Essay On Drinking Age

The drinking age is kind of an experiment around the world. In many places around Europe, people who are below the age of twenty-one are allowed to drink by law. Many teenagers around the US find this law biased, because teens aren't given enough credit for how responsible they can be. In Northern Europe, people see alcohol as a culture issue. In many countries it is traditional to have a glass of wine or two during each meal. The drinking age in other countries vary but the normal legal age is between 16-18 years of age. A recent "study that compared DUI laws in the United States to those in comparable nations, such as the European Union States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Brazil, found that the United States had the highest proportion of traffic fatalities that were alcohol-related among the 12 countries reporting data." It was reported that the United States had "relatively lax enforcement" in comparison to other countries ("National Minimum Drinking Age-Choose Responsibility").

In the United States, the minimum age required to legally consume alcohol is twenty-one years, being allowed in some states for young people under the minimum drinking age to consume alcohol under specific controlled circumstances. This particular age is controversial as it does not correspond to the age of majority of 18 years embraced by 47 states, which entitles the individual to vote, get married and join the army, among other decisions inherent to adulthood. It is thus seen as contradictory to consider a young person mature enough to take decisions of this nature, but not mature enough to drink alcohol.

Sub point A: Binge drinking is perhaps the greatest problem caused by the 21 year old drinking age. Since it is illegal to drink under the age of 21 people who do, do it in secret and leave it unmonitored by other adults. This is especially popular among college students. According to the American Journal of Public Health, published by Georges C.

Many negative effects come with drinking alcohol. Since teenagers’ brains are not fully developed until they are in their mid 20’s, it is especially dangerous to them. The legal alcohol age should not be eighteen because it harms the teenage brain and body, it has negative (and potentially fatal) effects on school, and it has negative effects on driving.

eighteen to twenty-one. Today, many teens wish that the drinking age was lowered to eighteen.

Underage drinking is on the rise despite harsher laws to stop it. Itappears to have always been around despite whether the legal age to drink is 18 or 21. One of the main issues with underage drinking is that the brain in the teenager is not fully developed in the region of judgment and decision making. Because of this teens are known for deciding to do the wrong thing. That often includes drinking alcohol or experimenting with illegal drugs. many teenagers do not just have onedrink, they usually participate in binge drinking. This can continue long into adulthood and soon develop into a full blown alcohol problem.

America draws the line at drinking alcohol, which belittles 18 year olds, making them seem less like adults. Someone could risk his or her life for his or her country, or wreck his or her body with cigarettes, but drinking alcohol is forbidden. Some states agree that this logic is flawed, such as Alaska, who passed a bill that allows active members of the military to drink at the age of 18, “with the rationale that if they 're old enough to fight and die for their country, they 're old enough to have a beer,” (Brown).

In a New York Times article, Laurence Steinberg states, “I favor lowering the drinking age to 19, which would help solve the problem of illegal drinking on campus...while still making it illegal for high school students to drink, thereby limiting the flow of legally (and easily) purchased alcohol into younger adolescents’ social networks” (Steinberg). This may put more stress on college campuses, but it takes away the revolting ideas of the youth, and takes nearly all high school issues out of the equation. In a CNN report, by William Cohan, he tells, “A drinking age of 19 would also mean that easily three-quarters of the students on a college campus would no longer be violating the law by either drinking on campus or in unsupervised homes off-campus”

In the United States alcohol is commonly used among the youths in the U.S. It is more used than tobacco and other illicit drugs. It also has a death rate of 4,300 deaths annual with underage youth. There are 29 states in the U.S. that allow drinking underage on a private premises only with the parents consent. The reason why the United States set the age of 21 for drinking age is teenager are not responsible and not trusted for alcohol beverages. Alcohol can effect and even weaken the brain. The use of alcohol will have and effect on the functioning of the brain during the teenage years. In my opinion the higher the age of drinking will save lives here in the U.S. and it reduces underage drinking and that's why it shouldn't be lowered. There

Although the legal drinking age in the U.S. should stay at twenty-one years old due to small reasons such as, drinking under the influence or alcohol poisoning, the MLDA has helped teens with larger reasons such as the avoidance of tobacco, cannabinoids, opioids or club drugs. Another extensive reason why the legal drinking age should not be lowered is because of the unsafe surroundings teens would be allowed into such as bars and nightclubs. Last, exposing the brain to alcohol in the teen years will hinder the process of brain development.

Since 1984, the United States’ legal drinking age has been twenty-one, as stated in the National Minimum Drinking Age Act (NMDAA). Before this, age restrictions varied from state to state, ranging from eighteen to twenty-one. The age restriction was set at twenty-one when an increase in alcohol-related car accidents came about, and the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) insisted on a change (Minimum Drinking Age). This change was made solely on car accidents due to eighteen to twenty year olds under the influence. When we reach the age of eighteen, we are automatically allowed to vote, serve in the military, serve on juries, and in some states: gamble, consent to sexual acts legally, and purchase handguns (Carpenter and Dobkin). At fifteen years, most states allow us to operate a vehicle with a guardian, later driving by ourselves at sixteen. Per the laws made for rights given at eighteen, this is the age when we become legal adults. The United States should model other countries and lower the legal drinking age to eighteen because it would reduce teenage rebellion, lower the risk to others on the road, and decrease fake

In America most people are considered an adult once they become eighteen. By law you cannot consume alcohol legally. In the United States the legal amount of alcohol consumption determines the location and actions you take. The older you get the more privileges you will receive versus when you were a minor. At the age of 18, people can get married, buy a house, and join the military, People who are 18 should be able to consume alcohol.

People today use alcohol for a number of reasons such as peer pressure, to celebrate an event, anxiety, stress, boredom, even to be rebellious. As of February 2016 the legal drinking age is currently twenty-one, but it is said by many researchers that most would have had their first taste of alcohol by the age of 15. Since it has become easier for minors to get alcohol in their possession this has caused numerous problems when it comes to underage drinking. Yes the legal age is 21 but in reality a young teenager will be approached with chance to drink sooner than you can think. It is legal to join the army, to vote, and engage in other activities but for a minor to intake of any beverage that contains alcohol could possibly result in them being arrested and facing future penalties.

One of the main groups of alcohol users is high school and college students. Despite a legal drinking age of 21, many young people in the United States consume alcohol. There are

College life is filled with changes. It is filled with many new experiences. As college students, we are on our own, adults. As adults we are responsible for keeping up to date on information that affects us. One issue that affects college students nation wide is drinking. The current legal drinking age in the United States is twenty-one years of age. The Federal government raised the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 in 1984. Even with the current drinking age at twenty-one, many people under that age choose to drink anyway. In fact, a government survey from 1996 showed that 56% of high school seniors reported drinking in the last 30 days (Hanson). With so many underage drinkers, many people