buy or consume alcohol. A
person can be responsible enough to live on their own, make their own money, pay their own bills,
and yet they are still not considered old enough to purchase or consume any type of alcohol.
Lowering the drinking age to 18 would help prevent the crime and personal injuries that are caused
by alcohol abuse. Although many states are trying to get the drinking age lowered, there are many
groups and national statistics that are keeping the drinking set at 21....show more content...
But the penalties that these states face in order to lower the drinking age, has stopped them from
pursuing these laws. These are just a few of the many issues that are keeping most states from
lowering their drinking age to 18. It has been a rising issue within the past century to have the
drinking age set at 21, but many people are more in favor of having the age set at 18. For
instance, "'Raising the drinking age to 21 was passed with the very best of intentions, but it's had
the very worst of outcomes,' stated by David J. Hanson, an alcohol policy expert" (Johnson).
Many people believe that having the drinking age set at 21 was a smart idea, but it has caused
many more deaths and injuries over the years. Most of these fatalities are cause from people who
are underage and choose to consume alcohol. Again, "Libertarian groups and some conservative
economic foundations, seeing the age limits as having been extorted by Washington, have long
championed lowering the drinking age" (Johnson). These groups see that keeping the drinking age
set at 21 is dangerous as it causes more problems to the Untied States. If the drinking age was
lowered, or set at 18, there would not be such unforgiving outcomes, like deaths and lifelong
injuries, which are usually caused from people who are under the age of 21 drinking alcohol.
Although there are numerous groups that are fighting to keep the age

Argumentative Essay: Lowering The Drinking Age
SUMMARY Lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 will delay underage drinking, as well as
terrible injuries or deaths that result from such conduct. Keeping the drinking age at 21 is
driving to more cases of binge drinking in a short time because it has become a ritual among this
age group. However by lowering the drinking age to 18, the binge drinking practice will decline,
because it will demystify the drunken experience therefore viewed the moderate consumption of
alcoholic beverages becomes a disciplined behavior. Roughly 11 million young Americans
consume alcohol, and an upsetting number of them drink way too much, for the purpose of my
research, described as guzzling five or more drinks in a row, one or more times in a two–week period.
...show more content...
Prohibiting this age group from drinking in bars, restaurants, and other licensed locations causes
them to drink in unsupervised places such as fraternity houses or house parties where they may be
more prone to binge drinking and other unsafe behavior. Considering the societal impact of binge
drinking (by the numbers) and the marketed number of young Americans' lives spared by MLDA–21
since its inception it behooves politicians to change the federally coerced prohibition law and to
teach responsible drinking techniques for those who chose to consume alcoholic beverages. The
records show that as a nation we have two strikes on prohibition laws that failed in the past
(Thornton, 1991) notwithstanding, the general good intent for controlling irresponsible drinking
problems. The non for profit organization Choose Responsibility (CHOOSE RESPONSIBILITY),
pro–lowering MLDA–21, openly publishes statistics that on the surface would validate the current
prohibition stance, however when analyzed by removing any cognitive biases those who genuinely
care can see that despite the MLDA–21 law, an alarming number of underage Americans are
drinking, and many are drinking worryingly. "Alcohol is a reality in the lives of young Americans.
It cannot be denied, ignored, or legislated away" (CHOOSE

Essay on Lower the Drinking Age To 18
The age of drinking has been an issue in our country for a long time and there are
many regards on why the age is set at 21. The federal government should not impose a
drinking age of 21. The drinking age should be lowered to the age of 18 for the following
reasons; one, most people between the age of 18–20 are drinking alcohol already, and
two, you should have the right to purchase alcohol when you reach the age of 18, because
that is the age when you are considered and adult and have many rights and freedom.
It is common to find people under the age of 21 in the possession of alcohol. In
allot of gatherings such as Faternity and High Shool parties, drinking is the main thing
going...show more content...
The
High School students drink to and a friday night for them and college students usually has
alcohol involved in it. In allot of cases, many upper classmates will buy the lower
classmates alcohol and even go and get drunk with them on the weekends. It is very easy
to get alcohol and this shows that consuming alcohol at the age of 18 is tolerant. So I
don't see why the government makes a law that most people don't follow anyways.
The second reason to change the legal drinking age to 18 is because you are
considered to be an adult at this age. When you are 18 you have the right to vote, get
married, go to war, buy a gun, and plus your prosecuted as an adult when your charged
with a crime. That same person, however, cannot walk into the bar after a hard days work
and enjoy a glass of beer or wine. That's funny that the government basically says that
when your 18 you can go to war and die for your country and then says that same person

is not responsible enough when it comes to drinking. This is a violation to ones freedom as
an adult.
Alcohol has been a topic among people under the age of 21 for a long time. Many
underage people can and will get alcohol if they want it, there is always someone out there
who will buy it for them. Nevertheless the legal age to drink and purchase alcohol should
be change from 21 to 18, because of the reason

Lowering The Alcohol Drinking Age
Lowering The Alcohol Drinking Age Now a day's teens that are under the age of twenty–one are out
in trouble and drinking. They know that they are not old enough to drink and that is what makes
them want to drink even more. Teens drink when they are not suppose to, but they know that
when they drink, they must stay out of trouble. Lowering the alcohol drinking age will keep a
bunch of teens out of trouble. If teens can stay safe while drinking then they should allow
eighteen year olds to drink. Eighteen year olds are young adults and are responsible for what
they do so they know that they need to be careful while drinking. Even though people do not
agree because alcohol is dangerous and some teens can't control themselves, I personally think
they can so they should lower the alcohol drinking age to eighteen. It will help teens stay out of
trouble, stay safe, and learn how to be careful while drinking. Help lower the drinking age so we
can make the U.S a safer place. By lowering the drinking age, The U.S would be a much safer
place. There would be less accidents because teens will stay home and drink now that they're old
enough to drink they won't be out getting into trouble. They will stay off the streets and won't be out
stealing and running around doing bad things. If lowering the alcohol drinking age means it will
make the U.S a safer place, then they should pass a law that says the legal drinking age has been
changed to eighteen. Please help make the U.S a safer

Lowering the Drinking Age Essay
Lowering the drinking age from twenty–one to eighteen is a good idea because it will most likely
promote responsibility, alcohol consumption will be more controlled, and, if not done so, it is
posing as discrimination against the eighteen to twenty age group; however, lowering the legal
drinking age back to eighteen can be fatal because the brains of the eighteen to twenty year old age
groups are not fully developed, binge drinking and alcohol addiction rates will go up, and the
drinking and driving rates will increase. If the drinking age was lowered to eighteen years old it
will promote and cause society in general to learn the responsibilities and long term effects of
drinking in moderation. the eighteen to twenty years old age groups...show more content...
Minimizing the age limit would allow there to be more control over how intoxicated a person is
allowed to get. When the eighteen to twenty age group is prohibited to not be able to drink, even
though they are considered "adults" already, it leads to drinking elsewhere. I pushes people it
into places that are uncontrolled like fraternity houses. These are places the promote drinking
games and excessive, rapid consumption of alcohol, which put people in danger of getting
alcohol poisoning, and that can be very fatal! In public areas such as bars, clubs, and restaurants
drinking has to be done more responsibly. Another beneficial reason to lower the drinking age is
that the peer pressure rates are likely to decrease. If you compare the rates of influence to take a
drink in a public area as to a secluded area, the rates of influence in the secluded area are going to
be higher. Peer pressure can be a very dangerous thing and in areas like fraternity houses not many
people will watch to prevent peer pressure from taking place. Keeping the legal drinking age at
twenty–one is discriminating against the eighteen to twenty age groups. " At eighteen people can
vote, hold public office, serve in the military, marry, sign contracts, buy cigarettes, and drink in most
other countries" (Jamese Slade, pg. 1). Once you turn eighteen the only boundary between and
eighteen

According to Andrew Herman, "Each year, 14,000 die from drinking too much. 600,000 are
victims of alcohol related physical assault and 17,000 are a result of drunken driving deaths, many
being innocent bystanders" (470). These massive numbers bring about an important realization:
alcohol is a huge issue in America today. Although the problem is evident in Americans of all ages,
the biggest issue is present in young adults and teens. In fact, teens begin to feel the effects of
alcohol twice as fast as adults and are more likely to participate in "binge–drinking" (Sullivan 473).
The problem is evident, but the solution may be simple. Although opponents argue lowering the
drinking age could make alcohol available to some teens not...show more content...
In the U.S., eighteen is the age at which person becomes a legal adult. He or she may then vote,
buy cigarettes, join the military, or be arrested. So, why is it that drinking alcohol holds a much
different standard? A United States soldier can go to war at eighteen years old. He may then fight
for his country and freedom; however, while being away from home for over a year, he is denied
the right to enjoy a beer with his buddies. Some nonbelievers try to contradict this argument with the
fact that alcohol is damaging to a young brain. It's true––excessive alcohol can damage a young and
developing brain. However, what about smoking? Young adults are permitted to buy cigarettes at
the age of eighteen. Cigarettes, a habit that is just as much, if not more, damaging than alcohol,
may be purchased by a legal adult. If a person eighteen years of age or older can smoke, despite the
fact that smoking is harmful, why can he not drink? Where is the consistency? If twenty–one is to
remain the legal drinking age of adults, then all age laws should be raised to twenty–one. It is just
that simple.
Finally, a lower drinking age would diminish the temptation factor in young adults. Everyone has
heard the infamous story of Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis in the Bible. Adam and Eve
were given a beautiful garden full of every kind of fruit, vegetable, and animal. They were given the
power

Lowering the drinking age to 18 would make a lot of sense in the world. Lowering the drinking
age to 18 would make more sense. It would be better for the teens that drink on college campus.
The drinking age should be lowered to 18 because you can vote at eighteen, buy tobacco, it'll
reduce the thrill of breaking the law, evidence supports that early introduction of drinking is the
safest way to reduce juvenile alcohol abuse, and college people that are not 21 drink also. If
teenagers that are now turning 18 can vote, then they should be able to drink at the age of 18. If
teens are 18 and old enough to vote, they should be able to drink. Saying they can vote, is calling
them responsible and mature enough to pretty much vote. At age 18,...show more content...
Tobacco, can give the person doing it buzzed or drunk and give them the risk of a disease.
Therefore, in the long run, the person will probably regret doing tobacco. It'll reduce the thrill of
breaking the laws. Teens find it exciting to break the law. Once they start breaking the law, it'll get
them addicted to the thrill of breaking the law. They're going to want to keep breaking the law
just to be cool. ("Reasons"). When they break the law, they think that since other people won't do
it, that it's going to be cool to break the law and look bad. Most parents should know that almost
all kids drink. If they know that their kids drink, why not let them have legally drink at 18, with
not having their kids get in jail for drinking under age. ("Age"). For example, why would you go
through the trouble if your child drinks and gets caught because they're not 21 yet, but are in
college and over 18 and you have to bail them out? Therefore most college kids aren't even 21 yet,
but are still exposed to alcohol and drink. Early introduction into drinking will reduce binge drinking.
If people are introduced into drinking early, they'll be drinking moderately. Scientific evidence
supports that early introduction to drinking is the safest way to reduce juvenile alcohol abuse.
Young people in France, Spain, and Argentina, rarely abuse alcohol. They start drinking within their
families, which sees drinking in moderation as natural. They rarely

Several organizations exist that are either in support of or opposed to lowering the minimum legal
drinking age. Choose Responsibility, a group founded by John McCardell, proposes that upon
completion of a 40 hour course to educate young people about alcohol, 18, 19, and 20 year old
people should be licensed to drink. The Amethyst Initiative, part of Choose Responsibility, is a
petition to Congress to rethink the minimum legal drinking age. Several college leaders have signed
this petition in the belief that lowering the minimum legal drinking age will reduce binge drinking
on college campuses. The Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed research on
the results of states lowering, then raising, their minimum legal...show more content...
They have also asked Congress "to support an informed and dispassionate public debate over the
effects of the 21 year–old drinking age" through the Amethyst Initiative. I question how giving
eighteen year old persons the ability to drink legally will reduce binge drinking. If young people
are told that it is okay to drink at age 18, they will. A surprising number of young people already
drink illegally at age 18, and that number will only increase if 18 becomes the new minimum legal
drinking age. Studies have shown that younger people get drunk twice as fast and have a more
difficult time knowing when to stop. This is a core problem with underage drinking. Research
shows that when the minimum legal drinking age is 21, opposed to lower ages in the past, young
people do drink less. A lower minimum legal drinking age results in more young drinkers, not less.
Amethyst Initiative and Choose Responsibility have the right goal – to reduce binge drinking – but
the wrong approach. The approach should be stronger enforcement and firm parental rules. Teens
must understand that the age limit of 21 is there for their safety, not to keep them having a good time.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performed research comparing changes in states that
lowered their minimum legal drinking age in 1974 and again when states raised their minimum legal
drinking ages back to 21in the

Lower The Drinking Age Essay

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Custom Paper Services

More from Custom Paper Services (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Lower The Drinking Age Essay