. Essay, Research Paper
Lowering the Legal Drinking Age to 18
The legal drinking age in the United States is set at twenty-one years of age. I believe that considering twenty-one as the legal age of maturity is ridiculous. Who is to say that just because an individual is twenty-one means that they are mature enough to consume alcohol in a responsible manner? Changing the legal drinking age to eighteen should be enforced. Eighteen year-old individuals can take on many adult responsibilities, but they do not have the right to consume alcohol. Many feel this is unfair and biased. There is a tremendous controversy over whether to keep the legal drinking age at twenty-one, or to lower it to the legal age of adulthood, 18.
Congress passed the National Minimum Purchase Age Act in 1984. This law was passed to encourage each state to change their legal drinking age to twenty-one years of age. The congress believed that if they raised the minimum drinking age that it would save a significant number of lives. They figured that a twenty-one year old person was more mature than the average eighteen year-old. That, in my opinion, was a huge mistake. Just because a person lives to be twenty-one does not determine how mature they are. For example, there are many teenagers in the world that are considerably more mature than the average twenty-one year-old. The determination of legality in drinking should not be age, but rather maturity and ability to handle responsibility.
The twenty-one restriction seems out of date in today?s society. Many parents of today?s teenagers were legally allowed to drink at the age of eighteen. Today?s teenagers face more responsibility and are treated much differently from the way their parents were treated. If twenty-one is considered so mature, then why is eighteen considered an adult? At the age of eighteen, an individual can vote, serve on a jury, stay out without a curfew, leave home, drive, smoke, buy weapons, engage in financial contracts, fornicate, start a family, be sent to adult prison, join the army, and die for this country. If an eighteen year-old can be held to so many responsibilities, then it seems unfair to say that they are not old enough to drink. At eighteen, a person can even have a closed container of alcohol in their possession, but they cannot drink it. That is absurd! Setting the legal age to purchase and consume alcohol is unrealistic in today?s way of life. Prohibiting the sale of alcohol to people under the age of twenty-one may cause habits such as binge drinking and alcohol abuse. It just causes a rebellion. Keeping the age at twenty-one makes it seem as if an eighteen year-old is not a real adult. Drinking is then viewed as a glamorous activity since it is only for adults. Then, in rebellion, those underage will just find a way around it. For example, many have fake identification cards, steal alcohol from their parents? liquor cabinets, or even put another person in jeopardy by asking someone whom is twenty-one to illegally purchase the alcohol for the underage drinkers. This kind of deceitful attitude does not encourage responsible drinking habits. In addition, this gives young individuals the urge to drink even more when they get older so that they could make up for their so-called lost time, hence causing alcoholism.
The argument against changing the legal drinking age has many issues. Studies show that there was a thirteen- percent decline in the number of single-vehicle nighttime crashes among eighteen through twenty year-olds after the drinking age was raised to twenty-one. I believe that there will always be people that will drink and drive, and there is nothing anyone can do to completely stop it. The answer is not to raise the drinking age, but rather to educate more thoroughly the dangers of drinking alcohol to the youth. The United States is one of the few countries with such a prohibitive drinking age. In Europe, teenagers learn how to drink gradually, not excessively. In France, Spain and Portugal, the per capita consumption of alcohol is greater than in the United States, but the rate of alcoholism and alcohol abuse is still lower. That is the effect of educated and gradual drinking.
Learning how to drink in a safe and moderate manner is more important than worrying about the age of the individual. I believe that the arguments that were made as far as the number of car crashes there were after the legal drinking age was raised was merely a coincidence. People of all ages get into car accidents. Instead of restricting the eighteen year-old adults, the government should set up ways to better educate the public of the dangers and responsibilities that come with drinking. The arguments against lowering the age of the National Minimum Purchase Age Act are insufficient compared to the benefits of having the drinking age changed to eighteen. Since the number twenty-one has no real basis of maturity, the government should have kept the legal drinking age where it was and kept the public educated rather than taking a right away from the adults under the age of twenty-one.
Другие работы по теме:
Old Enough To Vote Old Enough To
Drink Essay, Research Paper What is the significance of the number twenty-one? Is twenty-one the magical age when you are officially declared ?mature?? Why is it then, that when you turn eighteen, you are able to fight for your country? The drinking age should be lowered from twenty-one to eighteen, because if you are old enough to die for your country and help make decisions for your country, than you are old enough, among many other things, to have a drink in your country.
Should The Drinking Age Be Lowered Essay
, Research Paper Should the Drinking Age be lowered? Many questions have been posed concerning the drinking age in all fifty states within the United States. Should it be lowered back to eighteen? What will the consequences be? Will there be more fatalities? What will insurance companies think? And, will it actually serve as a barrier to the underage consumers? All of these questions and many more are only the beginning of the controversy surrounding the legal drinking age.
A Legal Adult Should Have The Right
To Consume Alcohol Essay, Research Paper When someone turns 18, our country considers him an adult, and trusts him with the responsibility of voting, starting a family, purchasing firearms and tobacco products, entering into legal contracts, holding public office, fighting in a war, and dying for his country, a country that doesn’t even allow him to consume alcohol.
Lower The Drinking Age Essay Research Paper
Lower the Drinking Age I think Iowa s drinking age should be lowered to 18. People are legally considered an adult when they turn 18, so they should get the privileges, and have to take the responsibilities of being an adult. The problems our society has with drinking are caused because we look down on people who drink.
Lower The Drinking Age In The United
States Essay, Research Paper The laws for alcohol consumption and use in the United States have changed several times over the past century. The United States has tried prohibition as well as laws requiring a specific age for legal alcohol consumption. None of these measures have had a significant impact on the purposes for which they were designed.
Underage Drinking Age 21 Essay Research Paper
Underage Drinking Why did the United States of America pass a law to increase the drinking age from 18 to 21? The answer is because increasing the drinking age to 21 has effectively reduced the percentage of alcohol related deaths throughout the country. It seems that at 18, youths are not mature enough to handle the responsibilities and consequences that result from the privilege of being able to legally drink alcoholic beverages.
Drinking Age Essay Research Paper Drinking AgeWhy
Drinking Age Essay, Research Paper Drinking Age Why has America had so many problems with underage drinking? I think that there is way too much underage drinking by young adults in America. On the other hand, I don?t believe that it is their fault. I feel, that the lawmakers should lower the drinking age. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1986 forces states to enforce the legal age of 21 years old or lose matching highway funds.
Underage Drinking Essay Research Paper Who is
Underage Drinking Essay, Research Paper Who is to judge whether or not someone underage is mature enough to handle the responsibility of consuming alcohol? The government has set twenty-one years of age as the legal drinking age. This is found to be a little odd by most teenagers. At the age of eighteen, young adults can sign their life away to the government and give their life for the country.
Causes Of Student Drinking Essay Research Paper
College drinking is a growing problem amoung colleges and universites across the country. It has been estimated that at least ten percent of college students are problem drinkers, or “pre-alcoholics.” This problem is a serious one. Each year, more and more students resort to college drinking for a number of various reasons.
Underage Drinking A Big Problem Essay Research
Paper Underage Drinking: A Big Problem Underage drinking is wide spread through out the United States. According to Klaidman, of 10 million people under the age 21 who admitted they’d
Drinking Age Essay Research Paper Since the
Drinking Age Essay, Research Paper Since the increase of the drinking age to 21 has taken effect in New York state, the argument for lowering that limit has been heated. The current age for the
The Legal Drinking Age Should Be Reduced
To Eighteen Essay, Research Paper Should the legal drinking age be eighteen or twenty-one? Why don t we make it nineteen or twenty? It seems to me that we (America) are full of contradictions, and I am not the only one. The Europeans don t understand why the U.S. allows people under twenty-one to have children, use credit cards, buy real estate, act independently of their parents and defend the country during war time-and yet not allow them to consume alcohol.
Underage Drinking Essay Research Paper UNDERAGE DRINKINGSHOULD
Underage Drinking Essay, Research Paper UNDERAGE DRINKING SHOULD THE LEGAL AGE BE When teen-agers turn 18, their parents tell them that they are adults and send them into the world. They go to college, get a job, join the military. They do grown-up things like vote, pay taxes and become parents. But they can?t go to the bar for a beer because when it comes to liquor, they are still just kids.
Under Age Drinking Essay Research Paper Why
Under Age Drinking Essay, Research Paper Why would people who are under age want to drink? Well under age drinking isn’t to uncommon. (1) Studies say that approximately 6% of 10-11 year old children use alcohol. 25% by the age of 14 and 55% by the age of 17. Approximately 92 percent of high school kids have used alcohol, of the 92 percent 64 percent use alcohol on a regular basis.
A Different Sort Of Segregation- Position Paper
On Legalizing Drinking Essay, Research Paper Segregation of a Different Sort “If we [adults between 18 and 21] can still be trusted enough to fight in wars, if we can be trusted enough to vote for our leaders, if we can be trusted enough to have sex, then why the hell can’t we be trusted with a glass of wine?” Shamed Dogan
A Heightened Drinking Age Essay Research Paper
I believe a heightened drinking age would definately not stop underage drinking. Mainly due to the fact that it is considered acceptable in our society already. Drinking, unlike drugs, is considered acceptable in today?s society. It is even considered a right of passage when a person first begins drinking.
The Drinking Age Essay Research Paper Underage
The Drinking Age Essay, Research Paper Underage drinking has always been a major problem in society. The immaturity of teenagers contributes to their inability in understanding the dangerous effects that drinking has on their families and themselves. All they think about is how much fun they will have on Friday nights, bingeing beer.
Legal Drinking Age Should Be 18 Essay
, Research Paper The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered to Eighteen Why is it that eighteen-year-olds can legally obtain a driver’s license, register to vote, be forced into jury duty or a draft, can be tried as an adult and even put to death, but cannot buy and consume alcoholic beverages legally? I think these laws are very contradicting.
Why We Should Keep The Drinking Age
At 21 Essay, Research Paper Why We Should Keep the Drinking Age at Twenty-one By Barry T. Hellman English 116, section 6 Dr. Budler 11 May 2000 Imagine winning the State Basketball Championship. You get back to your house with a few friends and feel a party is in order, so you start drinking a few beers after your parents go to bed.
Drinking And Driving Essay Research Paper Drinking
Drinking And Driving Essay, Research Paper Drinking and Driving is dangerous to yourself and others around you. Alcohol is a depressant, it impairs your ability to drive, slows down your reaction time and causes you to make some risky decisions that you wouldn’t normally take. The penalty for Drinking and Driving is Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
Lowering Drinking Age Essay Research Paper
AGE of ADULTHOOD—18 DRINKING AGE—21? In the 1980’s it was legal for eighteen-year-olds to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages. In 1984, the United States Government pressured the states to raise
Lowering Of Drinking Age Essay Research Paper
Lowering of Drinking Age When teenagers turn eighteen, we tell them they are adults and send them into the world. They go to college, get a job, marry or join the military. They do grown up things like vote, pay taxes and become parents. They can drive cars, buy a gun, smoke, serve on a jury, and go to an adult prison.
Lowering The Drinking Age Essay Research Paper
Laurent 1 English 102 December 1, 1997 Lowering the Drinking Age to 18 Since the increase of the drinking age to 21 has taken effect in New York state, the argument for lowering that limit has been heated. The current age for the consumption of alcohol in the United States is 21 (”Consequences”). Just as it is stated in the following quote, age limits for minors are inconsistent. ” Why is it that 18 year old U.S. citizens can legally obtain a driver’s license, register to vote, be forced into jury duty or a draft, can be tried as an adult and even put to death, but cannot buy and consume alcoholic beverages?”(”Drinking”).
Issues On Lowering The Drinking Age Essay
, Research Paper Issues on lowering the drinking age When one turns eighteen in the U.S, they can drive cars, fly planes, marry, vote, pay taxes, take out loans and risk their life as a member of the U.S. Armed forces, but it is illegal for them to drink. Why do young adults have the liberty to do everything else besides drink at the age of eighteen? Turning eighteen comes with adult responsibilities as well as privileges.
Alcohol Essay Research Paper AlcoholTeenagers in society
Alcohol Essay, Research Paper Alcohol Teenagers in society today have a different outlook on life. They mature at a faster rate then we realize. Many teens start experimenting with alcohol at the young age of thirteen and fourteen (Alcohol and teen drinking Aug 21, 2000). Some start even earlier if they have parents that drink or an older sibling that abuses alcohol.
Alcohol 2 Essay Research Paper Alcohol is
Alcohol 2 Essay, Research Paper Alcohol is a drug, but unlike the other drug , marijuana, cocaine, heroine, and probably all the others for some reason this is socially accepted and is legal. Alcohol is bad for you and does have long term affects associated with it. Such as the long addiction to it, effects on the body, and the social interaction effects.
The Legal Drinking Age Essay Research Paper
The Legal Drinking Age The legal drinking age is twenty-one years old. There is no justification for it to be that high. Many reasons support it being lowered. The legal drinking age in the in the United States should be changed to eighteen years old.
College Students
& Alcohol Essay, Research Paper There are many reasons why campus life has the problems that it does today. One of the biggest problems is student alcohol abuse. Many college students’ lives are ruined because of drinking and abusing alcohol. Drinking alcohol is said to cause young adults to drop-out, fail school, practice unsafe sexual acts, commit crimes such as rape, and unfortunately, even commit suicide.
Binge Drinking Essay Research Paper A study
Binge Drinking Essay, Research Paper A study conducted by researchers at Harvard University found that binge drinking continues to be a widespread problem among U.S. colleges, Reuters reported Sept.
Binge Drinking Essay Research Paper Personal EssayBinge
Binge Drinking Essay, Research Paper Personal Essay Binge Drinking on College Campuses Binge drinking is running rampant on many college campuses and with an ever-growing number of high school students starting to binge drink, it would appear that there is no end in sight. In a study that was conducted by The Harvard School of Public Health, Binge drinking is defined, as having five or more drinks in a row.
Legal Drinking Age Essay Research Paper Drinking
Legal Drinking Age Essay, Research Paper Drinking Age Did you know that in the year 1980 the legal drinking age was only 18? In 1987 there was a law passed that said in order to drink legally and to buy alcohol a person had to be 21. At the age of 18 people are allowed to buy tobacco, vote, get married without parental consent, and even join the armed forces, so why can?t some one who is 18 by alcohol.
The Drinking Age 2 Essay Research Paper
The DRINKING Age Why can’t the legal drinking age be lowered to 18? This is a question asked by thousands of kids and adults under the age of 21years. Over all if you think about it is sort of ignorant how the government made the required drinking age 21, were they thinking that when you reach 21yrs of age you are more responsible and more priveledged than any one else? I guess no one really knows.
The Drinking Age 21 For Everyone Essay
, Research Paper The Drinking Age: 21 For Everyone? Mike Bilyeu In the United States, the legal drinking age for all 50 States and the District of Columbia is 21 years of age. The drinking age is 21 because the
Lowering The Drinking Age A Solution Or
A Problem? Essay, Research Paper Lowering the Drinking Age: A Problem or a Solution? Why is it that 18 year old citizens, like myself, can legally obtain a driver?s license, register to vote, be forced into jury duty or a draft, can be tried as an adult and even be put to death, but cannot buy and consume alcoholic beverages legally? It is hard for me to comprehend as a young American that we can be permitted or subjected to perform actions that affect the lives of other people, but we are not allowed to have the freedom of choice on an issue that directly involves one?s own life.