Irresponsible consumption of alcohol persists despite the vigilance of parents and guardians in overseeing adolescents' drinking habits. Alcohol is one of the most abused substances, surpassing both illicit drugs and tobacco in consumption.
According to Wechsler and Nelson (987), if the drinking age is lowered, it would establish regulated environments where teenagers can drink under supervision. This would prevent them from engaging in risky drinking behaviors that occur when they feel the need to hide their drinking. Many young adults find drinking exciting despite the legal age restriction of 21 years. Therefore, lowering the drinking age would eliminate the perceived excitement of hiding or disobeying the law.
Considering that individuals who have reached the age of eighteen are legally recognized as adults in the United States, they should be granted the autonomy to make adult decisions. This includes being responsible for the
...ir drinking choices and facing the corresponding outcomes. By decreasing the legal drinking age from twenty-one to eighteen, the prevalence of binge drinking, accidents, and identity fraud offenses may be minimized. Statistical data demonstrates that the fear of legal consequences motivates risky conducts.
There is a tendency for young individuals who are below the legal drinking age to partake in risky drinking situations. The desire to avoid detection drives these underage adults to consume large quantities of alcohol rapidly. The prohibition on alcohol consumption for those under twenty-one hinders their ability to drink in safer environments, such as restaurants, bars, and establishments with liquor licenses (Wechsler and Nelson 988). Consequently, they frequently turn to covertly consuming alcohol at unregulated venues like house parties and fraternity houses. Individuals under twenty-one face an increased likelihood of engaging in binge
drinking.
Keeping the legal drinking age at twenty-one increases the probability of young adults participating in unsafe behaviors, like irresponsible sexual activities, in unsupervised locations (Ertan Yoruk and Yoruk 136). Decreasing the minimum legal drinking age would not only lower the chance of binge drinking and risky sexual behaviors among young adults but also encourage a sense of responsibility and accountability. When individuals reach eighteen years old, granting them autonomy over their future, they are more inclined to act responsibly. Entities such as driving and enlisting in the military acknowledge that eighteen-year-olds possess the capacity to handle responsibilities despite associated risks.
This text provides evidence that 18-year-olds can exhibit responsibility for their actions. They would demonstrate improved decision making, such as reducing the occurrence of binge drinking in hazardous locations. A decrease in binge drinking and associated excessive behavior would result in heightened self-control (Carpenter and Dobkin 521). Consequently, there would be a reduction in accidents and fatalities attributed to excessive alcohol consumption.
Since it’s illegal for individuals under 21 to drink but legal to drive, it often leads to drunk individuals irresponsibly driving. Lowering the age limit would enable young adults to take responsibility for their actions without needing to hide. Hiding while drinking is the main cause of excessive drinking and is a major contributor to accidents. Engaging in alcohol consumption in secret also encourages experimentation. Young adults under 21 often resort to engaging in other criminal activities in order to fit in, as they are determined to have fun at any cost.
Engaging in criminal activities, such as manipulating identities, is prevalent among individuals (Carpenter and Dobkin 521). A common form of this misconduct
is the creation of counterfeit identity cards, enabling unauthorized access to restricted areas. The increasing presence of forged identification cards becomes a needless burden on law enforcement, diverting attention away from more pressing issues such as counterterrorism efforts. Upholding the legal drinking age at 21 encourages young adults to seek and employ counterfeit identification documents for obtaining alcoholic beverages. Given the current heightened concerns regarding national security in the United States, including illegal immigration and terrorism, reducing the prevalence of fake identification documents and promoting adherence to the law would be greatly beneficial.
Lowering the legal drinking age in countries like Portugal, Italy, and France has proven effective in curbing young adults' use of fake documents to get alcohol. These nations have observed that a lower drinking age reduces the thrill associated with obtaining alcohol. However, it is important to acknowledge that while reducing the minimum legal drinking age may have advantages in terms of decreasing crimes, accidents, and binge drinking, alcohol is still recognized as medically risky for young individuals. Opponents of lowering the legal drinking age argue that it could impede the development of young adults since they believe alcohol consumption adversely affects brain frontal lobe development.
The frontal flaps of the mind play a crucial role in planning, organization, and emotional regulation. Exposure to alcohol at an early age increases the risk of negative outcomes such as depression, impaired decision-making, violence, suicidal thoughts, memory loss, dangerous behaviors, and susceptibility to addiction (Windle 98). These facts clearly indicate that lowering the legal drinking age is medically irresponsible. Despite efforts from local authorities, awareness groups, and welfare organizations, alcohol consumption among young adults continues to
be a persistent issue. It can be argued that they will seek unauthorized means to access places where they can continue drinking.
Lowering the legal drinking age to address underage drinking would reduce the appeal of sneaking and hiding alcohol. It would also promote accountability and responsibility among 18-year-old adults. However, it is important for parents and institutions to educate young adults about all aspects of alcohol consumption, including the associated risks (Bonnie and O'Connell 89). Maintaining the twenty-one year old limit based on medical reasons is not realistic.
Lowering the legal drinking age to eighteen years has the potential to effectively regulate the drinking habits of young adults. It presents an opportunity to oversee drinking conditions, habits, and the quality of alcoholic beverages. Additionally, it would decrease other behaviors associated with excessive drinking, such as recklessness. 18-year-olds have proven their capability in handling responsibilities like driving and serving in the military. Hence, drinking should not be treated differently as it involves decision-making with inherent risks.
Concerned agencies should prioritize reducing the age limit for drinking and promoting responsible drinking through relevant education to address the issue of underage drinking (Bonnie, Richard J, and Mary E. O'Connell). This can be achieved by implementing measures such as minimum legal drinking age laws (Carpenter, Christopher, and Carlos Dobkin) and raising awareness about the risks associated with alcohol consumption among young adults (Ertan Yoruk, C., and B. K. Yoruk).
Works Cited
- Bonnie, Richard J, and Mary E. O'Connell. Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility. Washington: National Academies Press, 2003. Print.
- Carpenter, Christopher, and Carlos Dobkin. "The Minimum Legal Drinking Age and Crime." Review of Economics and Statistics 97.2 (2015): 521-524.
Print.
;10.1007/s00148-014-0520-1;.
- Jones, Sandra N., and Vicki D. Lachman. "Continuing the Dialogue: Reducing Minimum Legal Drinking Age Laws from 21 to 18." Journal of Addictions Nursing 22.3 (2011): 138-143. Print.
- Wechsler, Henry, and Toben F. Nelson.
"Will Increasing Alcohol Availability By Lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age Decrease
