The United Kingdom is known for its high number of alcoholics. It only makes sense that if the adults are drinking, then the teenagers are drinking too. The country has been allowing the young kids to drink since they were five, in private areas, and sixteen in a public place. Although the law has been approved before, some people think that it should not be legal for such young children to drink. The legal drinking age should be at least 18, because children that young are still developing and alcohol has many negative effects on the body. Many Briton teens have been exposed to alcohol, but it is having a very bad impact on their overall health. British teenagers are the fifth most likely group in Europe to admit to binge drinking. The British girls are the heaviest drinking in Europe, while the boys fall in at third, behind Malta and Latvia. This increase in consumption has attributed to more cases of liver disease, which costs the NHS more than 1 billion Euros a year (telegraph.co.uk). “Statistics, based on a 2007 report from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs, showed that 55 percent of girls in the UK consumed five or more drinks at least once a month” (telegraph.co.uk). Why would the government keep allowing these bad habits, which lead to countless deaths, and millions of alcoholics across the country? The government gets revenue from liquor sales, which would explain why they are not all about trying to keep teenagers from drinking. Instead of worrying how fat their wallets are, the government officials should focus more on the wellbeing of the future of Britain, which is the new generation. When teens resort to finding new ways to consume alcohol, such as smoking it, something needs... ... middle of paper ... ...ing alcohol poisoning. People will always have different opinions on topics, but the legal drinking age in the United Kingdom should be increased. Works Cited www.centurycouncil.com. CenturyCouncil. Web. 13 November 2013. Daily Mail Reporter. www.dailymail.co.uk. Mail Online. 7 September 2013. Web. 12 November 2013. www.drinkingmap.com. Drinking Map. Web. 8 November 2013. www.gov.uk. Gov.uk. 8 November 2013. Web. 13 November 2013. www.ias.org.uk. IAS. Web. 12 November 2013. www.news.bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 27 April 2007. Web. 13 November 2013. www.online.wsj.com. WSJ. 8 April 2010. Web. 12 November 2013. www.presstv.com. PressTV. 3 March 2012. Web. 12 November 2013. www.telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph. 2 July 2012. Web. 12 November 2013. www.thetimes.co.uk. The Times. 2 April 2013. Web. 13 November 2013.
According to “Perils of Prohibition: Why We Should Lower the Drinking Age to 18” author Elizabeth M Whelan article which she argues that now a days in society prohibiting the sale of alcohol beverages to young adults specially teens creates a bad atmosphere full of alcohol abuse. She supports this article by explaining two points: First, American teens, rather than European teens, don 't train well to know how to drink in moderation, and second, compare her daughter 's problem with her own when she was a college student, to see their differences during that time of age.
First, the age limit to drink should stay the same has to do with the way the human body develops both mentally and physically. There is scientific evidence that the brain does not fully mature until the age of 21, on average. Before the age of 21, excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to permanent brain damage. Teens who have experienced alcohol withdrawal tend to have difficulties with memory. Since the teenage brain have been exposed to alcohol it will be at risk for being smaller in certain parts. Teenage alcohol can also negatively affecting a person’s memory, motor skills and test-taking ability for the rest of people lives. Research shows that because most of teenagers’ bodies are not ful...
Teenage drinking is something that goes on every day. No matter how many videos you show to kids about drinking they will still drink. Surveys show that the average teen seventeen and up spends $475.00 a year on liquor, mostly beer; that's more than books, soda, coffee, juice and milk combined. Most parents don't know about teenage drinking unless they catch their kids doing it. Parents usually say "oh, my my kid would never do that ", and they're the ones whose kids probably drink more that the average teen. One might ask, how do kids get alcohol? Alcohol is almost as easy to get as a carton of milk, except a teen has to get someone older like a friend, brother or even someone off of the street to purchase it. Another way underage teens get alcohol is a fake I.D. A lot of stores don't care, they just need to ask for an I.D. because they are being watched by security cameras. No matter what city your are in, one in every five stores will sell beer to a minor. If stores stop selling to minors they would lose a lot of business. Looking at the surveys I took at Lincoln on this topic it can been seen what teens think about teenage drinking. The results were shocking! The first Question I asked was "Have you ever drank alcohol?" Of the students surveyed, 16% said no and 84% said yes. The second question was, "How often do you drink?"
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...
As teenagers reach maturity and start developing their social activities to the point where weekend-and often weeknight-parties becomes the regular occurrence, they are often looking for a means to escape soberness. They would to love put their hair down and drink alcohol as they socialize and or dance with their friends, a leisure that they have seen older siblings, parents, friends, television and ultimately society do over and over again. As they graduate from high school and move on with their lives-whether that be to college, a job or travelling-they will be exposed more and more to alcohol and inebriation. Yet if they were to take part in this recreation, they would in fact be committing a crime punishable by a court case and further action. Yet this legal aspect has very little practical effect, because the large majority of the 18 and over age group still drinks. In fact, a recent survey conducted stated that almost half (48%) of all college drinking has been attributed to those who are underage. Furthermore, underage drinking accounts for between 11-20% of all alcohol con...
The legal drinking age should not change because it has saved lives. Everyone who consumes alcohol knows how dangerous the affects can be. Drinking leads to nausea, vomiting, lightheaded and even black outs. As most fatal things of our society, though, it is kept around. When starting young, teenagers get into a habit of drinking. “Kids who start drinking
Since this country was born it has been raised on alcohol, even the prohibition couldn 't stop the Americans from doing what they love to do. But back then they were lenient on the age to consume alcohol. But in 1980’s Ronald Reagan passed the Drinking Age Act which permanently raised the drinking age to twenty-one through out the nation. Which people asked themselves is this right? When at eighteen you 're legally allowed to be on a official jury, vote for the next president and fight for your country. So lowering the drinking age to 18 would make sense.
About five thousand teens die from underage drinking each year from suicide, drunk driving, etc. There are many different effects and causes of teens that start drinking. There is not enough attention to teens that drink and still there is a huge amount of teens still dying each year. Teenage Alcoholism is a huge problem, not in just the United States but all around the world. Stricter laws need to be enforced to lower the rates of teens dying and create a more safe and happy place for teens and adults.
Drinking alcohol habits among adults has been a part of life but for all young people, this could not be right. In my own experience and in the environment I grow up with, I don’t remember that there was a strict age limit for drinking. It’s the parent’s responsibility to guide their children and educate them about bad alcohol drinking habit, since more bad things happen after people getting drunk because of irresponsibility and negligence. It believes that responsibility goes with the age. It also believed that the older your age, the mature you get but in my own opinion it doesn’t apply to all people though. Still, there are some who can’t limit their drinking which led them to terrible drinking problem, accidents and worst jailing time. I think this topic should be explored more since there are lots of lives involve in this case. Even innocent people are victims of alcohol abuse done by other reckless people. So setting an age limit should lessen the devastating effect of too much alcohol drinking. It might not totally help or completely stop the crime brought by alcohol abuse but having a law will discipline all civilians.
Teen drinking is a huge problem today in America. Statistics show that teens are starting to drink younger and younger and that is a huge problem that if not corrected will be catastrophic. How long will we allow underage drinking to plague our society? How long until enough is enough and someone stands up? If something is not done soon it might be too late! It seems like every time one turns on the news there is a story about a teen being killed or injured due to alcohol. Teen drinking has gotten worse and worse over the years making one think why isn't the government doing anything real to stop this epidemic. The laws that are already in place are obviously not working so the government is just not doing their job. Parents are also to blame letting their kids drink and sometimes even buying it for their teens. The drinking age is twenty-one but all these teens are still getting alcohol. At this time I believe the drinking age should stay at twenty-one until there are stricter punishment for alcohol abuse.
The opinions of some people for changing the legal drinking age would agree to change the legal drinking age to 18, the same as the legal voting age, where as there would be opposing people. Both sides have equal arguments, but keeping the age at 21 would be a more intelligent decision considering the health and death issues for minor drinkers. Although drinking is a very interesting and calling thing for minors to do, its consequences could affect not just that person, but if occurring in death, affecting the empty hole created in someone’s life you have once impacted.
Unsupervised, underage drinking has become an epidemic throughout the world, but in the in America more than anywhere else. Even the president’s 19 year old daughter has been arrested for underage drinking. America has the highest legalized drinking age in the world. In fact, only four countries in the world have a legalized drinking age over 18. When we turn 18 in America we are supposed to be adults, but then what is the 21 age mark it is like we get an adult trial version for three years without some freedoms but with all the consequences. For example a twenty-year old, wounded soldier from Iraq can vote, get married, and be tried as an adult, but he can’t even buy a drink! Apparently, we value the condition of his social life more than life itself. Hundreds if not thousands of soldiers have experienced the same scenario. This is nothing new, there is a long history of alcohol ageism.
Nowadays, as the fast development of the modern society, the demand of relaxing and enjoying life tend to increase dramatically. Obviously, drinking is considered as one of the most popular hobbies that most of people in different ages like to do beside eating and entertaining. Unfortunately, while having experience with delicious foods and wonderful entertainment is mostly appropriate, drinking is no longer viewed as an acceptable activity when there are groups of people who are inappropriately taking drinks without thinking about risking their life and breaking rules. There are three reasons why the suitable drinking age should stay at 21 or above instead of reducing it to 18.
In conclusion, underage drinking should never be something that is praised but, it should be looked down upon and should be avoided at all cost. Parents and guardians need to step in to help put a stop to underage drinking. Listen to what their child has to say be there for them when they need someone. The media needs to be more careful of what they put out. Young people need to be more aware of the effects of drinking to help save their lives. More consequences need to be se into place to help get into young peoples minds that underage drinking isn’t ok and it never will be. Alcohol should never be something to turn to for comfort it can ruin lives especially at a young age.
...hat alcohol ban is to intervene in lifestyle and entertainment freedom. They also claim that if we carefully drink alcohol we can prevent from serious problems which damage people. However, they ignore some significant points. One of which is the fact that people who drink alcohol adversely set an example to children. If we can think in terms of the long term effect this may lead to bringing up alcoholic people in the future. Alcohol should be banned because alcohol is a really dangerous beverage which has brought a lot of sorrow and tragic stories to a lot of people’s lives and families, through driving, partying and making bad decisions.