Is it Right to Lower the Drinking Age?

A lower drinking age law would save even more lives and also stop minors from drinking under the limit. Having it higher will result in more traffic injuries and fatalities among youth. A lower drinking age is effective in preventing alcohol-related deaths and injuries among youth. Young people are particularly vulnerable to the effects of heavy drinking age. According to John McCardell, founder of Choose Responsibility, the legal drinking age does not eliminate consumption among young people. Instead, it only drives underage drinking underground, creating a dangerous culture of irresponsible and extreme drinking. Although the legal purchase age is 21 years of age, a majority of college students under this age consume alcohol but in an irresponsible manner. This is because drinking by these youth is seen as an enticing "forbidden fruit," a "badge of rebellion against authority" and a symbol of "adulthood."Keeping the minimum legal drinking age at 21 will not dissuade young people who want to indulge in reckless alcohol intake. If anything, the age limit encourages binge drinking. Lowering the drinking age could make it easier to regulate consumption among younger adults as well as encourage healthy drinking habits. “For example, 22% of all students under 21 compared to 18% over 21 years of age are heavy drinkers.” “Among drinkers only, 32% of underage compared to 24% of legal age are heavy drinkers.”

Most people would concur that alcohol should not be given to teenagers. Despite the fact that we concede to this essential truth, underage drinking is still a noteworthy issue in our nation. Since adolescents need development and information with regards to liquor, they put themselves, as well as others in incredible danger when they decide to consume. Regardless of the risk, there are individuals out there who believe that the drinking age should be lowered.

"Adults under 21 are able to vote, sign contracts, serve on juries, and enlist in the military, but are told that they are not mature enough to have a beer?," said Ruth C. Engs, a professor of Applied Health Sciences at Indiana University (Engs). No matter what is done, teenagers and young adults all over America are going to drink if they want to. The question is, why can 't they start legally drinking when they enter adulthood? An alternative to simply lowering the minimum legal drinking age could be thought of, such as, having a learner 's permit for responsible drinking for people between the ages of 18-21. In other cultures where the minimum legal drinking age is lower, there is not as large of a problem with drinking. Lowering the minimum legal drinking age would stop criminalizing a large amount of people for the minor crime of underage drinking, which on your record makes it hard for young people to apply for jobs or apply to colleges.

In recent discussions of the drinking age limit, people have always said that the drinking age limit should be lowered. Some may argue that alcohol is not bad and that it can actually be beneficially. Many people would want the drinking age limit to be lowered so that it is legal for young adults to drink. If the drinking age limit were to be lowered there would be a drastic difference in society. In my perspective I will argue that the drinking age limit should not be lowered.

According to Alexis Aguirre in The University Star, “Keeping the minimum legal drinking age at 21 will not dissuade young people who want to indulge in reckless alcohol intake. If anything, the age limit encourages binge drinking. Lowering the drinking age could make it easier to regulate consumption among younger adults as well as encourage healthy drinking habits” (Aguirre). Sure enough, if the drinking age were lowered to 18 it would avoid the illegal, abused intake of alcohol by 18 year olds. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, “Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking” (U.S Department of Health and Human Services). A way of avoiding such tragedies is lowering the drinking age to 18, teaching younger

Many arguments against lowering the drinking age are legitimate arguments. Science has proven that alcohol can have adverse effects on the frontal lobe of the brain, which is the part of the brain that makes decisions. The frontal lobe is not fully developed until a person’s mid-20’s. “The potential for chronic problems such as greater vulnerability to addiction, dangerous risk-taking behavior, reduced decision-making ability, memory loss, depression, violence, and suicide is greater.” (Drinking Age ProCon.org). Statistics have proven that the younger you are, the more likely you are to binge drink. In the United

Lowering the drinking age to 18 in the United States has been a source of controversy in recent years. It has been a controversial topic because many people disagree, while many agree with the topic. For example, the people who disagree and are against lowering the drinking age to 18 believe we should not lower the drinking age because 18 year old individuals are not responsible enough to drink alcohol. While, the people who agree we should lower the drinking age, believe we should let 18 year old individuals drink responsibly because at age 18 you are considered responsible enough to smoke, join the army, be a legal guardian, buy a rifle, and vote. In my opinion, I believe the legal drinking

A huge debate in the United States in the past has been whether or not the drinking age should be lowered or raised or just stay right where it is. I believe that it should be lowered. If we are able to vote, die for our country, and rot in a jail cell why should young people not be allowed to have a few drinks every once in awhile. I think that if in the eyes of the law I am considered an adult the day I turn eighteen why am I not allowed to make a decision about whether I am able to consume alcohol or not.

The drinking age should definitely not be lowered from 21 because, drinking can lead a teenager to have many dangerous risk in their life. Such as having a drinking problem or even become a violent person in their future. Also drinking at a young age can lead to have future health problems such as pancreas damage,liver damage,and also damage the brain and the heart. Alcohol can also lead a person to depression which can make a person have suicidal thoughts. Also alcohol doesn't only damage your health, but it could also have effects on women who are pregnant and drink during the 9 months of pregnancy time, it could cause for the baby to be born with birth defects.

Should the drinking age be lowered from 19 to a younger age? We should not drink when you are under the drinking age law. Drinking can be all over the world to many countries. With all due respect, I truly think that the drinking age should not be lowered to a younger age than 19. In my perspective, drinking is bad for everyone. Drinking is dangerous to everyone and these are the reasons health issues, younger age people, and not to drink and drive.

5,000 people die each year due to underage drinking. Do we really want to lower the drinking age? Teens think it is fine to drink even though it is against the law and is very harmful to themselves and the people around them. Even though the law says you can’t drink before the age of 21 most people don’t follow it. We think the law should stay the same because it affects the brain, it is harmful to the people involved, and it affects the emotions and actions of the drinker.

There has been controversy in the United States on underage drinking, and if the age should be lowered. According to the book “Underage Drinking”, “It should be noted that more than tobacco and illegal drugs, alcohol is easily the most commonly used and abused substance among the youth in the U.S” (Dr. Bush). Underage drinking has had major controversy for years and the government has yet to get it under control. The law states that anyone under the age of twenty-one should not be in possession of an alcohol beverage. Yet many people under the age of twenty-one have possession of it and consumes it. One writer states, “Young people are adults at 18 and if they're allowed to vote and go to war, they should be allowed to drink ..- And I don't think raising the age limit will make any real difference to our binge-drinking problem” (Gross 3-5). When it comes to lowering the drinking age, there are a lot of factors that we have to think about. I feel as though the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen. I say this because in the United States when you turn eighteen you are able to buy tobacco products, vote, get married, can be charged as an adult for a crime, and even join the military. According to ProCon, “18 is the age of adulthood in the United States, and adults should have the right to make their own decisions about alcohol consumption” (Drinking Age). I agree with that statement because most teens are already drinking before the age of twenty-one anyways. There could be great benefits if the drinking age is lowered to eighteen. Most teens drink because it’s against the law and if the drinking age was lowered, the amount of binge drinking would decrease. According to the SSDP website, “A legal drinking age of 21 significantly impacts undergraduate students, a majority of whom fall in the age range of 18-20 years old and still use alcohol” (Lowering the drinking age). Most people are eighteen when they go off to college and with that being said, I’m not saying they’re going to consume alcohol, but some may choose to do so and I don’t feel as though they should be punished for doing it because technically they are considered as an adult so why can’t they live their life like one?

Drinking age hasn’t been changed for years. Drinking age should be increased to a minimum of 24 years old if not more because the lack of maturity. On the other side people would like to decrease the drinking age to 16 or 18 years of age. If the drinking age decreases, the percentage of car accidents, crimes, and more rebelling things will increase dramatically. I think as an 18 year old teenager that the drinking age should be increased because we are still developing. Reasons why we shouldn’t drink alcohol is because we aren’t mature, responsible, reliable an off, and we are dependent.

In the United States. Every state has the right to set its own legal drinking age. However, according to George Will in an article he wrote in the Washington Post about the legal drinking age, “drinking age paradox” “lowering the drinking age will cost the state ten percent of its federal highway funds and cause a significant uproar from contractors and construction unions.” It is therefore in the best interest of every citizen as well as the state not to lower the legal drinking age, to prevent States funding from the negative affected if the legal drinking age is lowered (The Chilgren 's Hospital of Philadelphia, 2015).

Although the debate began many years ago, it still continues to this day. Should the legal drinking age be lowered, or should it not be lowered? The argument has always been massive, with both sides spitting out denials left and right. The fact that both sides showcase decent evidence, only one brings hard hitting facts that truly make a difference. The legal drinking age should not be lowered because it helps prevent youth from driving under the influence, it helps prevent youth from committing violent crimes, and it helps prevent incomplete development of the brain (Teen Drunk Driving: The Sobering Facts of Underage DUIs). Even though drunk driving may not be one of the highest leading causes of death, it is still an enormous issue that should be addressed.