Let My Teenage Drink By T. R. Reid Analysis

This article has to do with my thesis because it deals with taking action to lower the drinking age. It also talks about how no matter what kids are going to find the way around the drinking age. For example, 18 year olds are traveling to Canada to drink because the legal age there is 18. This source really contributes to my overall understanding of the topic, because it taught me a new issue to lowering

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").

It has been a rising issue within the past century to have the drinking age set at 21, but many people are more in favor of having the age set at 18. For instance, “’Raising the drinking age to 21 was passed with the very best of intentions, but it’s had the very worst of outcomes,’ stated by David J. Hanson, an alcohol policy expert” (Johnson). Many people believe that having the drinking age set at 21 was a smart idea, but it has caused many more deaths and injuries over the years. Most of these fatalities are cause from people who are underage and choose to consume alcohol. Again, “Libertarian groups and some conservative economic foundations, seeing the age limits as having been extorted by Washington, have long championed lowering the drinking age” (Johnson). These groups see that keeping the drinking age set at 21 is dangerous as it causes more problems to the Untied States. If the drinking age was lowered, or set at 18, there would not be such unforgiving outcomes, like deaths and lifelong injuries, which are usually caused from people who are under the age of 21 drinking alcohol. Although there are numerous groups that are fighting to keep the age

Every year, thousands of minors die from the use of alcohol. Many young adults abuse the drinking age policy. It is put in effect for substantial reasons, which contribute in making the safest environment for all. Drinking underage is not only illegal, but also damages one’s health tremendously. Furthermore, drinking in large amounts is extremely dangerous and can cause detrimental things to occur. There have been numerous attempts to create a law to lower the drinking age, but none have gone through. In contrast to what some people may say, the drinking age should not be lowered because it would decrease maturity, promote poor behavior, and damage reputations.

When you see the name "Drinking to get drunk", you can infer it will be about why people are only drinking to get drunk, but in this case that's not necessarily true. Marcus instead lists off examples of the consequences of drinking and how it affects college students from sources he has found, as well as some examples he saw in the news lately. Also in the article, Marcus doesn’t give us any commentary on his opinion about the subject other that he is concerned, and doesn't go into detail why college students in todays society are just drinking to get drunk. Without commentary it conveys the article as just an informative piece. Although what the article needs is an emotional appeal to get readers to understand that this is a serious topic, Marcus could of done this by putting a personal

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.

Fifthly, with the focus on education about safe drinking instead of restriction, many problems would decrease. American teenagers, unlike European teenagers, do not learn how to drink gradually, safely, and in moderation. Though the per capita consumption of alcohol in countries like France, Spain, and Portugal is greater than in the US, (the rate of alcoholism and alcohol abuse is lower). This comes from educated and gradual drinking. Alcohol is not seen as a magic potion, there is little social pressure to drink, irresponsible behavior is not tolerated, and young people learn at home from their parents how to handle alcohol in a responsible way in Europe.

According to Andrew Herman, “Each year, 14,000 die from drinking too much. 600,000 are victims of alcohol related physical assault and 17,000 are a result of drunken driving deaths, many being innocent bystanders” (470). These massive numbers bring about an important realization: alcohol is a huge issue in America today. Although the problem is evident in Americans of all ages, the biggest issue is present in young adults and teens. In fact, teens begin to feel the effects of alcohol twice as fast as adults and are more likely to participate in “binge-drinking” (Sullivan 473). The problem is evident, but the solution may be simple. Although opponents argue lowering the drinking age could make alcohol available to some teens not

In the U.S. News opinion piece, A Lower Age Would Be Unsafe, Laura Dean-Mooney states, “Lowering the drinking age would have dangerous long-term consequences: early teen drinkers are not only more susceptible to alcoholism but to developing the disease earlier and more quickly than others” (Dean-Mooney n.pag.). Despite this, getting rid of, or at least decreasing the lure of the forbiddenness of alcohol and bringing the consumption

Unsupervised and driven underground, underage drinking has gained widespread popularity in America’s youth, even claiming victims such as the former President Bush’s 19 year-old daughter. At 18 years of age, a citizen can purchase a gun and tobacco, enlist in the military, get married, vote, and be tried as an adult in court but yet as an “adult” they still do not possess the right to purchase nor consume alcohol legally. The drinking age should be lowered to 18 years of age because adults should be able to make their own decisions, it is safer for the youth in America, and with alcohol education classes instilled in schools at a young age, the younger citizens will be exposed to responsible drinking habits so it reduces the enticement factor

The question people ask is would we have fewer problems with the drinking age being lowered to 18 like the European countries? Someone said that they thought European countries have fewer underage drinking problems because their drinking age is 18. Well from what Madd35 says is “Did you know that more than 21,000 lives have been saved with the age being 21. And Studies show that Europe has more underage drunkenness, injury, rape, and school problems due to alcohol”. (1) Another question

United States is one of the few countries in the world with drinking age over twenty one years. In a country where eighteen years olds are allowed to vote, are allowed smoke, are allowed buy guns, are considered as adults and moreover are drafted in the military where they put their lives in danger for the safety of all of the citizens of this country, however, they are too immature to drink. All the adults should have the right to drink alcohol, and it should be legal for a person who is ready to take care of the country by not just being in military, but by voting in election, making choices that are best for him and the country, to drink when he is eighteen years of age.

useless, and worst of all, it pushes teenagers into a riskier way of experiencing drinking.

Underage alcohol drinking can have devastating effects on teenagers. It can affect teens' grades, health and many other things as well. The reasons why teenagers consume alcohol are pretty clear. What aren’t clear are the solutions to eliminating, or at least reducing the number of underage drinkers. It is vital that we do something to at least suppress this problem. By taking action, we can greatly reduce the number of underage drinkers and it could also save not only their lives, but also someone else's life as well. Underage drinking can cause many health problems as well as educational problems in a teen’s life; therefore our country needs to decrease the number of underage drinkers by increasing both the price of alcohol as well as the legal drinking age.

As stated by NIAAA, UNDERAGE DRINKING: A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE, The younger you are when you start drinking, the greater your