The United States should lower the drinking age since it being 21 doesn't stop anyone. In the 70s the drinking age was 18 and it didn't make anyone a criminal. It would also generate a lot of money and since they made the age 21 a lot of teens have been binge drinking. The fact that colleges support lowering the drinking age tells you that it isn't a bad idea. A few of the colleges that support it are some of the best colleges in the U.S. like Duke, Dartmouth, and many more. The only reason the drinking age was raised in the first place was because the Mothers Against Drinking.“I'm going to lower the drinking age to eighteen. If you're old enough to die in Iraq, you're old enough to drink.”
Driving, drinking alcohol and even serving in the military are just a few things that young adults/kids can’t wait to be able to do. But, are you old enough? Eighteen year olds can serve in the military but when they come home they can’t have a beer. Should the drinking age be lowered? I believe so. However, others disagree with this because of the impacts it could have on young adult’s lives such as brain development and safety.
Robert Voas states teen pregnancy, sexual assaults, and crime rates have increased due to underage drinking. Alcohol consumption at a college age leads to 600,000 physical assaults and 70,000 sexual assaults yearly according to a study (464). Joyce Alcantara claims if the age were lowered back to eighteen then it would put younger teens at risk (468). People tend to have friends around their same age. So, if eighteen year olds were allowed to drink then their friends which are roughly around the age of sixteen or seventeen would likely have an alcoholic drink in their hand as well. “There’s No Benefit to Lowering the Drinking Age” explains, on average about eleven teens die daily as a result of drunk driving (Voas 464). When teens throw a party, alcohol is usually involved. Then once the party is over the kids have to get home somehow and they often drive themselves. When an alcoholic drink is placed in an eighteen-year-old hand decisions are made that harm them and others
Picture yourself at this amazing party, you are having the time of your life, but you realize that there are so many people trashed and you are the only one that is not as wasted. The neighbors call the police department complaining that there is so much noise happening next door, that they want the police to shut it down or to at least tell them to be quiet. Well imagine your friend answering the door to the police but saying something incredibly stupid. The cops tell you to turn down the music, they really don’t care that you are eighteen and drinking because they know that it is the legal age. You see, most people would disagree that the drinking age should be eighteen because they think that we are still very
Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws specify the age of when a person can buy or publicly drink alcohol legally. In 1984, the minimum legal drinking age was raised to twenty-one. Many college students attend parties where alcohol is present. They should be allowed to consume the alcoholic beverages with their classmates without having to worry about getting in trouble. Eighteen year olds are adults and should be able to make their own decision on whether or not they want to drink. The legal age to drink alcohol should be lowered back down to eighteen, because almost every other country has a lower drinking age, people will drink more responsibly, and there will be less deaths.
Should the legal age for alcohol consumption be lowered? In the United States, The legal drinking age is 21, but in my research, I have found that it is actually allowed, under certain circumstances and situations, to people of even lower age. Though all 50 US states have set their minimum drinking age to 21, exceptions do exist on a state-by-state basis for consumption at home, under adult supervision, for medical necessity, and other reasons. In fact, all but 5 states, Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire, and West Virginia, under age drinking is permitted. Parents are allowed to furnish alcohol to minors if they are under proper supervision. Also bartenders are allowed to drink at 20 years old, which is the lowest legal bartending age.
The public agrees 72 percent of adults think that lowering the drinking age would make alcohol more accessible to kids, and nearly half think that it would increase binge drinking among teens. Lowering the drinking age would worsen the problems of underage and binge drinking. Advocates often point out that if a young adult is old enough to go to war and vote, he should have the power to imbibe alcoholic beverages. Does society think we should lower or higher the drinking age? Research indicates that when the minimum legal drinking age is 21, people under age 21 drink less overall and continue to do so through their early 20s. When the drinking age has been lowered, injury and death rates significantly increased. Lowering the drinking age would
In the United States of America, as most know, the minimum legal drinking age is twenty-one years old. There have been many debates when it comes to lowering the drinking age; some are against the idea and some are for the idea. It most cases, once you turn the age of eighteen, you are legally an adult. You have the right to vote and serve in the military. In other developed countries such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and others in Europe, the legal drinking age is eighteen. Changing the legal drinking age in the United States to eighteen needs to be enforced because we already have the responsibilities of grown-ups and other developed countries are doing exceptionally well for themselves for
Drinking has gone on for thousands of years, dating back to biblical and Roman times. It was seen as a tradition, and even now in other cultures around the world it is too, but in the United States it is not as prevalent. Most Americans do not view drinking as a religious act and abuse alcohol. Even for those who are considered social drinkers do not overindulge and excessively drink. They know what their limit is and tend to stop. Some religions encourage alcohol consumption, while others despise it. Not all drinking in religion is seen as very ceremonial or a tradition. “Buddhism… generally states that nothing should be taken that will alter the natural state of the body. Islam, on the other hand, teaches that the consumption of alcohol is
You stated, "Most college students attending a 4 year university are under the age of 21." That alone is a good enough reason to lower the drinking age. Most students graduate high school at 17/18 and then go off to a 4 year University. You think it 's okay to not be able to drink until your sophomore/senior year of college? I just do not think it 's reasonable nor realistic. The reason the drinking age increased was to prevent more highway fatalities, but as you mentioned the age to purchase a home was not increased once the market crashed. I believe there 's more pros than cons to lowered the drinking age back to
In the United States, turning 18 is a huge step for people as it marks individuals entering the adult world. At that age they are considered an adult in society. Open to more liberties, these young adults can drive, vote, join the military, and die for their country; however, they cannot possess or purchase alcohol. The current minimum legal drinking age, also known as MLDA, in America is 21. Numerous debates still occur today about the minimum drinking age. A poll taken on July 2014 asked the public opinion of US adults for lowering the US legal drinking age from 21 to 18. Approximately 74% of the people opposed the idea, whereas roughly 25% of the people supported the idea ("Public Opinion" 1). The statistics indicate satisfaction among the majority of the people; however, with the current laws many issues arise that must be addressed concerning alcohol use. For starters, studies show an increase of dangerous drinking habits among young adults (Hall 2). In addition, the enforcement of the drinking laws and education on alcohol is insubstantial (Moyse, Fonder 3). Society places laws to protect individuals. The rise of alcohol abuse raises the question if the minimum legal drinking age of 21 secures protection of the people. With proper enforcement of drinking laws in addition to education about alcohol, the minimum legal drinking age of 18 provides a safer drinking culture.
Do you know drinking is fatal to only to 19 or a younger age? Should the drinking age be lowered from 19 to a younger age? CONS. We should not drink when you are under the drinking age law. Drinking can be all over the world to many countries. With all due respect, I truly think that the drinking age should not be lowered to 19. In my perspective drinking is bad for everyone. Drinking is dangerous to everyone. I am going to explain why not to drink through health issues, younger age people and not to drink and drive.
“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.
When teenagers turn 18, they are told that they are adults and are sent into the world. They go to college, get a job, marry or join the military. They do grown-up things like vote, pay taxes and become parents, but they can 't go to the bar for a beer. When it comes to alcohol they are still just kids. Where’s the fairness in the age being 21 and not 18? Why is 21 the "magical" age that makes one intelligent and mature enough to consume alcohol? Surely, some adults abuse alcohol and some teenagers would be perfectly able to drink responsibly. Accidents will happen no matter what age you start drinking it. That 's why the drinking age should be lowered to 18 instead of remaining at 21.
Why drinking age should be lowered? If one is considered an adult at age eighteen in most of the country, are they not allowed to purchase and legally consume alcohol? The minimum legal drinking age needs to be lowered, and not just for that reason. The amount of teenagers with drinking problems and alcoholism is far greater than in Europe, where drinking ages are far lower. Also, studies show that the current minimum age drinking laws have been ineffective to a high degree. By the time they are high school seniors, seventy-two percent teenagers say they have already consumed alcohol. Proper education at younger ages is needed for our country’s youth to learn the proper use of alcohol through experimentation with their own limits in safe environments.