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America Must Lower the Drinking Age Essay

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America Must Lower the Drinking Age

The current drinking age in the United States of America is 21. There are some people who agree with the current drinking age even some who think it should be raised. On the other hand, a number of people feel that the current drinking age produces more problems than it prevents (“Cross Fire”). The United States has unsuccessfully tried prohibition legislation not once, but twice in the past. These laws were eventually done away with due to the inability to enforce and the repercussion towards them that ended up causing even more trials and tribulations (Engs). “Prohibition demonstrates beyond a doubt that drinking and the problems caused by drinking cannot simply be eliminated from the …show more content…

If individuals were taught that drinking is another privilege obtained at age eighteen it would be taken more seriously. Lowering the drinking age to eighteen would not give people a better reason to abuse it, but instead a sense of trust and reliability that the U.S. government expects people to live up to (Dodd).

The focus of alcohol needs to be on educating the youth about responsible drinking instead of on restriction. American teenagers, unlike European teens do not have the opportunity to be taught how to drink gradually, carefully, and in moderation. “Though the per capita consumption of alcohol in countries like France, Spain, and Portugal is greater than in the U.S., the rate of alcoholism and alcohol abuse is lower” (“Cross Fire”). Due to legal restriction in this country, young people in America postpone drinking until they can no longer benefit from their parents’ supervision and guidance (Don). “Irrefutable evidence supports the fact that the early introduction of drinking is the safest way to reduce juvenile alcohol abuse” (Ford). Young adults need an opportunity to learn sensible and moderate drinking in controlled and safe circumstances. Parents should be allowed to serve their children alcohol and young adults should be permitted to drink in controlled environments such as restaurants. Alcohol needs to be portrayed as a natural, normal

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