In almost all scenarios an argument can occur that debates whether one thing or another is good or bad, helpful or hurtful. Some debates are simple with no major side effects such as would drinking gatorade or water better maximize the performance of athletes. Other debates involving drinking are not as simple, these debates involve alcohol drinking age. Both arguments can have different viewpoints, the difference is the significance in the argument. What should the legal drinking age in the United States be? Consuming alcohol has been done for many years. Unlike a typical beverage that hydrates the body alcohol is consumed for its positive side effects, but the negative effects are forgotten. Often these so called positive side effects are glorified by the public which makes drinking more popular, especially in the young population. When deciding if one should drink or not the enjoyful side effects are planted in the mind rather than the side effects that should be focused on, these are often forgotten. This is why a drinking age is currently in place, however arguments come from the age that are trying to resolve the next problem, what age are the effects less harmful on the body and are young adults capable of making smart, safe decisions for themselves and those around them. In the recent years the legal age to consume or purchase alcohol has been twenty-one. Before the age was changed to twenty-one it was previously eighteen. This law was not changed to upset those who were between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one at the time or to restrict their freedom. The law was put in place for the safety of the people of the United States from the dangers of alcohol at an age believed to be too young to handle the consequenc... ... middle of paper ... ... Degutis, Linda. “Choose accountability: Keep the legal U.S. drinking age at 21.” The Nation’s Health, VITAL SIGNS: 3. ProQuest Discovery. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. . Kowalski, Kathiann M. “The dangers of alcohol.” Current Health 2 Feb. 1998: 6-12. ProQuest Discovery. Web. 1 Dec. 2013. . Wechsler, Henry, PhD; Nelson, Toben F, ScD. “Will Increasing Alcohol Availability By Lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age Decrease Drinking and Related Consequences Among Youths?” American Public Health Association 100.6 (2010): 986-92. ProQuest Discovery. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. . This article shows the reasons the drinking age should be lowered
Despite the problems that would arise, many people are beginning to feel that the drinking age should be lowered from twenty-one to eighteen. Studies have been made; however, no hard evidence suggesting lowering the minimum drinking age would help have surfaced. Although there are countless studies of how alcohol has many harmful effects on teenagers, there is a great deal of negative criticism about what if the drinking age is lowered. Some would say the morally right decision is to not allow teens the chance to hurt themselves. Everyone is entitled to having his or her own opinions and beliefs. However, the overall health of the youth of our country seems a little more important than some personal belief. The drinking age should not be lowered due to the fact drunk driving, juvenile delinquency, and alcohol-related medical issues related to teens will increase.
Without a doubt, the United States has been facing serious national problems with underage drinking. Depending on personal ideologies, some people might not agree that the current minimum drinking age of twenty-one is based on scientific facts rather then ideology of prohibitionism. For example, since 1975 over seventeen thousand lives have been saved since the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) was changed to age twenty-one (Balkin 167). This shows that even over a short amount of time, a higher MLDA helps decrease the risk of teen suicides, accidents and overdose deaths. However, this widely debated topic has inevitably brought attention to the plethora of supporting and opposing viewpoints. The minimum legal drinking age of twenty-one has shown significant results in the prevention of accidents and death studies across the board. Accordingly, the MLDA should remain at the current age of twenty-one.
The debate of the drinking age has been long discussed throughout America. The drinking age has been 21 for the last 22 years, and people around the country have wondered weather or not this was the right call. People say that 18 year olds may not be mature enough to drink alcohol and might not know when to stop. It isn’t that teenagers don’t know how to stop, but rather have not been properly taught when enough has been consumed or how to drink responsibly. Changing the drinking age from 21 to 18 years old will take the thrill that teens get from breaking the law while drinking, will no longer give them the idea that drinking is the final stage of adulthood and full maturity, and will no longer force teenagers to drink in unsupervised areas.
There has been an ongoing controversy in the United States on whether the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen like most of the world or if it should stay at twenty-one. Underage drinking has been a major controversial issue for years, yet why is it not under control? Teenagers are continuing to buy alcohol with fake identification cards, drink, get into bars, and drink illegally. As a teen I have proof that these things are going on not only in college but in high school as well. There are a lot of factors that come together to why the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen; the most obvious reason is too many people are drinking before they are twenty-one. Liquor stores, bars, and clubs all want to make money and if they can get away with selling to underage teens then they will. A study done by the Academic Search Premier agrees that, ?By now it is obvious that the law has not succeeded in preventing the under-21 group from drinking? (Michael Smith 1).
The government is conducting an idea to whether lower the minimum legal drinking age in the United States or not. Many Americans forbid the idea of legalizing the drinking age so that it would be profitable to the businesses. Likewise, there have been many advantages and disadvantages of why should the government allow young adults drink under the age of 21. To prevent this issue, many Americans have provided reasoning that will support the idea of keeping the minimum legal drinking age where it is now. The government should maintain the minimum legal drinking age in the United States at the age of 21.
There are many people that enjoy the occasional alcoholic refreshment to wind down from a tough day. Young adults seem to be the age group that uses a glass of wine or a beer after work to transition from work to home life. Among these young adults trying to relax their ever racing, hectic lives, there are a vast amount of the legal adult age of 18, but just not old enough to legally consume alcohol. Whether those under the age of 21 agree with the fact or not, the minimum legal drinking age should remain at the age of 21 for the health, safety, and well-being of our younger generations.
...e minimum legal drinking age in the United States should remain at twenty-one years old. Since the National Legal Drinking Age Act was ratified, the consumption of liquor among minors has abated significantly. With the restriction in affect, the United States is definitely a safer place when it comes to alcohol use. Even though, the reduction of the drinking age would get rid of the taboo that surrounds alcohol which would result in fewer teens drinking just to be accepted by their peers, young adolescents now have a harder time getting access to alcohol due to the minimum legal drinking age resulting in less alcohol-affiliated problems and a decrease in damage to their bodies. Teens and alcohol are not a good mix so citizens of the United States should keep them separated as best as they can. By having a minimum age limit of twenty-one, that is a great way to do it.
Lawmakers should not consider lowering the drinking age from twenty-one to eighteen. Despite the deep value this country places on freedom, personal liberties, and personal responsibilities, the data shows that public safety is greatly at risk if the drinking age were to be lowered to twenty-one. A variety of groups believe that the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen deeming that the twenty-one law is unconstitutional. On the opposing side, people agree that the law helps to protect our young people and the communities where they live.
The controversy on the proper drinking age is one that has been repeatedly discussed and researched over the years. Its common to hear the argument “If someone is old enough to take a bullet for their country, they should be allowed to drink alcohol.” But is that enough justification? Some would say no. “According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) it is estimated that in 2004 there were more than 1,700 student deaths, 599,000 injuries, and 696,000 assaults annually associated with excessive drinking” (Fennell 247). Given these numbers, would lowering the drinking age really be the best thing for America’s youth?
Primarily, the drinking age should be lowered to teach responsibility and safety in young adults. The idea seems paradoxical; however, the high drinking age that is present in the U.S. today has only pushed underage drinking underground (Balko 458). In fact, America has the highest minimum drinking age in the world (Balko 459). Even though the American drinking age remains high, America still remains with an astonishingly large number of alcohol-related accidents and deaths. Is this statement a coincidence? Throughout the years alcohol has become more and more of an issue in young adults, but the correct actions are not taking place. If alcohol were to legally be put in the hands of Americans eighteen and above, these individuals would likely be forced to learn a sense of safety and responsibility. As stated by Caryn Sul...
Gholipour, B. (2014, February 24). 900 Lives Saved Yearly by Keeping the Drinking Age at 21. LiveScience. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.livescience.com/43605-drinking-age-21-saves-lives.html
The opinions of some people for changing the legal drinking age would agree to change the legal drinking age to 18, the same as the legal voting age, where as there would be opposing people. Both sides have equal arguments, but keeping the age at 21 would be a more intelligent decision considering the health and death issues for minor drinkers. Although drinking is a very interesting and calling thing for minors to do, its consequences could affect not just that person, but if occurring in death, affecting the empty hole created in someone’s life you have once impacted.
Alcohol consumptions has been around for ages. But now were at the time where alcohol beverages are legalized. No one under the age of 21 can consume alcohol beverage legally. But that does not stop individuals under the age of 21 from drinking illegally. In the United States eighteen year olds become adult they are allowed to vote, get married, and join the military. If an eighteen year old is responsible enough to get married, vote, and take a bullet for their country they have enough sense to drink responsible.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages is a privilege not a right. The legal drinking age in the United States is twenty-one, and I believe that this is a fair age. There are so many statistics that show drinking to be bad to begin with, but there are many more statistics that show why the drinking age of twenty-one should not be lowered. Teenagers do not show enough responsibility when drinking, and it would do everyone a lot more harm if they could do it legally.
This paper is based on an interview done with a Baylor student on the topic of the United States drinking age. In 1984, the United States passed the Drinking Age Act which declares that each state must make their drinking age twenty-one if they want to receive State Highway Funds. This is important because of the people under the age of twenty-one who drink. This happens mostly at parties in high school and in college. The interviewee believes that the drinking age should be reduced back to eighteen due to tobacco age limit, enlistment age limit, and less government regulation.