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Argumentative Essay On The Drinking Age

Decent Essays

The Drinking Age The three biggest milestones a person passes in their life are the age they can drive, the age they can vote, and the age they can drink. One gets behind the wheel at fourteen with a learner’s permit, they vote after turning eighteen, and legally drink alcohol at the age of twenty-one. This raises the question, if one is considered mature enough to make decisions about the future of their country at eighteen, can they drink at that age too? No, the drinking age should remain at 21 years of age. The drinking age should not be changed for three main reasons. Drinking as a teen or adolescent can cause many otherwise unnecessary health problems, teen drinking leads to many issues outside of medical conditions, and because raising the drinking age has reduced the number of alcohol related motor vehicle accidents. The drinking age should remain at twenty-one rather than be moved to eighteen because drinking as an adolescent can cause many health problems that would be nonexistent if alcohol was not a factor. According to the website, helpguide.org, “…researchers believe that heavy drinking at this age [18-25], when the brain is still developing, may cause lasting impairments in brain functions such as memory, coordination, and motor skills…” This is just one way that alcohol consumption as an adolescent can lead to negative health effects. Other effects of adolescent alcohol consumption are explained. In the same article the author says, “The highest prevalence of problem drinking occurs among young adults aged 18 to 25, nearly 42% of whom admit to binge drinking at least once a month…” This factor is important because many health problems that young adults experience in regards to alcohol are due to binge drinking. According to the website, indirect.gov.uk, “This makes young people particularly vulnerable to the long-term damage caused by alcohol. This damage can include: cancer of the mouth and throat …depression and suicidal thoughts…liver cirrhosis and heart disease.” These are just some of the health risks that teen drinkers face. The age should not be lowered because of alcohol’s adverse health effects on adolescents. Not only should the drinking age stay at twenty-one

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