Minimum Legal Lowering Age

Before the MLDA was raised to 21, there were many positive effects that came from a lower MLDA. Lowering the MLDA diminishes the thrill of breaking the law to consume alcohol (“Should the”). Young adults experience a thrill when drinking underage knowing that they are adults, but are restricted from consuming alcohol. If the MLDA was lowered, they would no longer have that thrill and it could lead to less alcohol intake. One reason many young adults drink is because they know that hey shouldn 't be doing it, however if this was just another right given to them, they wouldn 't feel obligated to take advantage of it, because it is just another privilege that comes with growing up and maturing into an adult.

Although lowering the legal drinking age might give teenagers a chance at enjoying alcoholic beverages, the consequences are not worth the temporary pleasure. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are short and long term costs of choosing to drink alcohol. The short term risks include: careless injuries, violence, unprotected sexual behavior, and alcohol poisoning. The long term risks include: heart and liver disease, cancer in multiple parts of the body, memory loss, depression or anxiety, and alcohol dependence (www.cdc.gov). Raising the legal drinking age will provide safer roads and less damage to the consumers and their fellow peers.

Permitting 18- should 20-year-olds to drink liquor over controlled situations for supervision might diminish hazardous drinking movement. Bringing down the drinking age from 21 to 18 would decrease the excitement of breaking the law to get a drink. The drinking age now stands ineffective for the majority of teens still consume alcohol. Several law enforcement agencies ignore most underage drinking. And lastly, if the drinking age was lowered it would be good for the economy.

The first and most used of the three arguments is that it could reduce or even eliminate unsafe drinking activities. One of the most dangerous times for drinking in the United States is between the ages of 18 - 20. Once a person reaches the age of 18, he or she gains all of his or her legal adult rights, except the right to drink. By allowing supervised drinking ability for those in the age bracket of 18 - 20, it could reduce or even eliminate risky drinking behaviors that can lead to bad decisions. Besides, it has not stopped teen drinking, and it probably never will.

This calls for not lowering the drinking age so the citizens would have a greater chance of living. Lawmakers are risking other lives if they lower the drinking age. “An average of 17,000 individuals die each year in drinking related deaths” (Nagin). Alcohol does a lot to how the body functions. In a way it affects how your brain functions.

Minimum Legal Drinking Age The debate concerning the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) has set Americans into disagreement. While many argue that 18 is the appropriate age many contradict this by saying that 21 is a better option. There is always been a debate about the issue, in 1971 when the voting age was changed to 18, also the MLDA was changed to 18. A decade after in 1984 to be exact Congress passed the National Minimum Legal Drinking Age. The new law prohibits people under 21 to buy or consume alcohol in all states.

Minimum Legal Drinking Age Have you ever tried alcohol when you were under Minimum Legal Drinking Age? 77% of American population opposes a federal law that lowers the drinking age in all states to age 18. However, there are people who truly believe that MLDA should be lowered to 18. Underage drinking is a risk that attracts many developing adolescents and teens. A huge number of them wants to try alcohol, but often does not fully recognize its effects on their health and behavior.

In the article “College Presidents Seek Debate on Drinking Age” the issue of lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 is strongly discussed by college presidents and various organizations and Universities. Even though both parties agree that alcohol abuse in colleges is an extensive problem in schools around the country, college organizations are debating with lawmakers to lower the drinking age. With the intention to reduce driving accidents and deaths due to alcohol abuse, the drinking age was elevated to 21, creating the rejection of many college students and administrators in the country. Lowering the drinking age to 18 would not have much impact in the attitude of young people since there is no much difference in maturity in 3 years. This statement is supported by a Duke University sophomore from Singapore, where the drinking age is lower.

On average 11 kids die every day from alcohol, whether it’s in an accident or has something to do with their heart. In the united states when an individual turns 18 they are considered an adult in the governments eyes. They are able to join the military, vote during elections, and many other things because they are an "Adult". So the main argument for lowering the drinking age is that if you are considered an adult you should be able to go out and have a drink or two without having to hide it and drink irresponsibly. The main argument against this is that at 18 the individuals brain is still developing and alcohol could have a chance to disrupt that.Some of the problems that come along with drinking while your brain is still developing is depression, greater chance of addiction, violence, suicide,

In the 1970’s the drinking age was raise from 18 to 21 the reason the government pass this law was to stop drinking and driving. The government believes that adults 21 were more responsible to not drink and drive. However, why do we still have such a problem with drinking and driving in America? That a drinking age of 21 did not solve our problem. John M. McCardell Jr., president emeritus at Middlebury College argues that we should rise the drinking age.

Teenegers will drink no matter what so why not let them do it legally? Having twenty-one as the legal drinking age has driven drinking to the riskiest of settings. If the legal drinking age was eighteen people wouldn’t feel a thrill of breaking the law to get a drink. “Lowering the legal drinking age would reduce the number of underage people who are hurt from alcohol related injuries or accidents due to fear of legal consequences if they sought medical attention.” (Tracey

The Injustices of the Drinking Age The drinking age in the US was changed from 21 to 18 to solve the problems it had caused when it the legal age was 18, however, instead of fixing these problems, the new age has just covered them up and is causing further trouble. “The change of drinking age to 18 in 1971 was quickly changed back to 21 by 1984 to counter-act the epidemic of drunk driving accidents that it had caused” (“Lowering”.). The drinking age in the US should be lowered to 18 because it would increase the safety and health in teens. Alcohol is being abused not only for the parties, but as a “liquid fixer” for people’s problems. “It can be used to suppress feelings of anxiety, depression, alienation or despair by affecting certain

Only if the taboo is eliminated, can the thrill element be decreased further leading to less consumption of alcohol by 18 year olds. Prohibition of drinking by 18 years old in public places can lead them to induce in them the tendency to be forced to drink in non-administered settings like parties. If the age limit is lowered, at least they will be freer to drink in a regulated environment. Cons: Moving to the other side of this, looking at the cons we can say that lowering of the drinking age can lead to more incidences of crimes related to alcohol that may be fatal in nature. According to studies, US states like Michigan and Maine have experienced increased alcohol related crimes once the drinking age has been reduced to 18 over there.

Lowering the drinking age sounds like a good plan, but even proponents of this idea are wary about the safety of the nation if this happens. “Choose Responsibility,” is a non-profit organization discussing the presence of alcohol in America. Director, Dr. John McCardell Jr suggests that to have young adults ready for the responsibility of alcohol consumption, they should first be educated. He promotes a class like driver 's education, which must be passed to drink. Upon passing, a tiered drinking license would be awarded (Choose).

Of all the rights one obtains when becoming a legal adult at the age of 18, such as the ability to get married and vote for our country’s leaders, drinking is not one of those rights. The 1984 National Minimum Drinking Age Act led all fifty states to change their drinking ages to 21. Since then, drinking statistics have shown that less people are becoming alcoholics, and drinking alcohol in general. It also affords three extra years of driving experience to teens before they can drink, because despite the fact that it is illegal to drink and drive, those three years can be important in the decision making process of someone debating if they are safe to drive. It is odd however that this right, out of all rights provided by the government at