Lowering the Drinking Age to 18 Years Essay Example

deemed mature enough to participate in activities like voting, signing contracts, and joining the military, but not permitted to consume alcohol. Numerous campaigns since 2007 have sought to educate and encourage responsible drinking in support of reducing the legal drinking age. This paper suggests lowering the drinking age to 18 as a viable solution (Keen, 2008). Additionally, it will examine the advantages that would come with this change in the legal drinking age.

Although 18-year-olds are not allowed to consume alcohol, they possess a range of legal rights that surpass this restriction. They are treated as adults in the justice system and may even face capital punishment. Moreover, teenagers aged 13-18 can be tried and imprisoned in adult correctional facilities under certain circumstances. It is important to acknowledge that some 18-year-olds are responsible parents but still cannot partake in alcoholic beverages. These situations highlight the flaws in the current legal drinking age system. The fact that 18-year-olds are considered legal adults in more severe scenarios often leads them to underestimate laws prohibiting underage drinking (Engs, 2014).

In the United States, there are young adults who, at just 20 years old, may already have families, run businesses, or hold prestigious careers. However, these individuals face difficulty in understanding the rationales behind certain laws. Moreover, there is a prevalent belief among American youth that upon reaching 18 years of age, they inherit both the responsibilities and privileges of adulthood. Once they turn 18, these young individuals are considered capable of making decisions for themselves—including the option to consume alcohol—despite legal limitations.

States prohibiting individuals aged 18-20 from consuming alcohol is unconstitutional according to the US Constitution, specifically Amendment 14 section

1. This violates their constitutional rights and privileges as legal adults (Engs, 2014). Research has also shown that teenagers, who often exhibit rebellious behavior during puberty, may see breaking the law as a normal way to fit in with their peers. While peer pressure and enjoyment are factors contributing to underage drinking, it is primarily the act of breaking the law that drives alcohol abuse among high school students. In fact, a study conducted found that 87% of participants identified "breaking the law" as the main cause behind underage drinking (What drives underage drinking: An international analysis, 2004).

The rebellious nature in students acknowledges and embraces drinking as a major way to defy the law with minimal consequences. Lowering the drinking age will decrease the rebellious allure of alcohol, leading to a decline in young consumers. Similarly, making alcohol more easily accessible among the younger generation diminishes its mysterious appeal. Loosening alcohol restrictions will greatly reduce the thrill associated with alcohol abuse.

Underage drinking can have fatal consequences and is often associated with a thrill. Binge drinking is a common and dangerous activity in many American Universities. However, in countries where the drinking age is eighteen, such behavior is different. For example, American students between 18-20 years old who study in the UK lead a different lifestyle compared to US students (What drives underage drinking: An international analysis, 2004). American students in the UK do not experience the thrill of breaking the law when drinking alcohol, resulting in moderate consumption as a social activity, rather than the excessive approach taken by American students.

Underage drinking, particularly among college students in the United States, is often viewed as a

way to challenge laws and societal norms rather than being accepted as a normal social activity. Lowering the drinking age would decrease the excitement and rebelliousness associated with drinking, thereby reducing the desire to consume alcohol as an act of defiance. Consequently, there would be a significant decline in alcohol abuse (What drives underage drinking: An international analysis, 2004). Additionally, another argument for lowering the drinking age is based on Americans' drinking behavior. The current legal restriction that prohibits drinking until age 21 leads to a social phenomenon where adults engage in irresponsible drinking practices.

According to research conducted in the USA, a contributing factor to the increase in cases of alcoholism among American adults is the lack of controlled drinking or moderation. It has been observed that responsible individuals in other areas of their lives often participate in binge drinking. The study revealed that 42% of adult alcohol consumers are likely to engage in binge drinking, with an even higher proportion of 72% among young adults aged 18-20 (White ; Hingston, 2014). These findings suggest that many individuals transition from being youth binge drinkers to adult ones. Therefore, lowering the legal drinking age would significantly reduce the prevalence of binge drinking.

Binge drinking is often found in private locations that cannot be reached by law enforcement. Lowering the drinking age to 18 would allow young individuals to learn how to control their alcohol consumption with guidance and supervision. Additionally, consuming alcohol at well-known public establishments such as restaurants and bars would promote moderation, even among inexperienced drinkers. The current higher minimum drinking age forces young people to drink in unsupervised areas where they are more likely

to engage in binge drinking and face various risks. In many cases, these young adults have already taken on additional responsibilities before reaching the legal drinking age of 21 (White ; Hingston, 2014).

Lowering the legal drinking age to 18 would treat young people as adults, but this can be problematic because many 18-year-olds still live with their parents. As a result, parents may feel less responsible for monitoring their children's alcohol consumption. When the drinking age is set at 21, parents tend to trust their children more. It is important to note that countries with a lower drinking age allow students and professors to drink together in social and professional settings, which is not possible in the United States. Reducing the drinking age would effectively address issues such as binge drinking, risky behavior, and irresponsible drinking among young adults. Additionally, it would give parents an opportunity to teach their children about responsible alcohol use and reduce the likelihood of excessive and reckless drinking.

Even though substantial funding has been allocated to law enforcement for enforcing the minimum drinking age act, these measures are ineffective and time-consuming because they primarily target underage alcohol purchase and consumption. As previously stated, teenagers' tendency to engage in rebellious behavior leads them to participate in drinking activities, which further delays the enforcement of the law. By lowering the drinking age to eighteen, it would be possible to reallocate the funds currently utilized for enforcing and regulating underage drinking towards educating these young individuals about responsible alcohol consumption.

The funds could be used for other developmental projects, in addition to addressing the high alcohol consumption rate among high schools. Despite the prevalence of

underage drinking, many high school seniors openly admit to regularly consuming alcohol. Law enforcement officers often choose to admonish rather than apprehend underage drinkers, resulting in a low number of arrests related to this issue. Therefore, if the drinking age were lowered, resources currently dedicated to combating underage drinking could be used more effectively. Furthermore, with crime rates increasing in the United States, it would become less necessary to address minor incidents like underage drinking. This would free up additional manpower, finances, and time to focus on tackling more serious criminal activities.

Although there are drawbacks, it is important to acknowledge the clear benefits of lowering the drinking age. One major disadvantage of a lower legal drinking age is the potential for more drunk driving incidents. However, it is fortunate that there has been a significant decrease in fatalities and accidents caused by drunk driving over the past thirty years.

Alcohol consumption is responsible for about 1,100 deaths annually, with 300 of these deaths not related to traffic incidents (Main, 2013). Among college students surveyed, out of a total of 8 million students, approximately 2 million admitted to driving while intoxicated and over 3 million were passengers in vehicles driven by drunk individuals. Critics argue that the reduction in accidents can be attributed to the increase in the legal drinking age. The age group between 18 and 20 faces a higher risk of driving accidents due to their lack of experience and reckless behavior. Therefore, allowing young people to consume alcohol and drive would inevitably result in fatal accidents. Europe serves as a prominent example where numerous accidents have occurred as a consequence of drunk driving.

European countries

have observed a decline in accidents over the years, suggesting responsible drinking. Despite commonly being perceived as a stimulant, alcohol is actually a depressant and carries a significant risk of addiction (Main, 2013). Commencing alcohol consumption at an early age heightens the likelihood of developing dependency. Numerous young individuals regard alcohol as a symbol of maturity without comprehending the perils and difficulties associated with addiction and rehabilitation. Moreover, alcohol can contribute to the abuse of illicit substances such as bang, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.

The US Department of Health asserts that binge drinking frequently leads to the improper use of additional drugs, posing a greater danger than alcohol alone. Individuals who begin drinking before reaching the legal age are more prone to developing substance abuse problems compared to those who wait until they turn 21. Research also indicates that numerous crimes committed on university campuses are carried out by students under the influence. Young drinkers lack experience and encounter difficulties in controlling their behavior when heavily intoxicated. In fact, intoxicated students constitute 90% of college sexual assaults (White ; Hingston, 2014).

Alcohol has a major impact on sexual assault cases, affecting either the victim or the perpetrator. In certain instances, both individuals involved are under the influence. According to statistics from the US Department, around 97,000 rape cases related to alcohol are reported annually in American colleges. Moreover, alcohol can also contribute to consensual sexual activity. Research conducted among the USA's 8 million college students revealed that 8% admitted to engaging in unprotected sex while intoxicated.

95% of all violent crimes in colleges are connected to alcohol misuse, showing the serious outcomes of permitting underage individuals access

to alcohol. Decreasing the drinking age would unavoidably result in a significant rise in these incidents.

Conclusion

The negative consequences of reducing the drinking age have been extensively documented, providing convincing and valid reasons to maintain the age restriction at 21 years. However, it is clear that the potential benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Therefore, the drinking age should be lowered to an appropriate level of 18 years, aligning with numerous other countries worldwide.

Despite the potential consequences, individuals aged 18-20, primarily students, will continue to consume alcohol. To effectively manage the problem of irresponsible drinking among this younger generation, it is suggested that the legal drinking age be reduced and sufficient guidance and education be provided.

References

• Aaron White & Ralph Hingston. (2014). The Burden of Alcohol Use. Alcohol Research, 35(2): 201-218.
• Engs, R. (2014, March 20). Why the drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based on Research. Retrieved from IU Scholarworks Repository: https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/handle/2022/17594
• Keen, J. (2008, April 1). States weigh lowering drinking age.

Retrieved from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com

(2016). Retrieved from National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: (link). (2004).