Lowering The Minimum Drinking Age

"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.

The government is conducting an idea to whether lower the minimum legal drinking age in the United States or not. Many Americans forbid the idea of legalizing the drinking age so that it would be profitable to the businesses. Likewise, there have been many advantages and disadvantages of why should the government allow young adults drink under the age of 21. To prevent this issue, many Americans have provided reasoning that will support the idea of keeping the minimum legal drinking age where it is now. The government should maintain the minimum legal drinking age in the United States at the age of 21.

There always has been controversy as to should the united states lower the drinking age to 18. Eighteen year olds should have the right to drink. By lowering the drinking age to eighteen it will give people supervision, teach responsibilities, and eighteen years olds are already considered adults; however, it may cause binge drinking, it will lead to more deaths, and drinking damages brains cells and especially the body itself.

When people think of drinking, they think of fun games and parties. However, this depiction is wrong. When individuals under twenty-one drink, consequences emerge. In the United States, the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) is twenty-one. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), the legal drinking age set at twenty-one saves about 900 lives on the road annually (James C. Fell). By having the drinking age at twenty-one, the amount of alcohol consumed decreases. Less drinking results in a drop in potential risks and dangerous acts often associated with alcohol. Individuals under the age of twenty-one are not mature enough to make good choices. Therefore,

In the United States, the legal age limit to drink alcohol is 21 because of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. However, that age group accounts for 17.5% of consumer spending for alcohol nationwide and 90% of that is consumed through binge drinking (Tracy). The legal drinking age is one of America’s most frequently violated drug law. Furthermore, many have still not realized that having such a high minimum age is doing more harm than good (Tracy). Would would happen if the legal drinking age in America changed from 21 to 18? The members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving suggested lowering the drinking age, declaring that drunk driving fatalities increased substantially after many states lowered their

Writer Dedel Kelley said, “The proportion of underage youth who drink has not changed significantly over the past decade in the United States. Indeed, if anything, they are starting to drink at a younger age, and their drinking patterns are becoming more extreme.” Keeping the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) at twenty-one or lowering it to the age of eighteen has been a continuous issue in the United States. People, mostly adolescent teenagers, say it should be lowered because if one is able to vote at the age of eighteen, they should also be allowed to drink. Sure, when a seventeen-year-old turns eighteen they are considered an adult, but age does not define maturity; just because they would be classified as an adult does not mean they can be responsible and handle alcoholic beverages like a parent, for example. The legal drinking age should remain at twenty-one and should not be lowered to the age of eighteen because people who are eighteen years old and younger are still juvenile. If the legal drinking age were to be lowered to eighteen, teenagers put society at risk because most will go behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol; they are not only putting society at risk but also themselves because they could start an early binge drinking habit and affect their health.

Lowering the minimum drinking legal age can educate the 20 years old and below about drinking alcohol and also give them enough experience about how can alcohol affect to their bodies. In addition allowing 20 years old and below to drink early can avoid most cases of binge drinking, alcohol poisoning, car crashes, unexpected pregnancy, and sexual abuse among the young adults because these young adults do not have to hide to drink alcohol and they can drink peacefully in a safe environment like bar and restaurants. Lowering the minimum legal drinking age to 18 is also helps to lower the number of people who use fake Identification and documents to buy

Almost everyone can agree that children and young adults should not drink alcohol until they reach a certain age. Alcohol is a very dangerous substance when it is used incorrectly and immaturely. This can have some very dangerous consequences to anyone who is drinking or anyone around them. This is one of the reasons for the drinking age being 21 in all of the 50 States. Evan though the drinking age has changed many times over the years. This is one instance where civil disobedience should not be exercised. Because of how dangerous underage drinking is to the individual and others who are around that person.

Some people may argue that it shouldn’t be decreased because young brains keep growing until age 22, and if those brains are exposed to alcohol before 22, it could lead to greater health problems later in life. Most can agree that many teenagers are impetuous, brash, are sometimes reckless, and that’s why the drinking age shouldn’t be reduced. Although, most young adults have had alcohol before turning 22, even with complying with the legal drinking age. It’s easy to see why the drinking age shouldn’t be reduced like with an MLDA (minimum legal drinking age) of 21 there are fewer traffic accidents and fatalities according to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). A possible concern is that if the MLDA is decreased, then 16 and 17 year olds might find that since the age is reduced, then they can start drinking and won’t be caught, but there is the inevitable that underage teenagers will drink as stated by a 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 68% of 12th graders claimed that they had tried alcohol. Admittedly, there is always no guarantee that reducing the drinking age will help diminish underage

The legal drinking age should not be lowered to 18, but stay at 21 because It leads to irresponsible behavior and decisions. Young adults who drink tend not to care about their actions. Robert Voas who has worked for the National Highway Administration Office, claims that it would not be a good idea to lower the drinking age to 18. According to Voas, (Believe me when I say that lowering the drinking age would be very dangerous; it would benefit no one except those who profit from alcohol sales.) Young adults who are not 21 years of age tend to make irresponsible decisions like getting behind the wheel drunk. Being a young adult and driving under the influence of alcohol can lead one to a major accident or even death. Lowering the requirement of drinking may benefit underage adults but the death rate of drunk driving will increase rapidly. Robert Voas has studied drunk driving for 40 years and he has seen numerous accidents and deaths of immature young adults

The legal drinking age in the United States is too high. Having the legal drinking age too high, often results in underage drinking. Although it will seem like we are giving into the youths wants by lowering the drinking age, it will be making things a lot safer for them and the people around them. Underage drinking can put children in a lot of dangerous situations, considering that a lot of times their parents do not realize that this is what their children are doing. A lot of times, underage drinking revolves around high school. Students will drink and put their selves in these situations because of peer pressure, the want of fitting in with others, and to be known as the “popular” kid.

Lowering the drinking age to 18 would be medically irresponsible. Drinking under the age of 21 has been linked to several physical issues among young people ("Fact Sheets - Age 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age"). The underage consumption of alcohol can impede the development of the frontal lobes of a young adult’s brain. These lobes are responsible for the regulation of emotions, organizing, and planning. Any damage sustained to this area of the brain can cause problems that last a lifetime, and can even lead to depression and suicide ("Drinking Age ProCon.org"). Although these are very serious dilemmas, there are those who would argue that if the brain were mature enough to make the important decisions, such as voting, fighting and dying for the country, and serving in a jury, it is mature enough to make the decision and handle drinking.

Throughout modern history, laws have been put in place to either help, resolve, or take care of issues that the population faces. A major debate that has been going on for generations is the drinking age. Most people think that this law should be lowered back down to 18, while others believe that it is fine where it is at. Alcohol is something that will always be around because it is seen as something we should enjoy and consume moderately. It becomes an issue when we consume it excessively, and I think this is a huge contribution to the reason why our drinking age is 21 and not 18.

The debate began many years ago and it still continues to this day. Should the legal drinking age be lowered? The argument has always been a very big discussion, with men and women putting out their denials left and right. The fact that there’s decent evidence for both sides, only one brings hard hitting facts that truly make a difference. I think the legal drinking age should not be lowered because it helps prevent youth from driving under the influence, it helps prevent youth from committing crimes, and it prevents incomplete development of the brain (Teen Drunk Driving: The Sobering Facts of Underage DUIs). Although drunk driving may not be one of the leading causes of death, it is still a big issue that should be addressed.

The legal minimum drinking age in the United States should be lowered to eighteen. The United States is one of the only countries that does not allow adults between eighteen and twenty years of age to drink. In the United States, you are considered as an adult when you turn eighteen; you can buy a lottery ticket, use tobacco products, vote and even get a tatoo without parents’ permission, yet you can’t drink alcohol legally (Ogivale, Jessica). In the state of Colorado, you are allowed to smoke recreational marijuana, a drug that has been illegal since 1937, at the age of eighteen. Eighteen year olds should be able to make their own decision about the consumption of alcohol. This law is one of the most backward laws in effect.