Why the U.S Legal Drinking Age should be Lowered to eighteen

786 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Why drinking age should be lowered to 18

It is believed that when a person turns eighteen they are considered to be adults. Adults are able to live an independent life, not having to depend on their parents for anything but in fact, they work hard for it, reaping what they sow and be able to learn how to do things on their own. When a person is considered an adult, they have entered a whole different stage and a whole different chapter of their lives. Majority of the adult’s life revolves around alcohol. Alcohol has been around for centuries and it has played a great impact in the lives of many people. For one good reason, it is a symbol of happiness and joy that brings together friends and acquaintance to enjoy quality time.
In most states, the drinking age remains to twenty one but for some, like Colorado, teens are allowed to drink even when they haven't reached the legal age, as long as they have permission from their parents or guardian, according

Martinez 2 to Edgar Snyder, a known lawyer from PA says, “Still to this point, teens have been drinking at the age of eighteen regarding some circumstances and they've been violating the law from time to time”. Teens feel like it is their right to drink at the age of eighteen since they've reached the adult age and that's when they have gained full responsibilities such as being able to marry, the right to own firearm and even be enlisted in armed forces. Although some people viewed this as a symbol of rising against authority, when a person reaches the adult age they are given adult privileges and purchasing alcohol and drinking should be considered a part of those privileges.
Alcohol is a type de...

... middle of paper ...

...year olds are allowed to do the boring part of our government but not allowed to have fun while they’re doing it. I understand why the government can think that people under twenty one shouldn’t drink or gamble, because of “addiction”. Kids under twenty one should not be exposed to that kind of addiction so early.
Speaking from experience, underage college students gets involved more in alcoholic activities than legal age kids. It has been proven that college drinking levels are higher than what is expected and if we compare the drinking rate to that of other countries, the excessive drinking rate is high and is more common on American college campuses. This, however is my first reason of why the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen. More and more college kids have been violating the law by drinking on school campuses and in unsupervised housing off-campus.

Show More
Related

  • The Consequences of Lowering the Legal Age for Consumption of Alcohol

    604 Words  | 2 Pages

    Eighteen year olds are just not responsible enough to handle the freedom of being able to legally drink. S...

    Read More

  • Underage Drinking: Enforcing The Drinking Age

    1155 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many adults these days could tell stories from college about all the frat parties they've been to, all their high school house party experiences, and how many times they've been absolutely ¨hammered¨. And during these uncontrolled occasions, there is no adult supervision whatsoever. Furthermore, it is nearly impossible for police authorities to be able to monitor and know what is going on in an individual’s house. Besides, enforcing the drinking age isn’t really a priority for the police anyway. Many of them know it will continue, plus, when they do manage to catch and arrest someone for illegal drinking, it takes a great amount of time and effort for paperwork and processing. (ProCon.org)* And also because most youths view the age limit as arbitrary, which causes them to have a certain disrespect for the law. (Chafetz)* One main reas...

    Read More

  • Lowering the Drinking Age

    1529 Words  | 4 Pages

    Primarily, the drinking age should be lowered to teach responsibility and safety in young adults. The idea seems paradoxical; however, the high drinking age that is present in the U.S. today has only pushed underage drinking underground (Balko 458). In fact, America has the highest minimum drinking age in the world (Balko 459). Even though the American drinking age remains high, America still remains with an astonishingly large number of alcohol-related accidents and deaths. Is this statement a coincidence? Throughout the years alcohol has become more and more of an issue in young adults, but the correct actions are not taking place. If alcohol were to legally be put in the hands of Americans eighteen and above, these individuals would likely be forced to learn a sense of safety and responsibility. As stated by Caryn Sul...

    Read More

  • Lowering the Drinking Age

    1790 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lowering the drinking age from twenty-one to eighteen is a good idea because it will most likely promote responsibility, alcohol consumption will be more controlled, and, if not done so, it is posing as discrimination against the eighteen to twenty age group; however, lowering the legal drinking age back to eighteen can be fatal because the brains of the eighteen to twenty year old age groups are not fully developed, binge drinking and alcohol addiction rates will go up, and the drinking and driving rates will increase.

    Read More

  • Lowering the Drinking Age to 18

    2613 Words  | 6 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Keeping the Minimum Legal Drinking Age

    1296 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... Legal Drinking Age to 18 Nationwide." Gallup. N.p., 27 July 2007. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. .

    Read More

  • The Minimum Legal Drinking Age

    1713 Words  | 4 Pages

    Bob Marley once said, “Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction.” This is the case when it comes to teens and alcohol. In America, the National Minimum Legal Drinking Age is a topic of great debate and controversy. Many people argue that the age restriction provides a safe environment for all citizens; whereas others disagree that the law creates an untrustworthy aura among teens. If the minimum legal drinking age were to be lowered, most people would be affected by it, whether it be by an increase in drunk-driving or a rise in crimes. Although teens are legally considered adults by the age of eighteen and the minimum legal drinking age prompts underage teens to exhibit risky behavior, the age restriction should not be lowered from twenty-one to eighteen because young teens would have easier access to alcohol, the minimum legal drinking age has decreased alcohol-related problems, and alcohol can cause damage to underage drinkers.

    Read More

  • Reconsidering the National Minimum Age Drinking Act

    1457 Words  | 3 Pages

    The legal age to consume alcohol in our nation, The United States of America, is 21 years of age; although, it was previously allowed at the age of 18, when one is accepted in adulthood. The National Minimum Drinking Age of punished every state that allowed persons under 21 years of age to purchase and publicly possess alcoholic beverages

    Read More

  • The Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered

    1712 Words  | 4 Pages

    We knocked on the door of the off-campus apartment, as it opened we were confronted with the heavy stench of alcohol. A young girl was passed out on the living room floor, a pile of empty beer cans filled the kitchen sink, and the deafening music rattled the window panes. A group of girls managed to stumble past us. They waved goodbye to the host, who was handing drinks to me and my sister. It was not my first time drinking. In fact, everyone there was quite experienced – after all, it’s college. Half of the guests were completely drunk, and I had no problem with it. That is, until later that night when my sister locked herself in a room with a guy she had met only a week before. This prompted me to seriously consider the effects of alcohol. Would my sister have been able to see the danger of the situation had she been sober? Would the absence of alcohol have prevented the events of that night from occurring? These questions, along with the vivid memory of that night, fueled my examination of the complex social problem of underage drinking.

    Read More

  • Debating the Minimum Legal Drinking Age

    1610 Words  | 4 Pages

    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%

    Read More

  • The Drinking Age Must not Be Lowered

    1746 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Arguments for and against Lowering the Drinking Age

    1916 Words  | 4 Pages

    In fact, the state and federal laws for consuming alcohol are different. “The federal law requires states to prohibit purchase and public possession of alcoholic beverages [for people under the age of 21]. Contrary to belief, it does not require prohibition of minors from drinking alcoholic beverages” (Minimum). This means that the severity of restrictions depend on what state you live in. For example, residents of Missouri have some of the most lax alcohol consumption laws in the country. It is one of six states that allow parents and guardians to provide alcohol to their children (Missouri). However, the lucky Kansans out there have it a little differently. Kansas’ law states that no one under the age of 21 can “possess, consume, obtain, purchase, or attempt to obtain or purchase alcoholic liquor” (Kansas).

    Read More

  • The Legal Drinking Age Should Remain at 21

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    Some laws even make it easier for teens to drink, like in some states if a parent purchases the alcohol it is fine for the teen to drink. That law is abused though since one parent will buy beer for a complete party and not just for their teen. There have been some cases where the cops have cracked down on this problem but not enough. Teens are not seeing underage drinking as something wrong whether it be because they think it will help them fit in or to cover up feelings of sadness or hatred. When a teen sees the "cool" kids drink they want to join in so that they ...

    Read More

  • Lowering Drinking Age to 18

    1208 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • 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.

    Read More

More about Why the U.S Legal Drinking Age should be Lowered to eighteen

Open Document