Minimum Drinking Age

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Recommended: Alcohol abuse among adolescents

Despite the national 21 year old minimum legal drinking age, It’s apparent that individuals who are younger than 21 are consuming alcohol. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among adolescents. Data from a survey in 2007, Monitoring The Future, showed that 16, 33, and 44% of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders, respectively, reported alcohol use in the past 30 days, while 10, 22 and 26% reported having five or more drinks in a row in the past 2 weeks (Lipperman, 2010). Innovative work has examined the long-term effects of minimum legal drinking age. In the past-year alcohol and drug use disorders among of-age and aging adults, demonstrates the long-term beneficial effects of these laws on adult drinking behaviors (Gruenewald, 2011). Early alcohol

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    1218 Words  | 3 Pages

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    Upon turning eighteen you are considered to be legal adult and receive all of the responsibilities that accompany the title. At the age of eighteen year olds you receive and are expected to use the rights and responsibilities to vote, serve on juries, get married, sign contracts, join the military--which includes taking on the responsibilities of life and death--and be prosecuted as an adults in the court of law along with many other things. In 1984, the national government raised the drinking age from 18 to 21. Mothers Against Drunk Driving was a key contributing organization that influenced the change in the minimum drinking age. While there are arguments for both sides, it is said that if the national minimum legal drinking age is dropped back to eighteen many lives would be saved, colleges will have better retention as well as turn out rates of high school graduates, and it could repeal or alter a counterproductive law. The minimum legal drinking age should be lowered back down to the age of eighteen and those who wish to drink should be required to take classes to attain a drinking license upon completing the class in a satisfactory manner.

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