Legal drinking age varies by many countries. In U.S.A, There has been a lot of debate when it comes to the legal drinking age here in US. When it comes to law. There is always an opinion, some are for it and some are against. When it comes to the legal drinking age being 21 we are totally against it. Many people still say the government should prohibit using alcoholic drinks at the age of 18. Legal adults deserve to be treated as such it is time the arbitrary drinking age of 21 Was lowered to 18, because there is no evidence that the National Minimum Drinking Age Act is effective or protects the people it is intended to protect . The Notional Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed in 1984 in an attempt to decrease the number of drunk driving related accidents. The act threatens to decrease a state’s budget for high way construction and maintenance if it sets its drinking age under 21. According to Cuccoli , “ Keeping the drinking age at such a low age is leading to more cases of binge drinking,” (Cuccoli). Mothers against drunk driving reports that the number of alcohol related fatalities involving a vehicle decreased from 26, 173 to 16, 885 between 1982 and 2005. drinking alcoholic is very harmful for the people bodies. Furthermore, the number of overall motor vehicle deaths is decreasing – a trend that alcohol – related fatalities are sure to follow, regardless of the drinking age. For example, significant improvements in high way systems and vehicle safety have helped to decrease the overall number of motor vehicle deaths.
According to C. Engs, research from the 1980s until the present has shown a continuous decrease in drinking and driving related variable which has parallel the nations and also university students, decre...
... middle of paper ...
...tend to get overly drunk when they get a chance. As a result there are problems as serious as deaths.
Finally, countries such as Italy, China, and Greece are some of the countries where the legal drinking age is lower and they seem to have fewer alcohol related problems. Current law in terms of legal drinking age has caused more alcohol related deaths than there has ever been.
In conclusion , we should prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol in the same way we prepare them to operate a mother vehicle : by first educating and then licensing and permitting them to exercise the full privileges of adulthood so long as they demonstrate their ability to observe the law .
According to Minton “it is true that America has a problem with drinking: the rates of alcoholism and teenage problem drinking are far greater here than in Europe “(Minton).
According to “Perils of Prohibition: Why We Should Lower the Drinking Age to 18” author Elizabeth M Whelan article which she argues that now a days in society prohibiting the sale of alcohol beverages to young adults specially teens creates a bad atmosphere full of alcohol abuse. She supports this article by explaining two points: First, American teens, rather than European teens, don 't train well to know how to drink in moderation, and second, compare her daughter 's problem with her own when she was a college student, to see their differences during that time of age.
In the late 1960’s to mid-70’s the legal drinking age was 18 because the voting age of 21 was lowered to 18. However, in 1984 a bill was passed that every state in the United States was to change the legal drinking age from 18 to 21. Although this is a highly controversial topic, many young adults believe lowering the drinking age back to 18 is best because if they vote at the age of 18 then, they should be allowed to purchase alcoholic beverages. In an article “Should the U.S. lower its drinking age?” written by Brandon Griggs, he introduces the pros and cons of lowering the drinking age. Griggs explains two generations ago, young adults didn’t have to worry much about getting caught drinking or buying their way out to purchase alcohol.
The facts are plain and simple, that alcohol and driving do not mix. About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol related crash at some time in their lives. Every single injury and death caused by drunk driving is totally preventable. To curb this national travesty, concerned Americans need to examine the problems, the effects, and the solutions to drunk driving. First of all, America has had a problem with drunk driving since Ford perfected the assembly line. Alcoholism is a problem in and of itself, but combined with driving can have a wide range of effects. The consequences of this reckless behavior can include a first time DUI or licenses suspension; a small fender bender, or worst of all a deadly crash. Most drivers that have only one or two drinks feel fine, and assume they are in control, which is irresponsible and dangerous. Alcohol is a depressant that slows down the body's ability to react and impairs judgment. To drive well, you need to be able to have a quick reaction time to avoid accidents. Unfortunately, people continue to drink and drive. However,...
Bettina Friese and Joel W. Grube, "Youth Drinking Rates and Problems: A Comparison of European Countries and the United States," Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 2010.WEB. April 18, 2014
On the other hand, adults aged 18 have their own rights to make a decision to whether consume alcohol or not. For example, once children turn 18 years old, they are mature enough to make their own decisions. Cloud states, “After all, in almost every other legal and cultural respect, you’re an adult at 18. You can vote, adopt children, sign up for Iraq or become a commercial pilot at 18. Treating alcohol differently helps turns it into a holy grail of adulthood.” (Cloud). Although, in the United States, 18 years o...
Bob Marley once said, “Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction.” This is the case when it comes to teens and alcohol. In America, the National Minimum Legal Drinking Age is a topic of great debate and controversy. Many people argue that the age restriction provides a safe environment for all citizens; whereas others disagree that the law creates an untrustworthy aura among teens. If the minimum legal drinking age were to be lowered, most people would be affected by it, whether it be by an increase in drunk-driving or a rise in crimes. Although teens are legally considered adults by the age of eighteen and the minimum legal drinking age prompts underage teens to exhibit risky behavior, the age restriction should not be lowered from twenty-one to eighteen because young teens would have easier access to alcohol, the minimum legal drinking age has decreased alcohol-related problems, and alcohol can cause damage to underage drinkers.
The United States has the highest binge drinking percentage worldwide, 5,000 people under the age of 21 die each year due to alcohol poisoning. Also, 15.8 % of underage males and 12.4 % of underage females engage in binge drinking. Binge drinking has become a culture in the United
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.
Drinking has been a big part of American. A lot of families will tell you that drinking has ruined their families. That is why this is such a controversial subject. Every major issue such as legalizing marijuana, abolishing slavery has been controversial issue at some point throughout our history. Alcohol has been an issue for a long time and there is no right answer. The drinking age use to be 18 years ago. Even in the 70 when it was 18 years old we still had the issue of citizen drinking and driving. That issue hasn’t changed still. We have risen the age to 21 years old and we still have citizens who feel the need to get in their car after drinking 5 shots and 4 beers in a 2-hour span. In the 1980 an organization called MADD, mothers against drunk drivers was created. They were created because there was an epidemic of drunk
Unsupervised, underage drinking has become an epidemic throughout the world, but in the Americas more than anywhere else. Even the president’s 19-year-old daughter has been arrested for underage drinking. America has the highest legal drinking age in the world. In fact, only four countries in the world have a legalized drinking age of 18. When we turn 18 in America we are supposed to be adults, but then what is the 21 age mark it is like we get an adult trial version for three years without some freedom but with all the consequences.
The growing awareness of alcohol hazards has made people more cautious of their drinking habits, particularly young adults. At present young adults have the highest prevalence of alcohol consumption than any other age group. They also drink more heavily, experience more negative consequences, and engage in more harmful activities, specifically drunk driving. Although surveys have documented a decline in recent years, consumption rates remain highest from late teen years to the late twenties (Johnston1-3). Despite the long-term decline since 1982 in alcohol related traffic deaths, a 4 percent increase occurred between 1994 and 1995 among young adults age 21 and over (Hingson 4). As alcohol-impaired driving persists, legal and community initiatives intervene to help reduce the problem, as well as, continuing research on possible solutions.
There are various reasons as to why the drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18. One of these reasons include the fact that 18 year olds consuming alcohol would be able to act more responsibly in times of danger because they would drink it responsibly and would be conscious in times of danger. Another good reason to lower the drinking age would be because it would decrease the number of deaths of young adults caused by alcohol. Not only would it benefits the safety of young adults, it would also help the American economy by adding more consumers. Drinking can also be made a fun activity if done in a safe environment. In the United States 18 year olds are considered adults. In this country, adults have the right to make their own decisions. Being an adult provides the right and responsibility to vote, get married, sign contracts, sign a lease, join the military, smoke cigarettes, and be prosecuted as an adult if a crime is committed. This should also include the right to make their own decisions about the consumption of alcohol. If an 18 year old is responsible for his or her actions and can be prosecuted just like anybody else that is 21 and above, why wouldn’t an 18 year old be responsible for his or her actions while drinking alcohol?
Many people argue that 18 is the age of adulthood, and that adults should have the right to make decisions about alcohol consumption, but the facts prove otherwise. A study by the US Department of Human Health
All fifty states in America have a minimum drinking age of twenty-one years of age. So therefore why do so many people believe that the legal drinking age should be reduced because there are many complications that can arise from drinking at an early age? Drinking alcohol before the age of twenty-one can inhibit the development of the brain in the frontal lobes. When alcohol consumption hinders this development of the brain the risk of addiction, depression, violence, suicide, and memory loss are greater.(“Drinking”) There are many dangers that go hand in hand with the consumption of alcohol and I believe that people should be at the very least twenty-one years of age to consume alcohol. The legal drinking age should not be reduced to eighteen
It is perceived that alcoholism is a bigger problem with adolescents in America compared with those of European countries, where the minimum drinking ages vary from sixteen and eighteen. Studies show, however, that compared to the US, a larger percentage of teenagers from almost every European country reported drinking in the past 30 days. A greater percentage of teenagers from most European countries report binge drinking, which is defined as five or more alcoholic drinks in a row. Teenagers from Great Britain rank among worst in world for binge drinking.