Lowering The Drinking Age

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.”

Alcohol seems to be an important part of daily life for many people. It's a substance associated with having fun amongst friends and family. Fortunately, certain laws help to protect us against the dangers that alcohol potentially brings upon our society. Although a section of the population argues for lowering the drinking age to 18, there have been many benefits with keeping it at 21. The main purpose of setting the Minimum Legal Drinking Age at 21 is to provide safety for the public, which should be the primary responsibility of the government. Despite popular belief, the drinking age was not only set to prevent teens from drinking and making bad decisions. It was set at 21 years because teenagers can develop serious health issues from consuming

December 18, 1917 the United States Congress passed the Eighteenth Amendment prohibiting the manufacturing, sales, and transportation of intoxicating liquors. March 21, 1947, the United States Congress debated again over the topic of alcohol. The result was the Twenty-first Amendment being passed. Alcohol was yet again allowed and freely sold within the borders of the United States of America (Constitution). No matter the harmful effects alcohol has always been a drug that is used, abused, and loved by countless Americans. Unfortunately, many American citizens that find comfort in alcoholic beverages are under the minimum legal drinking age of twenty-one. The United States of America, in order to protect the nation’s youth, needs to allow states

In 2005 a tragedy struck my hometown of Cameron Wisconsin. Following the annual homecoming parade, the high schoolers were driving back to the school to cheer on the football team for the game that night. Sitting on the toolboxes in one of the trucks was Bailey Zimmerman and her good friend Jasmyn Becker. As their driver, Matthew Stoyke, was making the turn into the parking lot, he saw a bunch of his friends already waiting for him. Without thinking, Matthew slammed his foot onto the accelerator to show off for his buddies. Bailey and Jasmyn were thrown from the bed of the truck and hurled onto the asphalt below, killing Bailey instantly. Matthew, not realizing the severity of what he did, fled from the parking lot in fear of the consequences. After the investigation, it was found that all three of the high schoolers had been drinking underage. How many more stories like this would there be if high schoolers could be allowed to drink?

When a child turns 18, they open to many more responsibilities than any other teenage birthday. When a child is 18, they are not considered a kid anymore, they are adults. One of the many perks of being 18 is kids can vote and they can enlist in the army. In 1984, President Reagan had signed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, and this required all states to set the drinking age to 21. If an 18 year old can enlist in the army, and put their life at risk they should be able to drink alcohol at 18. 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 is at 21 but, some are voting to bring down to 18. The drinking age starts at 21 for a reason and needs to stay where it is. Alcohol is poisonous at any age but, it can be more harmful to a developing brain and a teenager finding a new life. It’s extremely easy to numb the annoyance of life with alcohol and many people have become addicted to the escape. In this country our children are not ready to drink at 18, we have a different system and different children.

In the 1920s alcohol was prohibited in all America. The Americans were not “legally” able to buy or sell alcoholic drink. The Americans still bought their liquor from bootleggers and gangsters. The prohibition ended in 1933 for all Americans and were able to legally buy alcohol. Then the prohibition started again in 1984 for Americans ages from 20 and under because of a new law created by law makers. The national minimum drinking age law act states that anyone under 21 cannot purchase and publicly hold alcohol drinks. Now in 2015, the national minimum drinking act stills holds up. In America 18-years-olds are fighting or disagreeing with this law. Many young adults 18-20 belief the alcohol drinking law should be lower to the age 18. The national minimum law should be lowered because

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.

Although some say lowering the minimum legal drinking age, or MLDA, will only cause more underage drinking and harm the adolescent brain, the MLDA should be lowered to 18 because the legal age of adulthood is 18, and lowering the legal drinking age will cut down on underage drinking, increase responsible drinking, and decrease drunk driving accidents.

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.

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.

“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.

The effects alcohol takes on the brain is the only “downside” to lowering the drinking age, but if used responsibly it 's not that big of a problem. Responsibility is one of the keywords to remember when consuming alcohol. Anything could happen when you 're under the influence, death, rape, and many more life-altering occurrences. One huge potential life-altering thing that could happen to you is brain damage. Drinking at a younger age increases the risk of brain damage. This is the only potentially bad risk that comes with drinking, but if consumed responsibly it will be okay

A lot people question whether the legal drinking age should be lowered, or remain at 21. Some may think it isn’t such a good idea, because of the lack of maturity, and others may think it a good idea, because some people are going to do it anyway. However there are many pros and cons of lowering the legal drinking age.

At this moment in the United States, a popular topic being debated is whether the legal drinking age should be lowered. Lowering the drinking age is not as easy as it seems, though. It is a matter of both state government and federal government, because in 1984 the National Minimum Legal Drinking Act (MLDA 21), a federal law, was put into effect, which required all state to have a minimum legal drinking age of 21 years old. If states did not comply with the act, then the federal government would cut off 10% of that state’s federal highway construction funds. So, the real debate is for the MLDA 21 to be abolished so that states are able to decide whether the legal drinking age should be lowered on a state by state basis and without the fear of dampening their federal funding. In order to keep young adults safe and drug free, the legal drinking age must be kept at 21 years of age or older.