Legal Drinking Age - 853 Words

Although the debate began many years ago, it still continues to this day. Should the legal drinking age be lowered, or should it not be lowered? The argument has always been massive, with both sides spitting out rebuttals left and right. Despite the fact that both sides showcase decent evidence, only one brings hard-hitting facts that truly make a difference: the legal drinking age should not be lowered because it helps prevents youths from driving drunk, it helps prevent youths from committing violent crimes, and it helps prevent incomplete develop of the brain. Even though drunk driving may not be one of the highest leading causes of death, it is still an enormous issue. As we all know, an inebriated person behind the wheel is extremely†¦show more content†¦Not only will lowering the drinking age increase the amount of drunk driving, but will more than likely increase the rate of accidents caused by drinking and driving. Some minors may even be intimidated by the law, and removing would take away the barrier and show them that it is okay for them to drink at the age of eighteen or nineteen. With this influence in place, the level of drunk driving would decrease, especially in the youth, who are mostly affected by the law, and along with the rate of drinking and driving, the rate of car accidents caused by drunk driving would (presumably) decrease, resulting in the more young lives saved. Along with the prevention of drunk driving, by not lowering the legal age to consume alcohol violent crimes can be prevented. Violent crimes that can help be prevented by this include date rape, abuse, and homicide. Although these do not always occur with the offenders under the influence, but significant amounts of occurrences are the result of alcohol. For example, in a study, it was shown that over fifty percent of male and female students who have committed date rape, or have been raped, were under the influence of alcoholic substances (or drugs). Not only that, but a little less than fifty percent of attackers who commit assault were inebriated, and over seventy-five percent of people who commit homicide had been drinking alcohol. Think about that. If the drinking age were to be lowered to eighteen,Show MoreRelatedIncrease in the Legal Drinking Age870 Words   |  3 PagesAnother reason why the legal drinking age was changed is because of the fact that the adolescent brain is not fully developed; it is supposed that â€Å"excessive alcohol intake causes brain damage† in teens. However, in order for damage to occur, the drinking has to be extremely excessive. If there are only a few of these extreme bingeing â€Å"episodes,† they do no harm to the adolescent brain (Minimum Drinking Age). David J. Hanson, a professor at the University of New York at Potsdam, states, â€Å"There’sRead MoreLowering The Legal Drinking Age857 Words   |  4 PagesAs we know, the United States has the highest drinking age in the world. By 1988 the entire U.S had adopted the Federal Uniform Drinking Age Act, which set the drinking age to twenty-one. However, in 1920 the United States banned the sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcohol. This era known as the Prohibition sparked the popularity of hidden underground bars and events. The Prohibition Era is a prime example of how people did anything to intake alcohol and eventually this ledRead MoreBinge Drinking And The Minimum Legal Drinking Age3264 Words   |  14 PagesKarzhova Marina Erin Beaver English Composition II 5 November 2014 Binge Drinking and the Minimum Legal Drinking Age In the year 1984, President Ronald Reagan enacted a law that increased the minimum drinking Age all U.S states to 21 years. As a result, it is believed that the mortality rates due to road accidents reduced from 5,000 in the 80’s to 2, 000 in 2005 (Dean-Mooney). However, the issue of binge drinking remains unsolved with learning institutions having to deal with it every semester. InRead MoreLegal Drinking Age : Should It Be Altered?1408 Words   |  6 Pages Legal Drinking Age: Should It Be Altered? The legal drinking age has been an ongoing controversy for decades, consisting of people who are for lowering, raising, or keeping the age with multiple reasons behind each side. It is commonly known that consuming alcohol can have life-threatening effects on the human body, but these effects can be much harsher at a younger age. Reducing the age for eighteen year olds may result in senseless acts from the drug. Statistics prove that maintainingRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered955 Words   |  4 PagesIn the United States of America, the National Government requires the states to enforce a legal drinking age of twenty-one. Where as the world average drinking age is eighteen, and in some Countries it is even lower where it is possible to get a beer at sixteen years of age. Taking that into consideration, there is a great deal of controversy in the United States on what the legal age should be to purchase and consume an alcoholic beverage. The largest issue being that you are considered to be anRead More Lowering the Legal Minimum Drinking Age Essay1622 Words   |  7 Pagesunderage drinking has become a major problem, especially on college campuses. But, underage drinking is not purely the root of all accidents related to alcohol. The real problem lies within the unsafe underage drinking habits amongst youth. There are ways that these alcohol-related accidents can be avoided. Several organizations have been created that are targeting a change in the legal drinking age laws. One key way to lower the risk of unsafe drinking is to lower the minimum legal drinking age fromRead MoreShould the Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered to Eighteen?1192 Words   |  5 PagesShould the legal alcohol drinking age be lowered to eighteen? At the age of eighteen years old, you are eligible to vote, you can legally purchase cigarettes, you are eligible for the military draft, you are willing to die for this country, you are even able to serve on a jury, and you are titled as an adult at the age of eighteen. Why can’t someone at the age of eighteen not drink alcohol? Who is to say that just because someone is twenty-one years of age means that they are wise enough to drinkRead MoreLowering the Legal Drinking Age to 18 Essay748 Words   |  3 PagesLowering the Legal Drinking Age to 18 Sarah, an eighteen-year-old college freshman, walks into a convenience store and moves timidly to the back, hoping that no one she knows will see her. Opening the refrigerator door, she pulls out a chilled case of Coors Light. Sarah nervously approaches the cashier, with her fake ID ready to be shown, and places the case of beer on the counter. Upon first sight, the cashier assumes that Sarah is not of legal age to buy beer, because she is petite and looksRead MoreMinimum Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered733 Words   |  3 PagesMinimum Legal Drinking Age Should be Lowered â€Å"Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer.† (Amethyst Initiative: Rethink the Drinking Age). The causes behind the minimum legal drinking age standardization nationally has not been alleviated in the past couple decades and should be repealed. The minimum legal drinking age should be lowered to the age of eighteen whichRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Should Be Legal Essay1215 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"people†. The legal drinking age presently is twenty-one in the United States Of America. I can guarantee you that the underage drinking age rate would drop if the age were brought down. One of the reasons behind drinking is enjoyment but the primary purpose behind underage drinking is â€Å"breaking the law†. The law says an eighteen – year old is mature enough to make his/her life decisions, yet not ready to drink liquor. In the United States there are different rules for various ages, however when