Under the 1984 National Minimum Drinking Age Act [23 U.S.C 158], persons under 21 years of age are prohibited from purchasing alcohol in all 50 US states. although there are exceptions in certain states when alcohol is consumed at home, under adult supervision, and for medical purposes, the drinking age still stands. There are moves to lower the drinking age, however. many proponents think 18 is a good number, considering that teenagers at this age are practically considered adults. in fact, they think it is hilarious that an 18 year old can marry, vote, join the military or buy guns, but can 't buy or drink alcohol, which is probably the easiest thing anyone can do, as opposed to getting married and choosing the next president. Well, they should be happy now the rule has been amended, since the law to lower legal drinking age to 18, which was signed by President Obama, has taken effect last June 4, 2015. But …show more content…
When it was time to compare the drunk driving traffic accidents and fatalities, countries with a lower drinking age also has lower traffic accidents than the U.S. There was a period, however, when such fatalities decreased. But because it happened before an MLDA was established by the Uniform Drinking Age Act, the decrease cannot be attributed to the drinking age of 21. Reduce the thrill of violating the law Remember the ‘forbidden fruit syndrome’? If people aged 18 years old are allowed to consume alcohol legally, they would not consider breaking the law just to get their way, or even try to prove a point. This may cause a problem with younger people aged below 18, but that is another story. This can also lower the high rate of non-compliance with MLDA 21, where teenagers tend to get creative, procuring fake IDs and deliberately disrespecting the law. List of Cons of Lowering the Drinking Age Health
“If the legal age were lowered in the US it would have to come with much more education in this area, not just the shock-value of Every 15 Minutes” said Ulrike Skillman, math teacher at Saugus. Skillman suggests the lowering of the drinking age will have to come with more alcohol education and that is the exact purpose of a “drinking license.” Which would allow 18 year olds to consume alcohol, with strict regulations, then take classes to officially receive a “drinking license” at 21 years old. The license would replicate a driver’s license, but be geared toward consuming alcohol.
There has been many discussions all over the United States is whether they should change the drinking age from twenty-one to eighteen. Most teens will argue that they should change the age because they can go to a store or a gas station and they can buy a pack of cigarettes, a black n mild, play the lottery at the age of eighteen so they will ask so why can they not buy a beer or alcohol at the age of eighteen. Underage drinking has been out of control in the United States because teenager use fake identification cards and they will also try to go to the club with their identification card. As a teenager when I was in high school I have proof that these things happen not only in college but high school it happens more often than college students. What is
Benefits of a Lowered Drinking Age A majority of the civilized world has set the drinking age to 18, yet America has decided on the puritanically high age of 21. Until 1987 the drinking age was 18, but in 1987 it was nationally mandated that the age increase to 21, and following this mandate came some very negative consequences. Reports of students cutting class after drinking, classes absences due to hangovers, fighting after drinking, and grades sinking after drinking increased after this law was passed (Engs 2014).
Shots Fired The ratification of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in which the sale, manufacture and transportation of intoxicating liquids was made illegal was a period in American history known as Prohibition. Prohibition was not the first and certainly isn’t going to be the last time alcohol consumption and the government collides. Today, many Americans are posing the question- should the minimum legal drinking age be lowered to eighteen or should it stay at the age of twenty-one? In 1984, the national minimum drinking age in the United States became twenty-one years old.
Before the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed it was legal for people of the age of eighteen to purchase and consume alcohol. The United States has the highest legal drinking age, 21, in the world. In most countries in Europe it is
According to published article on CNN website, proponents in favor of raising the minimal drinking age to 25 assert that it helps significantly to reduce traffic accidents as well as other alcohol linked accidents caused by younger people. The author reveals that the fact that alcohol is easily at the disposal of young people, it is opened further doors to other illegal drugs in the hands of teenagers whose brains are not yet fully developed (Griggs, 2015). Others argue
Keeping the drinking age at twenty-one will keep alcohol out of public schools, decrease the amount of accidents and deaths, and decrease the
At age 18 you can get spirits and liquor. France also made a law that stated that kids 16 can not by any alcoholic past 11pm to reduce the number of kids drunk driving. It’s imperative that the legal drinking age not to be lowered to 19 because it impacts one 's health, lower students success, and would risk many lives. The first reason it’s critical that we don 't lower the legal drinking age is because drinking alcohol impacts a person 's health. According to a Bulletin On
There are already some ideas what to do in case of lowering the minimum legal drinking age. One of the ideas is the implementation of alcohol education course that those between 18 and 20 have to complete and get a license. However, there is no evidence that such thing would work appropriately. In any way, numerous programs led by the specialists might help people to decrease the risks of drinking alcohol independently of the fact whether the minimum age is 21 or
It has instead pushed underage binge drinking into private and less controlled environments, leading to more health and life-endangering behaviors by teens. If the legal drinking age was lowered, those teens would be able to drink in a more controlled and much more safe environment where they can be monitored and supervised. Then they will be less likely to harm themselves or others. The second argument that is used is that there are fewer drunk driving accidents in countries with lower drinking ages. In quite a few countries around the world, the legal drinking age is already 18.
But while it has succeeded in that, it is also believed that tougher rules, such as DUI rules and seatbelt safety rules have also played a part in this decrease. However, this higher drinking age hasn’t reduced drinking, its only “driven it underground,” Gabrielle Glaser states in her NY Times article. It has been driven underground to the riskiest settings, high school parties and frat parties that are unsupervised. This age raise segregates the drinking away from adults that can model moderation in drinking. If an 18-year-old high school senior is shown by his/her parent(s) how to drink responsibly and in moderation, I believe that it would greatly help in reducing the chance of making bad decisions by overdoing it, such as driving while drinking.
If young adults at the age of 18 are old enough to vote and enlist in the army, then why can they not purchase and consume alcohol? Over the years, the set drinking age has been a controversial topic among society. Some people believe the MLDA (Minimum Legal Drinking Age) should stay at the age of 21 because it is safer for their kids. However, lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 would change the standards of alcohol as it encourages those of legal adulthood to make responsible decisions as adults, learn to control binge drinking and promote less automobile accidents. To further explain, 18 is the age of majority therefore young adults are mature enough to make their own decisions.
The drinking age should be lowered, because brains are not fully developed yet, colleges should be able to regulate drinking, and this can solve problems with kids underage drinking. Despite the controversy, the drinking age should decrease for many logical reasons. The drinking age has been a debate between the ages 18 to the age of 21 for a while now. Over the years, studies have showed favors toward the age of 21.
“ [The drinking age] is unfavorable because it forces youth to consume alcohol in unsupervised places that are risky and consumption may be abused.” The idea is, if the drinking age is lowered, youth will be able to drink in open, public places that can be supervised by others. By being public, it would decrease the risky behavior seen with alcohol in private, unsupervised settings. Pomata also asserts, “The age restriction inspires undesirable activities just as the National Prohibition Act did.” Some undesirable activities that are associated with underage drinking include the making and distributing of fake ID’s.
Alcohol can harm the develop of key body systems that are not finished developing. This argument wishes to give young adults an opportunity to let their bodies develop properly before consuming alcohol which could alter this process in a negative way. Another argument some have about keeping the drinking age at 21 is underage drinking happens and what would stop 15 or 16-year-olds from getting someone who is 18 to buy them alcohol. If the drinking age was 18 then the majority of high school seniors could buy and consume alcohol. This brings up another problem, alcohol in schools.