The Drinking Age Should Be Allowed

Why 21? When it comes to an alcohol safety policy, the United States has never attracted more research and public attention than the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA). In the U.S., the legal drinking age is one of the highest worldwide. The MLDA of 21 is to control traffic fatalities, protect young teens from killing themselves while driving under the influence, and prevent damage medically to a developing brain of a young adult. Many Americans believe that the drinking age of 21 has not stopped teen binge drinking events in uncontrolled environments; however, studies have shown that teens have not yet reached an age where they can handle alcohol responsibly, thus the drinking age should remain at 21.

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

The Minimum National Drinking Age should remain at 21 I. Introduction: Starting in 1970 21 states reduced the minimum drinking age to 18. Another 8 reduced it to 19 or 20. However, these states noticed increases in alcohol-related fatalities among teenagers and young adults. As a result, of the 29 states that had lowered their drinking age, 24 raised the age again between 1976 and 1984. By 1984, only three states allowed 18-year-olds to drink all types of alcoholic liquor. The enactment of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 prompted states to raise their legal age for purchase or public possession of alcohol to 21 or risk losing millions in federal highway funds. The states who raised it were given highway funding by the

Drinking Age Who could possibly think it’s smart to lower the national minimum age requirement to buy and consume alcohol? Richard Marron, State Representative of Vermont, thinks it’s a good idea. Ruth C. Engs, Professor of Applied Health Sciences at Indiana University, thinks it’s a good idea. Dwight B. Heath, Professor of Anthropology at Brown University, thinks it’s a good idea. I think it’s a good idea.

Vivian Jones, the author of “Underage Drinking”, questions the drinking age limit, and wants to decrease the age limit for consuming alcohol from twenty-one years old to eighteen. Firstly, Jones defines underage drinking as a danger to young adults and teenagers that are developing. Secondly, Jones states that raising the age limit for drinking is a controversial topic in society. Thirdly, Jones acknowledges that drinking underage is banned and as a result the young adolescents are more allured to drink alcohol and rebel. The author also states that more young Americans are drinking in excess with comparison to the UK. Then, Jones also states that raising the drinking age will not stop the violence and crime, it would only help slightly. Finally, Jones states that underage drinking is a major issue in today’s society. I disagree with the author, the drinking age should be twenty-one because it would first reduce crime, it would prevent death, and finally it would decrease medical problems.

Without a doubt, the United States has been facing serious national problems with underage drinking. Depending on personal ideologies, some people might not agree that the current minimum drinking age of twenty-one is based on scientific facts rather then ideology of prohibitionism. For example, since 1975 over seventeen thousand

The United States’ minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of twenty one is almost a perfect example of a policy with unrealistic expectations and serious unintended consequences. The current policy that the United States has in effect criminalizes youth who consume alcohol at less than twenty one years of age. Young adults are going to drink under twenty one, so why shouldn’t the United States lower the MLDA to eighteen? Following Prohibition in 1933, many states made their MLDA twenty one. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, many states lowered it to eighteen to match the drafting age (Alcohol Policy MD). President Reagan passed The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 which required all states to raise their minimum purchase and public

Do you know of anyone who has had an alcohol related death. There are so many deaths in the U.S alone that have been caused by alcohol. Alcohol is a go to drink now a days. Alcohol has been traced back to around 12,000 years. The MLDA didn’t always used to be set at 21. In the late 60s states began to lower their MLDA, although this resulted in many deaths alcohol related. President Reagan signed off a law saying that the MLDA (Minimum legal drinking age) must be at 21. This was proven to be safer and reduced number of alcohol related deaths.

In the year 1920, the U.S. enforced the Prohibition Act that banned the manufacturing, transportation and sale of all alcohol. The Prohibition lasted a total of 13 years before being abolished in 1933 since the government could not stop the entire country from buying and/or selling alcohol illegally. It seemed that the more they tried to get rid of alcohol, the more people would want it so instead of having continuous law breakers, they’d rather the people drink freely hence Prohibition ending. Drugs, on the other hand, were legal all the way up until 1914, where the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act took place. The Harrison Act basically put a tax on drugs and made it only so that people with sincere medical issues could use certain drugs,

The prominence of alcoholism in the American society dates back to before Puritan settlement. As a result, to prevent the social destruction of our nation, the government began regulating the substance. The efforts resulted in an amendment to the United States Constitution preventing the consumption of alcohol. After public backlash, bootlegging, and homemade toxins appeared more problematic, the amendment was overridden. During the period following the repeal of prohibition the states were each given the task to assign minimal drinking ages for their state; however, this was not the correct decision. While federalism is great, the inconsistency between varying states was not working. This was a catalyst for the federal government establishing 21 as the National minimum drinking age. While President Reagan and his administration saw the drastic effects alcohol has on society, some people disagree. Morris Chafetz, an appointed member of the Presidential Commission on Drunk Driving, was one of the members that voted for the raise in the legal drinking age. Since 1982, where he proposed recommendations for President Regan as chair of the Education and Prevention Committee, he has had an epiphany. An essay written by Morris Chafetz “The 21-Year-Old Drinking Age: I Voted for It’ It Doesn’t Work” presents a changed perceptive. He now believes the legal drinking age should be lowered. While the information provided demonstrates a strong ethos for lowering the age, the author fails

Alcohol consumption and underage drinking has been a major social problem and public health concern for centuries. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), “Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs, and is responsible for

On the topic of the appropriate legal drinking ago, I stand firm on the belief that the legal drinking age should be 18. In every other aspect in America, an 18 year old person is considered an adult, legally and morally. So why aren’t these adults allowed to

Dashia Nugent Pols: 2201 9:30-10:45am class Alcohol Consumption became a sudden issue in my life as I entered college because I became surrounded with people’s mixed views on the issue and ironically my life became more in danger as I was surrounded by more young drunk drivers. I’m sure we all are well informed with the United States concern with alcohol since there are two amendments dedicated to it but that did not stop the conversation because the issue of alcohol-related traffic deaths amongst younger drivers became a growing problem. There were growing concerns for legislation to raise the drinking age to twenty-one, but every state had their own idea and stance on the issue, with no clear solution the federal government got involved.

Like a closed bottle of champagne, some teenagers are shaken up by the expectations of society, Madeirized to the pressures of life and uncorked leaving them

There is no doubt that alcohol is a part of global culture. It acts as a stress reliever, entertainer and is used to stimulate happiness. It is also part of religions, cultures, social lives and even traditions. There are different opinions concerning the consumption of alcohol but it can be said that drinking alcohol has both positive and negative effects. Controversy may arise between opposing sides that those below the age of twenty-one are not responsible enough to drink however are allowed a driving license or a driver’s permit. In the United States of America, society and lawmakers focus more on the negative impacts of alcohol consumption especially when it comes to who we allow drinking, and do not consider that teenagers are able