Pros And Cons Of Lowering The Drinking Age At 21

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It is apparent that the legal drinking age has been a long disputed topic. Many people support lowering the drinking age to 18, while others are against lowering it. Although there are pros and cons of keeping the age at 21, it is clear that both parties are concerned for teen safety and to make sure they understand the consequences and dangers associated with the consumption of alcohol. While researching this topic online to get a better understanding of the consequences and benefits of changing the drinking age, I came across your article “Raising the Drinking Age to 21 Has Been a Disastrous 30-Year Experiment” in The New York Times about why the drinking age should be 18. As an 18-year-old college student, I understand why my peers would …show more content…

The minimum drinking age doesn’t just affect the teen safety, it also affects the safety of the general public because young adults are allowed to drive and perform other tasks that be can be dangerous to others. I agree with the logic of the argument that establishing a safe environment for drinking is an effective way to enforce alcohol safety for young people and to prevent them from irresponsible drinking. So if we can’t stop young people from drinking, it may be better to teach them how to drink safely, right? But something to consider is lowering the age to 18, could also possibly make alcohol more accessible to even younger teens. Keeping in mind that some 18-year-old are still high school seniors, it may open up alcohol as the “cool and popular drink” to juniors or sophomores set by the example of their older peers. As a society we have worked towards protecting our young from harmful substances, knowing how irresponsible teenagers and young adults can be (myself included), this may create new problems in high …show more content…

Alcohol interferes greatly with brain development. Because the frontal lobe does not fully develop until around 21, alcohol may tamper with the process and may cripple the brain in the future. In addition, like drugs, it is possible to develop tolerance to alcohol, so if you start drinking at a young age you will have to drink more to get the same “high” or effect. Lowering the age may cause young adults in their 20s to consume even more than they would have. Ms. Nugent, your article opened up supports and benefits to lowering the drinking age and compelled me to think and question my stance on the issue. While I have the utmost respect for your opinions, it is just as important to consider the effect it can have on other age groups as well. With a little bit of research, I am still leaning towards the side against it. There is still a lot of debate on the issue, but keeping the age where it is might be most beneficial until we have further research that says

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    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.

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  • The Legal Age For Drinking Alcohol Should Stay The Same

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    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...

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  • Why the Drinking Age Should Be Lowered to 18

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    Lowering the drinking age to 18 would make a lot of sense in the world. Lowering the drinking age to 18 would make more sense. It would be better for the teens that drink on college campus. The drinking age should be lowered to 18 because you can vote at eighteen, buy tobacco, it’ll reduce the thrill of breaking the law, evidence supports that early introduction of drinking is the safest way to reduce juvenile alcohol abuse, and college people that are not 21 drink also.

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  • Lowering the Drinking Age

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    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...

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  • Lowering the Drinking Age

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  • Keeping the Minimum Legal Drinking Age

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    The government is conducting an idea to whether lower the minimum legal drinking age in the United States or not. Many Americans forbid the idea of legalizing the drinking age so that it would be profitable to the businesses. Likewise, there have been many advantages and disadvantages of why should the government allow young adults drink under the age of 21. To prevent this issue, many Americans have provided reasoning that will support the idea of keeping the minimum legal drinking age where it is now. The government should maintain the minimum legal drinking age in the United States at the age of 21.

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  • The Minimum Legal Drinking Age

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    ...e minimum legal drinking age in the United States should remain at twenty-one years old. Since the National Legal Drinking Age Act was ratified, the consumption of liquor among minors has abated significantly. With the restriction in affect, the United States is definitely a safer place when it comes to alcohol use. Even though, the reduction of the drinking age would get rid of the taboo that surrounds alcohol which would result in fewer teens drinking just to be accepted by their peers, young adolescents now have a harder time getting access to alcohol due to the minimum legal drinking age resulting in less alcohol-affiliated problems and a decrease in damage to their bodies. Teens and alcohol are not a good mix so citizens of the United States should keep them separated as best as they can. By having a minimum age limit of twenty-one, that is a great way to do it.

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  • The Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered

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    DeJong, William. “Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered to 18? No.” American Teacher 93.3 (2008): 3. Wilson OmniFile Full Text Mega Edition. Web. 3 Mar. 2010.

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  • Debating the Minimum Legal Drinking Age

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    One of the most concerning cons is that alcohol consumption interferes with the development of the brains frontal lobes which controls emotional regulation, planning, and organization. Some potential risk factors are addiction, reduced decision-making ability, memory loss, depression, violence, and suicide (Minimal Legal Drinking Age,1). Lowering the MLDA allows public establishments to continue to sell alcohol to people, even if they are obviously intoxicated. “About half of drivers arrested for driving while intoxicated or killed as alcohol-involved drivers in traffic crashes did their drinking at license establishments.” (Minimal Legal Drinking Age, 1) which gives an increase chance of more crashes in heavily populated areas with bars, nightclubs, and other alcohol-selling locations. Studies have found that keeping the MLDA at 21 reduces traffic accidents and fatalities by 13%. (Minimal Legal Drinking Age, 1) Lowering the MLDA to 18 would increase the rate of binge drinking under the age of 18, if MLDA was lowered. (Minimal Legal Drinking Age, 2) Lowering the MLDA to 18 would also give middle schoolers and high schoolers easier access to alcohol. Many believe that 18 year olds are not responsible enough to handle alcohol consumption and is more susceptible to the influence of alcohol. (Pros and Cons of Lowering the Drinking Age,

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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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  • Underage Drinking And The Drinking Age

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    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.

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  • Arguments for and against Lowering the Drinking Age

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    The controversy on the proper drinking age is one that has been repeatedly discussed and researched over the years. Its common to hear the argument “If someone is old enough to take a bullet for their country, they should be allowed to drink alcohol.” But is that enough justification? Some would say no. “According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) it is estimated that in 2004 there were more than 1,700 student deaths, 599,000 injuries, and 696,000 assaults annually associated with excessive drinking” (Fennell 247). Given these numbers, would lowering the drinking age really be the best thing for America’s youth?

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  • Minimum Legal Drinking Age: Should it be Lowered?

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    Turning 18, one becomes an adult, however there are still many things that are restricted and not allowed until one reaches an even older age. The most controversial today is the minimum legal drinking age. Much like in the 1920s, when prohibition was established by the 18th amendment and all alcohol was banned from the United States, underground binge drinking occurred resulting in the opposite of what the law was intended to do. Then in 1933, the 21st amendment overturned that law, making alcohol legal again. Further down the timeline, in 1980 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) was founded to stop drunk driving, support those affected by drunk driving, prevent underage drinking, and overall push for stricter alcohol policy. From their efforts, the federal government put in place a law that would revoke ten percent of any states highway funding who did not have their minimum legal drinking age set to 21. Immediately in 1984, all states raised their legal drinking ages to 21 in fear of being withheld the funding. Today, 30 years later, the law is still in place, however a debate has sprung up in support of lowering the drinking age back to 18. The group Amethyst Initiative, which has gained support from prestigious universities such as Dartmouth, Duke, and Virginia Tech, started this uproar. Through this, the question emerged, should the legal drinking age be lowered back to 18, and what would result if it happens? There are three positions on this issue. Position one wants to keep the drinking age as is, like Matt Nagin in “Top 3 Reasons Why the Drinking Age Should Not be Lowered.” Position two wants the legal drinking age to be lowered back to 18, like Dale Archer M.D. in “The Pros and Cons of Drinking at 18.” And position th...

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  • Lowering Drinking Age to 18

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    According to the drinking age ProCons.org, lowering the drinking age will invite more use of illicit drugs among 18-21 year olds. It is more likely that they will use other illicit drugs. Lowering the minimum drinking age to 21 would increase the number of teens who drink and therefore the number of teens who use other drugs knowing the effects of this situation, and understanding what can happen. Young adults cloud face many more problems than just . Drinking is one step forward to many more drugs. According to drinking age ProCons.org, the minimum drinking age at 21 reduces traffic accidents and fatalities were reduced, 100 of the 102 analyses ( 98 percent) in the 2002 meta-study of the legal drinking age and traffic accidents found higher legal drinking age associated with lower accidents.

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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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