Drinking Age Debate

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Recommended: Should the drinking age be increased

Did you know that in the middle ages people drank more alcohol than water because it was commonly believed to be safer (Alcohol Facts: 32 Facts). In today's society we know that alcohol is dangerous and that is why there is many arguments over drinking laws. The drinking age is a controversial topic and there are many side fighting for it to change, or for it to stay the same. 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 In 1933 after prohibition was repealed all most states set their drinking age at 21, however, this soon changed in the early 1970’s. Following the 26th amendment, which dropped the voting age to …show more content…

As a part of the Amethyst Initiative, over 130 college presidents have voted to end the drinking age of 21 (Reynolds). The presidents say that having the drinking age at 21 doesn't stop drinking, but drives it into less supervised areas such as dorm rooms (Reynolds). Megan Abba, a former college student, notes that since there is a limited amount of alcohol at a party, 75% students will “pre game” before the party. This increases their average drink intake from 4.2 to 7.1. This increase can lead to bad habits such as drug use and unprotected sex (Abba). As Megan Abba states “Lowering the drinking age to 18 is not going to increase the amount of alcohol college students that drink. It may, however, save a life by promoting safer drinking habits." Here she explains her opinion on why it should be lowered and explains why she thinks one of the arguments for not lowering is invalid. Colleges are a big chunk of this argument but their are other sides to look …show more content…

In 1983, one year before the National Minimum Drinking Act was passed, 88% of high school seniors confessed to drinking alcohol and 41% confessed to binge drinking. In 2000, 16 years after the act was passed, those numbers had dropped to 73% and 30% ("Arguments for Lowering the Legal”). Raising the drinking age to 21 resulted in an estimated 20,045 lives saved since 1975. It has also lowered youth alcohol-related fatalities by 63% since 1982 ("Arguments for Lowering the Legal”). When asked if they would change the drinking age 68% of teens and adults would keep it at 21, while only 15% of teens would change it ("Arguments for Lowering the Legal”). Now that we looked at a couple perspectives, let us look at a possible

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    Each year, about 5,000 teens are killed or injured in traffic crashes as a result of underage drinking and about 1,900 are due to car accidents. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation) In the newsletter, safety in numbers by National highway traffic administration and U.S department of transportation “Of all the people who died in motor vehicle crashes during 2012, 31 percent died in crashes involving a drunk driver, and this percentage remains unchanged for the past 10 years” (Vol 1, 2013). Crashes involving alcohol include fatal crashes in which a driver had a BAC of .01 g/ ld. or higher (Underage Drinking Statistics)). Deadly crashes involving alcohol are twice as common in teens compared to people 21 and older. This is because teens’ judgment skills are harmed more by alcohol. Teens who drink not only risk hurting themselves, they risk hurting their friends, family, and even strangers when driving intoxicated. Teens and parents both need a strong reminder that underage drinking is illegal and can have disastrous consequences. According to Health Day News, “one study found that in 2011, 36 percent of U.S. college students said they'd gone binge drinking (five or more drinks in one sitting) within the past two weeks, as compared to 43 percent of college students in 1988. Since 2006, the current law has reduced the rate of drunk driving crashes among young Americans” (Preidt, 2014 and DeJong, 2014). This proves that lives have been saved after the legal drinking age increased. According to an article in Time Magazine called “Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered?”, “lowering the drinking age to 18 would stop infantilizing college students, but it would probably kill mor...

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  • Lowering the Drinking Age to 18

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    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.

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  • Debating the Minimum Legal Drinking Age

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    Engs,Professor at Indiana University has been studying the topic of lowering the legal drinking age for the past twenty years. He has found that “a majority of the college students under this age consume alcohol but in an irresponsible manner. This is because drinking by these youth is seen as an enticing “forbidden fruit” (Why the drinking age should be lowered,1). This is not the first time that this policy has been discussed. During the National Prohibition in the 1920s these laws made every state change their MLDA to 21 years old. But these laws were repealed because they were unenforceable and caused other social problems. Facts show that young adult underage are more likely to be “binge” drinkers. 32% of heavy drinkers were underage while only 24% were of legal age (Why the drinking age should be lowered, 1). Research from the 1980s reveal that there has been a decrease in drinking and drinking among students before the law that made every states MLDA 21 years old. But many other factors may have decreased this rate. “There has been an increase in other problems related to heavy and irresponsible drinking among college age youth. Most of these reported behaviors showed little change until after the 21 year old law in 1987. For example from 1982 until 1987 about 46% of students reported "vomiting after drinking." This jumped to over 50% after the law change. Significant increase were also found for other variables: "cutting class after drinking" jumped from 9%

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  • The Drinking Age Must not Be Lowered

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    Lawmakers should not consider lowering the drinking age from twenty-one to eighteen. Despite the deep value this country places on freedom, personal liberties, and personal responsibilities, the data shows that public safety is greatly at risk if the drinking age were to be lowered to twenty-one. A variety of groups believe that the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen deeming that the twenty-one law is unconstitutional. On the opposing side, people agree that the law helps to protect our young people and the communities where they live.

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  • 18 vs. 21: Drinking Age

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    Why do people only want to change the drinking age from 21 to 18, when there are other activities that have limit of age such as marriage at 18, driving at 16 and 35 to be a president? Alcohol plays a major role in today society, which becomes a controversial issue among teens. Alcohol is a mind-altering chemical that is potentially more dangerous than any other drug and can be very destructive. For past few years, many people are trying to lower the drinking age without knowing the negative effects of alcohol and how lowering drinking age would harm our communities. Underage drinking is a serious problem for teenagers in the United States. In 1984 the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed by the federal government, which required all the states to raise their drinking age back to 21. According to the national Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that 21 law has lowered the number of accident and has saved 23,733 lives. Underage alcohol use is more likely to kill young people than all illicit drugs combined In the article, “There’s no benefit in lowering the drinking age,” by Robert Voas try to persuade the reader that lowering the drinking age can be dangerous for the teens . I agree with Voas statement because we should not lower the drinking age to 18 because drinking at underage harm brain development, leads to binge drinking, and increases fatal accidents.

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  • Changing the Drinking Age to 18

    1230 Words  | 3 Pages

    Young teens all get a bad rep when it comes to drinking alcohol. Especially college students that are considered “binge drinkers”. When in reality a nation wide survey of students at 168 colleges and university’s found some interesting things about the underage corrupt youth. 93% of all students have never received a lower grade in a class because of drinking too much. 98% of all college students say that they have never gotten into trouble from an administrator from excessive drinking. While the media continually gives the under twenty one community a bad rep, in reality they are continually practicing safe drinking habits and in some cases not drinking at all. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse by the Institute for Social Research of the University of Michigan, the proportion of non-drinkers in the U.S. just reached a record breaking all time high. The point is that college students drink less than what most people think and are in reality responsible drinkers. So what can be done to change the drinking law to eighteen again? These underage students continually spite the law and show that they can handle the responsibility. It is silly to overlook this and maintain a blind law such as the current drinking law.

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  • Don't lower the drinking Age

    1218 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

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  • Drinking Age Persuasive Essay

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  • Essay On Raising The Drinking Age

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    ( MADD - History ) However, in recent years, a study shows that 80% of college students admit drinking, even though it’s against the law, which reveals the law is ineffective. The opponents of the minimum drinking age argue that the alcohol drinking age should be decreased, as the enforcement of the law is acting insufficiently. Debates rise up as the other groups of critics declare the minimum drinking age should be increased to 25. They convey that the benefits of raising it will be better than the current drinking age. ( Maanvi Singh ) Both of their ideas are important. But, for me, raising the minimum age is my opinion. Regarding to the significant outcome of the current drinking age, 25 drinking age will be more beneficial, reducing rates of drunk driving, crashes, underage drinking and providing a better secure future for the young generations. In addition, the reason I chose this topic is because binge drinking and the rate of alcohol - related death are very serious among youngsters. Yet, they don’t realize how alcohol consumption could lead to. I believe a stricter law need to be implemented to enforce upon them to behave thus protecting and securing their hopeful

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    According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “In 2010, there were approximately 189,000 emergency rooms visits by persons under age 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1) This is an issue that clearly needs to be solved. In the United States, the current legal drinking age is 21. Many states lowered the drinking age to 18 after the voting age was lowered to 18 but Mothers Against Drunk Driving helped to raise the drinking age back to 21 by the 1990’s. Lowering the legal drinking age to 18 once again is a controversial issue that has many pros and cons. Many argue that lowering the drinking age encourages dangerous behaviors and negatively affects one’s health but

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    The drinking age debate has been going on for a vast number of years. The drinking age debate is not something new that has been argued, 190 countries all over the world have tried to lower or higher the minimum drinking age. The United States minimum drinking age is 21,but there's a lot of different countries some have at 15,18 and others have no minimum drinking age. Statistics show that 75-80% of people involved in felony crimes or in serious misdemeanors where under the influence. The minimum drinking in Iceland, Japan, Paraguay, Thailand, Uzbekistan is 20. In Antigua, Barbuda, and Central African Republic the minimum drinking age is 10-15. In 116 countries such as Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, and Brazil the minimum

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  • Should Drinking Age Be 18 Essay

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    The current law regarding the drinking age is ineffective and does not do what it is intended to do. The act regarding when people were allowed to drink was set forth in 1984 and by 1988 all fifty states had changed their law to fit according to what the act said. America is one of twelve countries in the world to have their drinking age at 21. This drinking age should change from twenty-one to eighteen because eighteen is the age of adulthood in the United States, in countries where eighteen is the age limit there are fewer casualties and fewer car accidents, and the current law is ineffective because a majority of teens still drink despite the law.

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  • Drinking Age Interview

    732 Words  | 2 Pages

    This paper is based on an interview done with a Baylor student on the topic of the United States drinking age. In 1984, the United States passed the Drinking Age Act which declares that each state must make their drinking age twenty-one if they want to receive State Highway Funds. This is important because of the people under the age of twenty-one who drink. This happens mostly at parties in high school and in college. The interviewee believes that the drinking age should be reduced back to eighteen due to tobacco age limit, enlistment age limit, and less government regulation.

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  • Benefits Of Lowering The Drinking Age

    552 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Glaser’s op-ed, who is for lowering the drinking age to 18, she states that the current law hasn’t reduced underage drinking, but merely driven it underground to riskier settings. The 21 drinking age law has created more dangerous drinking habits in the youth such as binge drinking, which is consuming excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Binge drinking is most likely seen around college campuses where frat houses have massive amounts of liquor and with no parent supervision, and practically no police enforcement college students are exposed to dangerous drinking. This type of drinking can be seen on a smaller scale at high school parties, but this segregation of ages teaches to kids to binge drink rather than to drink in moderation. Glaser (2015), also stated that the current laws in place have lowered traffic deaths from young people drinking and driving, yet this is still outweighed by the number

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  • Legal Drinking Age Essay

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    Legal drinking age is a controversial topic all over the world. In many countries the legal age to drink alcohol is 18 or lower. The United States is one of the only countries that says a person must be 21 before they are allowed to drink. Why is the U.S. Drinking age so much higher than other countries? Some people believe that the age should be lowered to 18, arguing that at the age of 18, a United States citizen is a legal adult and allowed to make their own decisions. If a mature teenager wants to have a drink every now and again would that really be a huge problem? An irresponsible youth however, would be a danger to themselves and other while intoxicated. Many say that the drinking age should remain at 21 because of the health risks caused by drinking. Alcohol abuse can cause many different diseases and health risks. The main question is why some people believe that the age should be lowered, while other believe that it would be a danger to those drinking and the people around them.

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