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In the US increasing or lowering the drinking age has been a decades-old debate. Many teenagers believe the drinking age should be lowered to 18 while most disagree. Teenagers mostly present the argument that if a person can vote, join armed forces, purchase a gun, enter parenthood, own property, and sign contracts at the age of 18 then why can’t they purchase a bottle of beer. The most popular counterargument presented by people who vote against them is the drunk driving problem in teenagers. Even if alcohol consumption is prohibited, still teenage drunk driving cases claim many precious lives each year. In this essay, we will discuss if the drinking age should be lowered or left unchanged.
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Why Should The Drinking Age Be Lowered To 18? (700 Word Long Essay Sample)
It has been a decades-old debate in America if the drinking age should be lowered or not. Drinking or consuming alcohol has been linked to various social, physical, and mental health problems as well as chronic illnesses. However, not allowing a citizen to purchase alcohol is also a violation of rights. Teenagers always present the argument that if an 18-year-old can marry, adopt a kid, purchase a gun, go to war for the country, and sign contracts then why can’t they purchase beer. The strong response to this argument is that lowering the drinking age would increase fatalities due to drunk-driving accidents. In this essay, we will present arguments on why the drinking age should be lowered to 18.
Back in the Vietnam war era, the legal drinking age was once lowered to 18. Due to this change, the highway drunk-driving fatalities rose dramatically to an alarming point. The age-21 Minimum drinking age was adopted once again in the whole of the US on July 1, 1988. Since that time the debate has been going on with teenagers desperate for a change. I also support that the legal drinking age should be decreased based on the arguments that are listed below:
Teenagers Learn to Break The Law From A Young Age
Adolescents and teenagers consume alcohol from a very young age and that too without letting anyone know about it. By purchasing and consuming alcohol while it’s prohibited by the law these teenagers learn to break the law for their own benefit. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health Reports of 2016, 24% of youth under the age of 21 drink alcohol. These 24% underage drinkers account for 17.5% of total alcohol consumers of the United States. With such a high number of teenagers learning to break the law, the government should decrease the drinking age so that people start respecting the law.
Legalizing Underage Drinking Will Take Away The Thrill of Drinking
Most teenagers break the law and drink alcohol to make themselves look cool and start acting like adults. People are more attracted to things that are prevented which is why more underage people consume alcohol. Lower drinking age will take away all the thrill from this activity and people will start consuming alcohol in controlled environments. It will make alcohol abuse less of a taboo for teens who are entering college or ending high school.
Lowering Legal Drinking Age Will Lead to Safe Alcohol Consumption
Lowering the drinking age will prevent the risk of binge drinking leading to a drug overdose. If teens are allowed to consume alcoholic beverages they wouldn’t consume excessive amounts as compared to when they are given the opportunity scenario. Allowing them to consume alcohol after being 18 years older will also help them become aware of the safe consumption limits and alcohol overdose.
It Will Promoted A Safe Drinking Environment
Reducing the minimum legal drinking age would also enable young adults (18 years and above) to call the authorities for help when needed. They would no longer have to hide their drinking habit meaning they can call for help if they need it. They will be able to inform authorities about binge drinking habits, Alcohol overdose problems, and when they need a safe ride home after consuming alcohol. Informing the authorities will greatly reduce the possibility of casualties.
It’s Unlawful and A Violation of Rights
Eighteen is the age when teens become adults. After reaching the age of 18 a person can purchase a gun, get a driving license, own property, get married, and even adopt children then why are they not allowed to drink alcohol? It is unlawful to ask people above 18 years of age not to consume alcohol.
Safe Drinking in Supervised Environments
Prohibiting individuals from drinking in controlled drinking environments is the main reason why teenagers start binge drinking at house parties and private places. Drinking without caring about the outcome leads to alcohol overdose and unsafe drinking.
Lowering the Drinking Age is Good for Economy
Lowering the drinking age would mean that more people would be able to legally drink alcohol. Doing this will boost the country’s economy. More revenue will be generated as more tax will be collected because of safe alcohol consumption by everyone.
In conclusion, Federal or capital governments should not interfere with state matters and these decisions should be left for the states to decide. If people of the state agree to lower the drinking age then it should be lowered. There are more benefits of lowering the drinking age as compared to the disadvantages. If we think logically then we all would agree that a lower drinking age with proper regulations would be an ideal scenario to stop alcohol abuse.
Lowering Legal Drinking Age Essay – 250 Word Short Example
Lowering or not lowering the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) has been a years-long debate in America. According to a survey, 86% of Americans believe that the rule should be left unchanged and the drinking age should never be lowered to 18 from 21. On the other hand, teenagers present the argument that if they are allowed to join armed forces, purchase a gun, marry a person, and parent children at 18 then why are they not allowed to purchase alcohol as they are now adults. In this essay, we will present arguments on why the drinking age should never be lowered to 18 years.
Decreasing the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) to 18 years of age is not a constitutional right based on the 3 reasons listed below:
- According to a US district court’s ruling drinking alcohol is not a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution.
- Unlike ethnicity, skin color, or creed; age is not a factor that can be taken as a source of discrimination.
- Lower drinking was the cause of most highway crashes therefore it has a “rational basis” for increasing the consumption age to twenty-one years. This reason is also backed by scientific evidence.
Alcohol poisoning in young people is the main cause of alcohol-related accidents. 18 year old’s are new drivers and adding alcohol into this inexperience complicates the situation and makes it more dangerous. Another reason not to decrease the drinking age is because of the trickle-down effect. New legal age drinkers are the main source of handing over alcohol to underage peers. 21 to 24-year-old people are the main providers of alcohol to 18-21-year-old peers. If the age limit is lowered to 18 then even 14 to 15-year-old kids will also have easy access to alcohol.
Alcohol interferes with the physical and mental wellbeing of a person. Excess use of alcohol can destroy a developing mind resulting in increased dropout rates. During the period when alcohol was available to 18 year old’s the college dropout rate increased from 4% to 13% this shows the minimum age should not be lowered.
In conclusion, lowering the drinking age is not in favor of public safety at this time. Underage drinkers are an equal threat to others and themselves especially when it comes to road accident cases of drunk driving. Human life is far more precious than allowing 18-year-old’s to consume alcohol and claim innocent lives of people.
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❓ Why Is 18 A Good Drinking Age?
18 is a good drinking age because it allows all drinkers to enter a safe/controlled drinking environment. This will also allow the young adults to seek medical help regarding binge drinking without any problem.
❓ How Would Lowering The Drinking Age Help The Economy?
More legal age alcohol consumers will give more tax hence the economy of the country will benefit from this.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/minimum-legal-drinking-age.htm
- https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016.pdf
- https://drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/drupal/The-commercial-value-of-underage-and-pathological-drinking-to-the-alcohol-industry_0.pdf