Changing the Drinking Age in America

567 Words2 Pages

A college freshman walked into his new living quarters on the third floor of the on-campus dormitory to witness his first wild back-to-school college party. Students strolled through each other’s open doorways with red plastic cups in hand. Music blared, a drink was spilled, laughter echoed off the walls, and the young man was offered an alcoholic drink. The young man was encouraged by his new peers to drink, and so he did. But the college freshman was not yet 21 and therefore agreed to many risks by taking that first sip. In my opinion, the drinking age in America should not be lowered. There are too many risks involved in underage intoxication to pass a law promoting drinking at a younger age. There is a widely held opinion that because Europeans drink at a younger age, Americans should be able to do the same. There is some validity in this idea, but American culture lacks the responsible nature of early exposure to alcohol that many Europeans instill into their children. Europeans view alcohol as a part of their lifestyle and a great accompaniment to their flavorful diet. They ...

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