Age Of Responsibility Research Paper

What is the right age of responsibility, where a teenage is entitled as an adult? Some say 18 and lower, while others say 21 and higher. Nowadays, there is a wide spectrum of ages as to what is deemed to be correct in society. “What is the age of responsibility” by Alan Greenblatt explains how young adults are constantly getting mixed messages as what age they are viewed as responsible young adults. The age of responsibility for young adults should be at age 21.

The article “What is the Age of Responsibility?” by Alan Greenblatt investigates the different ages states give young adults and how they can cause confusing as to when the age of responsibility comes into play. The article gives an account of one man, Justin McNaull. “By the time he was 23, McNaull had graduated from college, married and

“What is the age of responsibility?” said Alan Greenblatt in his article “The Age of Responsibility.” Clearly what can be seen according to one of his lines “In America, ‘adulthood’ already has its familiar compass points, 18 and 21” (Greenblatt Par. 6) that the controversy between the milestone of adulthood and what age it should be is blatantly present in society. When Alan Greenblatt explained “...what if that age--the point when citizens are responsible enough to earn all rights [...] bear no resemblance to the ages already enshrined in law” (Par. 6) obviously what can be seen is that even though adulthood is marked between age eighteen and twenty-one, that doesn’t mean they’re responsible enough to handle them. Several factors apply to marking the milestone of adulthood, such as rites, rights, responsibilities, and overall: the age of responsibility.

Once an adolescent reaches the age of 18, they have the ability to join or be drafted into the military, vote, buy tobacco, get married, serve on a jury, sign contracts and be prosecuted as adults. They have all of these rights, so why is it that the only thing an 18 year old can’t do is drink alcohol? Once you hit the age of 18, you are an adult, and should be treated as an adult, so therefore you should be trusted enough that you can make your own decisions on how much alcohol should be consumed (Drinking Age).

Furthermore, today’s youth feel pressured by the problems left by older generations. Our country’s massive, growing debt, nuclear warheads, decade-long

The human body does not fully develop, both physically and mentally, until a person is in their early twenties. Several research organizations, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving, have found that, “Excessive alcohol abuse can lead to permanent brain damage while negatively affecting a person’s memory, motor skills, and test-taking abilities,” (Minimum Drinking Age). Since alcohol has such drastic effects on the human body and its ability to function properly, we cannot allow teenager full access to it under any circumstance. Supporters of the 21-and-over drinking age are quick to get behind research that has discovered, “Alcohol use could severely damage teenagers more-sensitive livers,” (Minimum Drinking Age). I think teenagers need to have a better understanding of what they are putting in their bodies, especially if they are ingesting alcohol. If they don’t understand what the harmful ingredients and chemicals in alcohol can do to them, they could end up with serious health problems. The United States has been debating this topic for such a long time that we have lost sight of what is truly important: the safety of the younger generation and how we can maintain

First, Americans 18 years old already have many adult rights. America believes that people 18 years old are legally considered an adult in this country. According to New York Times article named “Return the Drinking Age to 18, and Enforce It” mentioned that “American 18 years old have the right to vote, marry, buy guns, get a tattoo, vote in local or general election, and join the military.” Americans 18 years old have enough responsibilities to do many things these days. Some laws don’t have to get parents’ permission to do it. If America allows minimum legal drinking age, then our teenagers will learn more and figure out new responsibilities in life. Since high school doesn’t teach teenagers how to be an adult, it’s a great opportunity for a student who’s ready for adult life. American should allow 18 years old to drink alcohol as well as other many adult rights.

Most of us want the freedom to decide how to live our own lives, but independence requires us to take personal responsibility for our actions. The freedom to make our own decisions can precede to us doing great things, but it can also beget poor decisions. Teenagers in particular have multiple decisions about high school, college, sports, and friends, to decide. I value that they are able to do so, but it can also be a challenge.

One major problem surrounding teens is drinking secretly. If the drinking age was set at a lower age, less teens would try to drink undercover and more at a supervised location (Favorite). The problem right now is many teen are getting too much alcohol in their bodies and poising themselves. This problem might be solved if the drinking age was lowered so teens could drink in supervised placed where a bartender could watch them. This might also make teens not afraid to call 911. Many teenager today are afraid to get help, because they do not want to get in trouble with the law. As of right now, the drinking age is like the "prohibition all over again– meaning that, even though alcohol is outlawed for people under 21, that certainly doesn’t stop them from drinking" (Doraiswamy).

In the U.S., teens can do a lot once they turn 18. Citizens at the legal age can choose the potential leader of our country, serve our nation, live in their own place, and start killing themselves with cigarettes. Lowering the law for alcohol consumption will help more minors at the legal age and college campuses stay out of trouble. Half of the students drinking and providing alcohol at school are under 21. Changing the law to 18+ will also help alcohol related deaths by teaching teens to drink responsibly. Exceptions are only just making the law for drinking more complicated and causing more alcohol related deaths. Not everyone knows about these drinking laws either because people travel from state to state. Not knowing all the deviations to the law is putting more lives in danger than it is

Some people like to try to pick an age of responsibility for people to be able to do all things that the average adult can do. What does the general public think the age of responsibility is? Through all the panicking about the chosen age, no one is bothering to look at the facts that people mature and develop at different times. Basically, I believe there is no specific age that will work for everyone so there isn’t one responsible age, there’s several.

When teens turn 18 they deserve all the rights that come with being an adult, lowering the drinking age will not only cause teens to become more responsible it will also reduce drunk driving accidents as seen in other countries who have already implemented this law.

Is it right to grant eighteen-year-olds all of these privileges and responsibilities, and to restrict them from drinking alcohol? If eighteen-year-olds don't have the discretion to drink responsibly, then how could they possibly handle the responsibilities and privileges that adults have? I believe that eighteen-year-olds do have the ability to handle the freedoms and responsibilities of being an adult, which should include the privilege to drink alcohol.

These reasons can most definitely change the life of a teen. Many teenagers can most likely be able to relate to this. For example, we all want to experience what it is to live and how it is like out there in the world. As much as it sounds tempting, there is always the right time for that. Adolescents just want to try and have fun without actually stopping to think. This is what causes most of early adulthood problems. Particularly because they think they are seen as adults, then that is when they can do anything and just get away with it. That is definitely not the case for many. Many end up in huge problems. Even if parents allow for their children to have some what of the freedom they so desperately try to get a hold up they make mistakes. Which then leads to their parents restricting their freedoms even more. So, the big idea is that if teens are competent to commit a crime such as murder, robbery, or whatever the case may be, then they should be able to handle and suffer the consequences that come afterwards.

Sixteen-and 17-year-olds today have many responsibilities that are associated with adulthood. They can drive, get married and have children, yet they are unable to have a say in the type of society those