The legal drinking age in the US is 21 years old and there are debates on whether the age should be raised to ensure that the youth are not affected by alcoholism. It is therefore, essential to ensure that there are changes that are adopted to control the effects of the models needed in the systems adopted. There have been many arguments for and against the motion with many people looking to change the models that are used in developing better structures for change. Alcoholism is a problem among the youth and raising the legal drinking age is one of the methods that has been cited to tackle the problem. This argues that the legal drinking age of people in the American society needs to be raised to 21 to curb the level of alcoholism in the country. The pap
...er assesses the advantages that are accrued to individuals and the society as a whole in increasing the drinking age.
The legal drinking age in the society is a topic that is discussed by different countries all over the world since it’s a global problem that has been seen to affect the youth. The level of alcoholism and addiction to drugs can only be compounded by the number of people who are recovering at various rehabilitation centers all over the world. In the US the legal drinking age has been set at 21 when individuals are believed to be mature and have attained rational thought and models to tackle different aspects in their lives. However, the debate on the age limit being too high or too low rages on. Rising the legal drinking age is seen as
a proper model that can be used to control the level of drinking in the society, although these models need to be highly regulated and developed. Depending on the controls adopted the number of people who are affected by alcoholism needs to decrease since there is a negative trend that can be accessed from models that have been created. The effects on individuals are society is so steep that there needs to be changes. An analysis of the reasons for the changes suggested is therefore, critical to gain an understanding of the effects and implementation structures.
Thesis Statement: The legal drinking age in the US should be raised since the current age limit leads to abuse of alcohol by the youths.
One of the main benefits of rising the legal drinking age is the reduction of accidents and deaths as a result of accidents in the society. The number of accidents that are attributable to alcoholics between the age of 18 and 25 in the US accounts for more than 30% of the total number of accidents (Hingson, 2010). Increasing the age to 25 therefore, can ensure that there is a reduction in the number of accidents in the country significantly. The health issues that are associated with binge drinking or alcoholism in the society are also varied. Starting taking alcohol at an early age increases the risk of getting the illnesses since the organs are exposed very early (Hingson, 2010). Raising the age would ensure that more people reduce the health problems due to alcohol as a result of gaining an understanding of the individual models and attributes necessary to create a working atmosphere.
Raising the legal
drinking age of Americans is significant in increasing the overall health of individuals and the society aim general. As individual improved controls would mean that like other drugs that are illegalized or controls that are aimed at ensuring people have helmets on motorcycles, alcoholism is also controlled. The models and methods that are being used in the present society are not enough in ensuring proper control (Coate and Grossman, 1988). Therefore, the government or other ministerial bodies need to develop working structures that are meant to heighten the level of controls. Research has confirmed that alcohol harms the adolescents more that the adults due to the lack of mature development of the brain for the adolescents. At the age of twenty one the brain is not fully developed, but at twenty five an individual can make rational decisions. Alcohol interferes with brain development and can be detrimental to the individual as they grow older therefore more needs to be done to improve the controls that have been developed.
The accidents by motorists have been cited as one of the detrimental effect of alcohol to individuals in the society. There are other effects including the rate of homicide and violence among the youths. The society has witnessed different crimes being committed due to alcohol use in the society that has been seen as a major problem in the society at large. There are different models that can be translated and used to ensure that individuals do not orchestrate crimes in the society through reducing alcohol consumption (Carpenter and Dobkin, 2011). Alcohol is also noted to be harmful to human development especially to individuals under the age of
twenty five who have massive potential in their lives. An alcoholic society loses as a result of individuals being incapacitated and lacking the ideas and models that are meant to make them great and develop the society. The number of people who have lost their relationships and homes as a result of alcohol is very high. Families are broken as a result of alcoholism especially in cases where people blame each other for a teenager’s behavior. The number of rehabilitation centers has also increased in the society as people are looking to control the effects and treat the condition. Raising the legal drinking age of individuals is therefore, critical in giving individuals the best models and ideas that are meant to change and develop their skills in the society accordingly.
One of the models that can be used is through sensitization in the society where members are made aware of the effects before implementing the change. The society needs to embrace the new changes that can only be possible if the changes are highly publicized and lobbied. All people need to understand the importance of these changes especially in colleges. The problem is perennial therefore; it cannot be implemented drastically in the society (Coate and Grossman, 1988). Developing a high level of understanding and implementing the model is therefore, critical. This can only be possible if the individuals agree to the change and giving the college students a chance to advocate for these changes can be very helpful. Since the college students would be the most affected, they need to understand the changes and lead the change in the larger society (Hingson, 2010). Illegal drugs have
been in consumption for years even after being illegalized since the government and other authorities did not target the people that were most affected by the changes to effect the change. Developing a framework that can easily be implemented by the members of the society selling and distributing alcohol in the society is also essential. There needs to be a hands on approach in creating a working model that is aimed at developing the best means for control and implementation of the new approach.
One of the main counterargument is that raising the age limit would lead to people taking cheap and illegalized drugs. Since alcohol has been restricted for individuals in the society, the changes can affect the people detrimentally through increasing the consumption of illegal liquor that cannot be controlled (Carpenter and Dobkin, 2011). The argument that alcohol in moderation is not harmful and no matter the age limit binge drinking is harmful is also one of the arguments that is advanced. The age limit for voting and driving are much lower than drinking, therefore these changes cannot be argued to change the behavior of individuals in the society. Creating awareness and proper models is therefore critical and highly relevant in the society accordingly.
It is important to note that controlling the number of people who access alcohol helps in reducing the probability of use as well as its effects in future. The model may not water-tight but it gives a direction that can be taken to ensure that the decisions made are rational and highly considered in a thought process. There are different models that are used in the society to curb alcoholism, but
the age is one of the areas where these changes can be made more effective (Carpenter and Dobkin, 2011). Regulation and control of alcohol is not made due to the age of individuals consuming the brew but by the models and methods that have been adopted. The change suggested is aimed at ensuring that the systems that are employed are targeted and aimed at ensuring that the controls developed are effective and highly efficient in developing a healthy and sober society. Instead of assessing the effects on individuals, it should be assessed on the society as a whole and the effect of the changes in the long-run. Although there have been suggested structures for ensuring that alcohol does not affect people, it is important to take a proactive rather than a reactive approach to the situation.
In conclusion, raising the legal drinking age is meant to reduce the consumption of alcohol through developing better and more rational thought. Raising the age does not mean that people under twenty one are not rational but at the age of twenty five the decisions made are more thoughtful and directed to ones future. The present age is not insufficient but if there is a chance for the society to develop as whole better approaches need to be developed moving forward.
References
- Carpenter, C., &Dobkin, C. (2011). The minimum legal drinking age and public health. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 25(2), 133-156.
- Coate, D., & Grossman, M. (1988). Effects of alcoholic beverage prices and legal drinking ages on youth alcohol use. The Journal of Law & Economics,31(1), 145-171.
- Hingson, R. W. (2010). Magnitude and prevention of college drinking and related problems. Alcohol Research & Health, 33(1-2),
45-55.
