Old Enough to Die for our Country, But not Old Enough to Drink?
Freshman year of college, new people, new place, and new freedom. Along with classes, studying, and joining clubs, there is the undeniable and almost unavoidable partying. Paige, a 19 year old Freshman came to college ready to not only learn but have some fun. Little did she know this “fun” could almost cost her life. When she arrived at her first party she was a little worried because she did not know many people around. Of course she had not informed her parents where she would be, and the only person who knew her whereabouts was her roommate. Paige began to drink heavily, as she had never really been taught the effects of alcohol, she soon found herself completely drunk and in need of some help. No one at the party really knew Paige and did not feel the need to help her. As the night dies down, Paige was lying on her back in the corner vomiting violently. She was in need of medical help, but everyone at the party was afraid of the consequences that comes with calling for help. They were sure there would be many legal consequences, so they left Paige with no certainty of what would happen. This awful and unnecessary story shows up far too often in today's society. By lowering the drinking age to 18, young adults will have the opportunity to learn and experience alcohol in a safe and healthy environment. Parents can oversee this activity and school systems can educate, two vital keys to solving this problem. If the legal drinking age was lowered to 18, Paige may have been able to drink in a more responsible manner, safer environment, and received help because other students would be less afraid to call for it. Lower the drinking age to 18 years old, to help save 19 year old Paige and many others!
The first thing people want to do when told they cannot do something is in fact do it! This generation of young adults indeed follows this rule with alcohol. The law states that you need to be 21 years old in order to consume alcohol. The drinking age needs to be lowered to 18 years old in order to be better for the society. When a person turns eighteen they are considered an adult, so they should be able to drink. Telling 18 year olds not to drink in public makes it a tempting thing to do in order to "prove" a status to others. The current law stating that one must be 21 to consume any alcoholic beverage is not working to prevent underage drinking. Many teens around seem to agree that the law is not working and needs to be changed. Some may say that the maturing process has not completed enough and they will not drink responsibly at 18, but that is wrong. The society as a whole in many ways would be greatly benefited by lowering the drinking age to 18.
In the United States one is considered an adult at age 18. Being an adult is quoted as "having the ability to legally work, participate in contracts, vote, marry, give sexual consent, and join the military" (Adult Law Definition 1). The United States says that at this age one gains full legal rights and is liable for their own actions (1). When a person signs up for the military or is home on leave, they cannot even toast to their service to our country if they are not 21. Such a noble sacrifice, serving our country, turns foul when everyone realizes that so many young Americans are treated as second class citizens (Alcohol solution 1). Anti-youth politics disrespect people under 21 by calling them immature children, incapable of being trusted with the right to drink legally (1). These young individuals are not immature children but proud American soldiers, many who have paid the ultimate sacrifice (1)! Spc. Robert Bertoniere compiled a list of nine hundred and sixty-two young American soldiers who gave their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq (1). These young Americans were never given the chance to toast to their service or country (1). Visit http://www.youthrights.org/issues/drinking-age/support-our-troops/ to read the entire list of soldiers that died a proud American without being treated as an equal citizen (1). A person can make a decision to smoke; a dangerous habit that can cause many side effects, but cannot have a glass of wine at supper if they are not of age. At age 18 the United States says that we have control of our lives and can make our own choices, whether they are dangerous or not; drinking should be one of these choices (1).
The drinking law stating that a person must be twenty-one in order to drink can be seen as a challenge to some that are now referred to as adults but still not able to drink (Alcohol solution 1). These new adults are trying many things and starting new paths in life such as college. Many 18 year olds drink, but since it is illegal they are forced to do it in private locations and in a more scandalous way. It is looked at as a cool thing to do, and media encourages this crazy partying. In the fall of 2009 over 100 college presidents including the heads of Virginia Tech, Duke University, and Dartmouth, signed a petition stating that the 21 year old drinking age is not working (McCardell 1). This exploded in the media into a national debate over the legal drinking age (1). Some experts actually blame the drinking age of 21 for contributing to an increase in extreme drinking (1). The National Youth Rights (NYRA) refers to it as a "forbidden fruit" phenomenon, we want what we cannot have (Alcohol solution 1). If the law was changed, drinking at younger ages would not be something cool to try to get away with and would be almost normal and boring (1).
The law states that a person must be twenty-one in order to buy or consume any type of alcohol. This law is not working so clearly it must be changed. The drinking law was changed in 1984, so that all states had the same law (Drinking Age 1). Many states however did not want to raise the drinking age to 21, but the federal government pressured them by threatening to reduce federal transportation funds to those states that refused (1). Some may argue that this law was unfairly passed, and that states should be given the choice to revisit this law and lower the drinking age to 18 to better fit society's needs. As the law is now it does not prevent much underage drinking, many 18 year olds continue to drink whether it is legal or not (1). According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, "Underage drinking accounts for 17.5% ($22.5 billion) of consumer spending for alcohol in the United States. In 2006, 72.2% of twelfth graders reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lives" (1). These statistics prove that the law needs to be revised and logically the entire country would benefit from lowering the legal age to 18.
Many teens seem to agree that the legal drinking age is not working. They have many of the same reasons as the local media uses in their arguments. They are the people who are affected the most by this law and their opinion needs to be heard. Buddy Warren, a teenager from Shepherd Michigan is quoted saying, “"Should be 18, if I can be forced to sign up for a draft at 18 I should be able to buy a draft at 18. If you look at countries that have a lower drinking age alcoholism tends to be lower and so does drunk driving. Drunk driving mainly because they do not do what we do here where you can get your license back, in Germany you drive drunk and get caught, it is the last time you drive, period end of story, no if ands or buts" (Collin 1). Jennifer Vanbonn, a teenager from Texas also shared her opinion saying, “"If you can drive a car and fight for your country you should be able to drink a beer (1). A Facebook poll showed that the majority of people were for the drinking age being 18 (1). The picture below is the graph representing the results from the Facebook poll (1).
Everyone who responded answered the question, “What do you believe the legal drinking age should be in the United States” (1)? The responders were of all ages, races, and genders. The chart shows that the top answer was indeed 18 (1). Everyone's opinion on the drinking age needs to be expressed and heard, especially the teenagers as they are the ones it affects the most.
Some people may say that 18 year olds are not fully mature, and would not drink in a responsible manner, but that is incorrect. The fact that the human brain stops growing at age 21 has little to nothing to do with development of the brain (What age will the human brain stop growing 1). Experts say that “What really matters (in terms of means to learn know info./skills as well as repair slight damage) is the cleverness to generate new neurons as economically as form new synaptic connections which continues throughout your entire existence” (1)! This proves that one is not necessarily any more mature at age 18 than 21 or even 99. The NYRA believes that the laws for the drinking age today are unrealistic and dangerous. They are quoted saying, "Rather than a gradual introduction to drinking over the period of several years the current attitude towards youth drinking says that a person shouldn't have a drop of alcohol until their 21st birthday, and at that time it is perfectly fine to consume 21 shots of hard liquor. This is like preventing someone from learning to drive and then handing them the keys on their 16th birthday with instructions to have fun" (Alcohol Solution 1). With the proper education and introduction to alcohol, 18 year olds can handle the choice of when and how much to drink (1).
The constant problem involving underage drinking could be solved by lowering the legal drinking age to 18. Although the first few years may be a little bit hectic, the situation can be monitored by increased local and state police. The alcohol sales will rise, due to more of the population being able to legally drink. With the increased sales, the sales tax on alcoholic beverages should also be raised. This extra revenue would help pay for the extra policing and also help implement alcohol education programs. These programs would be taught in every school in order to better educate students on the drinking effects, consequences, and laws. With all of these changes, the lowered drinking age would be able to go into effect without causing too much chaos to the society.
The drinking age needs to be lowered to 18 in order to be better for society. When a person turns 18 they are considered an adult, so they should be able to drink. Telling 18 year olds not to drink in public makes it a tempting thing to do in order to "prove" a status to others. Some may say that the maturing process has not completed enough, and they will not drink responsibly at 18, but that is wrong. The laws set in place today are not preventing underage drinking but rather pushing people to hide it. This is making it more dangerous and not allowing a safe environment for a learning process to take place. The society as a whole in many ways would be greatly benefited by lowering the drinking age to 18.
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