Unit 6 - Drinking Age

Whether the drinking age should be lowered to 18 or not in the United States has sparked a great debate in recent years. People that are against the lowering of the drinking age claim that young adults are not responsible enough to handle the consumption of alcohol. At the age of 18, an adult can legally vote and serve in the military. Shouldn't someone who can make the choice of  risking their lives to fight for their county be able to enjoy an alcoholic beverage? Or even to help elect the leader of our country? These kinds of questions are asked by many people currently fighting for the lowering of the legal drinking age. Some believe that an earlier exposure to alcohol can help one to find out how they react to it and how it effects them. This causes the consumer to behave more appropriately to the substance and adjusts to it accordingly. Another valid point to the lowering of the drinking age is that teenagers who aren't old enough to drink wouldn't illegally have to do it since they would be of appropriate age. This eliminates the rebellious behavior often associated with teenagers to engage in acts that they know they aren't supposed to. They would simply consume the beverage more casually.


















The legal age of drinking varies by country, making it easier to see how it effects them. For example, countries such as China, Italy, and Greece have a lower drinking age but also have less alcohol related problems. These countries also tend to have lower alcohol related accident rates than the U.S. This quote from Dr. Ruth, a professor at Indiana University, accurately explains the mindset of most teenagers and the reasons for their rebellious actions towards alcohol consumption.



"Although the legal purchase age is 21, a majority of young people under this age consume alcohol, and too many of them do so in an irresponsible manner. This is largely because drinking is seen by these youth as an enticing "forbidden fruit," a "badge of rebellion against authority," and a symbol of adulthood. Our nation has twice tried prohibition, first at the state level in the 1850's and at the national level beginning in 1920. These efforts to prevent drinking were unenforceable and created serious social problems such as widespread disrespect for law, the growth of organized crime, and the development of immoderate consumption patterns.
The flaunting of the current age-specific prohibition is readily apparent among young people who, since the increase in the minimum legal drinking age, have tended to drink in a more abuse manner than do those of legal age. This, of course, is exactly what happened in the general public during national Prohibition." To find out what else Dr. Ruth stated about the drinking age, you can read the rest of the interview by visiting this website. The facts and statistics prove that a lower drinking age will not only be safer but will allow for young adults to learn of it's effects. Having a lower drinking age would also prevent young adults from getting in trouble for possession, having a fake ID, and of course, consuming. We can also decrease the number of fatalities related to drinking in the US by lowering the drinking age. This has been proven in countries with a lower drinking age than us. Since drinking has and always will be part of modern culture, I think eventually we will see the drinking age get lowered in the U.S.

http://www.cognac.com/15-reasons-why-drinking-age-should-be-18/