Minimum Legal Drinking Age Should Remain at the Age of 21

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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. To begin with, high school and college students on average are subjected to sexual acts at least once a day whether on television, in a movie, at school, or with their significant other. For the most part, adding alcoholic drinks to the equal causes other doors of controversies to emerge. Exclusively, teenagers who drink are seven times likelier to engage in sex and twice more likely to have sex with four or more partners than those who do not (Balkin 40). Coupled with the engagement of sex, such behaviors like this can lead to unprotected sex, STDs, increased risk of AIDS and pregnancy. These ‘doors’ are surely unwanted and will remain open not only because communities fail to strictly enforce the MLDA laws, but also because these underage drinkers are not being held responsible for their actions. If the MLDA were lowered, there... ... middle of paper ... ... Balkin, Karen, ed. Alcohol: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 2004. Print. Cucchiaro, Ferreira Jr S., and et al. "Minimum Legal Drinking Age." American Medical Association - Physicians, Medical Students & Patients (AMA). Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . Engs, Ruth C. "Why Drinking Age Should Be Lowered: Dr. Ruth Engs." Indiana University. Web. 17 Apr. 2011. . Kiesbye, Stefan. Should the Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered? Detroit: Greenhaven, 2008. Print. Sanghavi, Darshak. "Should We Lower the Legal Drinking Age? - By Darshak Sanghavi." Slate Magazine. 26 Aug. 2008. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. .

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