Who first determined the legal age for drinking alcohol, and why is twenty-one the significant number? Interesting questions one may ask one-self. Although there are many reasons the drinking age should be lowered. However, only three will be discussed. Three reasons why eighteen should be the legal age to drink alcohol, because one can vote and serve in the military at that age, not all of the states in the US and other countries have specified twenty-one being the drinking age, and changing it will cut down young adults drinking. Vote/Military The first reason why eighteen should be the legal age to drink is because one can vote and serve in the military at the same age. Dr. Ruth Engs stated in an interview, the banning of alcohol by young adults (who can vote, serve in the military, etc.) is not working, we need to get rid of this failure and replace it with proven, realistic, and successful approach to fix the situation (Hanson, 1997-2013). The legal age to vote is eighteen in America, the age where young adults make the decision on the country’s future leader, possibly take a bullet for it, but can’t allow them to buy alcohol. If young adults have to trained and kill for the country, as tiring as that is, they should have all the rights to obtain alcohol, because they deserve it. It does not make sense at all to some people. If at the age eighteen, one is legally an adult, can vote and serve in the military, then drinking alcohol should also be the same (Harold, n.d.). States/Countries The second reason why eighteen should be the legal age to drink is because not all of the states in the US and other countries have specified twenty-one being the drinking age. Between 1970 through 1976, the legal drinking age was lowered fro... ... middle of paper ... ...tsdam.edu/alcohol/YouthIssues/1053520190.html#.U2rbYctOXIU Harold, G. (n.d.). Drinking Age Should Be Lowered. Retrieved from http://www.teenink.com/opinion/drugs_alcohol_smoking/article/48104/Drinking-Age-Should-Be-Lowered/ ProCon.org. (2014). Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered from 21 to a Younger Age? Retrieved from http://drinkingage.procon.org/#background Frantz, J. (1997-2013). Europeans Learn Responsible Drinking. Retrieved from http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol/YouthIssues/1077563832.html#.U2rkCstOXIU Hanson, Dr. D., J., Heath, Dr. D., B., & Rudy, J., S. (1997-2013). Rethinking Alcohol Use By The Emerging Adult. Retrieved from http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol/YouthIssues/1046347764.html#.U2reW8tOXIU Ford, G. (1997-2013). Why We Should Lower the Drinking Age to 19. Retrieved from http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol/YouthIssues/1046348192.html#.U2ri9ctOXIU
Lowering the legal drinking age would create problems such as infringing on the mental and physical development of the young drinker. As a respected author, Matt Nagin puts it, “The late teens and early twenties are formative years where character building, leadership in the community, and scholastic excellence should be emphasized. Alcohol detracts from all of these.” In other words, Nagin believes that the teen years are an imperative time of growth in a person’s life. Scientists have proven that the brain is not fully developed until the age of twenty five. If Nagin’s argument is correct, and I believe it is, then people should understand that scientists have proven the negative affects that alcohol has on the development of the brain. Alcohol has the power to kill brain cells and damage growth hormones. By making alcohol legally accessible to an eighteen year old, we are literally poisoning his or her brain.
"Americans Still Oppose Lowering the Drinking Age." Gallup Poll Briefing. (24 July 2014). Web. 19 Feb. 2016. The article provides the views of those who wish to keep the legal drinking age at 21. It states that almost 75% of Americans are still against lowering the drinking age. They believe that the higher age has reduced drinking and driving accidents. Also stated is the belief that since it has been in act for thirty years it should be left the same. The articles also provides statistics based on the specific classes of Americans who are for or against the issue. The purpose of the article is to show readers the benefits of keeping the drinking age as is. It was published on a website that is used to report new and political issues, therefore, allowing it to draw the attention of many people. It is unique in the fact that it provides surveys and information about the specific kinds of people that were surveyed. This article helps me with my thesis because it provides me with the views of people who do not agree with it, therefore, allowing me to show both sides of the
Eastman III, Donald R. “Lowering the Drinking Age: Let’s Keep the Dialogue Open.” St. Petersburg Times. 25 Aug. 2008. Print.
There has been debate on what age should people drink. Many think we should be able to drink at 18 or many people think we should be able to drink at the age 21 or older. Both cases makes some good points of why. There shouldn’t be any debate at all because bottom line the age limit on drinking is fine where it is for many reasons.
America’s government believes that 18 year old young adults are mature enough to enter the army or navy, but are not mature enough to handle an alcoholic beverage. As Lyzi White stated, “You believe that 18 year olds have brains that are mature enough to go to war, to enter marriage, to fulfill legal obligations like voting and jury duty, but not mature enough to drink?”. I completely agree with the point White stated. You’re telling me they are mature enough to kill people and stay away from family for months or even years at a time, but are not mature enough to consume alcohol? If an 18 year old can put their life at risk for their country, what makes you think they’re not mature enough to drink in their own country. I do understand that there is still a lot of mental growth that a person may experience between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, but my argument would be that since they are putting up a fight and protecting our country, they should be able to consume alcohol.
There has been an ongoing controversy in the United States on whether the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen like most of the world or if it should stay at twenty-one. Underage drinking has been a major controversial issue for years, yet why is it not under control? Teenagers are continuing to buy alcohol with fake identification cards, drink, get into bars, and drink illegally. As a teen, I have proof that these things are going on not only in college but in high school as well. There are a lot of factors that come together to why the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen; the most obvious reason is that too many people are drinking before they are twenty-one.
Should the Drinking Age be lowered from 21 to a younger age? ProCon.org. ProCon.org. 10
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 lives have been saved since the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) was changed to age twenty-one (Balkin 167). This shows that even over a short amount of time, a higher MLDA helps decrease the risk of teen suicides, accidents and overdose deaths. However, this widely debated topic has inevitably brought attention to the plethora of supporting and opposing viewpoints. The minimum legal drinking age of twenty-one has shown significant results in the prevention of accidents and death studies across the board. Accordingly, the MLDA should remain at the current age of twenty-one.
There has always been controversy as to whether the drinking age should be lower from 21 to a younger age, like 18. Though there are drawbacks to lowering the drinking age such as, one It may cost for use of illicit drugs. two Its easier to access other drugs, and alcohol. tree it may decrease unsafe drinking activity’s. The benefits would be that it would one get rid of feelings increasing , two people should have freedom of choice and tree, it is wrong to drink at such a young age.
The first establishment of a national drinking age actually started before prohibition. The temperance movement at the time used a minimum drinking age to gradually bring about the ban of alcohol all together. In 1919 the temperance movement got what they wanted and the 18th Amendment was created banning the sale of Alcohol in America. This ultimately failed resulting in increased gang violence and bootlegging. In 1933 due to a change of public opinion the ban was lifted with what is called the 21st Amendment. After prohibition what was left of the temperance movement made sure that a minimum drinking age remained. This made it illegal for anyone under 21 to buy liquor but in some states you could still buy beer at 18. This remained the case for the next forty years. In the early 70’s when baby boomers were dealing with the Vietnam war there was pressure to lower the drinking age, so many states (29 of them) lowered the LDA to either 18 or 19. The big argument was that if one could die in combat why couldn’t he have a drink. But, as the baby boomers aged there wasn’t as much support for these liberties so by the 80’s most states went back to 21. Then in 1984 the National Minimum Drinking Age Act passed which forced all states to adopt a drinking age of 21 within 2 years or face being cut federal funds for state highways.
Despite the problems that would arise, many people are beginning to feel that the drinking age should be lowered from twenty-one to eighteen. Studies have been made; however, no hard evidence suggesting lowering the minimum drinking age would help have surfaced. Although there are countless studies of how alcohol has many harmful effects on teenagers, there is a great deal of negative criticism about what if the drinking age is lowered. Some would say the morally right decision is to not allow teens the chance to hurt themselves. Everyone is entitled to having his or her own opinions and beliefs. However, the overall health of the youth of our country seems a little more important than some personal belief. The drinking age should not be lowered due to the fact drunk driving, juvenile delinquency, and alcohol-related medical issues related to teens will increase.
The debate of whether the minimum legal drinking age should be lowered or not has been around for many years even since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 raised the MLDA to age 21. Prior to that, the government has t...
Before we look at some of the perspectives of this issue, let us look at a little bit of history. The drinking age has fluctuated a lot over history and is still debated today. In 1933 after prohibition was repealed all most states set their drinking age at 21, however, this soon changed in the early 1970’s. Following the 26th amendment, which dropped the voting age to
Living in a state where it is acceptable for minors under the age of twenty-one to drink in the comfort of their home – with the parents’ consent of course, I have no issue. There are several debates on whether or not the U.S. legal drinking age should be lowered to eighteen, while others question if it is appropriate for parents to allow their minor to consume alcohol. According to the law, the age of eighteen means you are a “legal adult.” Although that is true, it takes a lot of commitment to be responsible rather than to wake up and say, “Whoa, I’m eighteen, time to face reality by myself.” Please acknowledge this argument to give you a certain perspective on the laws of alcohol.
The drinking age should be lowered from twenty-one to eighteen. People resort to alcohol for a number of reasons. Some of this reasons include; celebration, peer pressure, boredom, sadness, insomnia, rebellion and anxiety. Additionally, teenagers are universally acknowledged and categorized as young adults. The legal drinking age across the continents varies and there are concrete reasons to support each legal age proposed by each nation. Owing to this fact, the current legal drinking is twenty-one but when it comes to the illegal drinking age, it goes down to as far as age zero. In this case, the question of why the age of illegal drinking is that low is one of the questions that so many individuals are trying to come to terms with. In other words, it is believed that if the current legal age for drinking is lowered then the percentage of under-age drinking will drastically drop. Therefore, we’ll explore reasons why the legal drinking age should be eighteen.