Why the Drinking Age Should be Lowered to 18 Essay Example

to eighteen.

The argument is that the drinking age of 18 should be lowered to align with other responsibilities granted to individuals at that age by the government, such as joining the armed forces and gaining legal independence. If they are considered capable enough to serve their country in combat, it appears less essential to restrict their access to alcohol. Moreover, these individuals are entrusted with taking lives, so it would be unfair to deny them the same right enjoyed by other adults.

Individuals who are 18 years old or older no longer need parental signatures for most documents pertaining to them, except those related to alcohol consumption. If someone in this age group commits a crime, they will be treated as an adult and face appropriate legal consequences. Once they reach the age of 18, instead of being sent to Juvenile Hall, they can be incarcerated in jail, state prison, federal prison, or even put on death row depending on the severity of their offense. They assume full responsibility for their actions and must accept the resulting outcomes. While the law considers them adults at 18 years old, certain societal establishments impose restrictions on them. Due to America's legal drinking age, bars and many dance clubs only grant entry to individuals who are 21 years old or older, thus denying access to numerous legally recognized adults.

Despite being considered equals by the law, there is a clear distinction between an 18-year-old adult and a 21-year-old adult. Shouldn't they be entitled to the same privileges (Danieal 140)? While certain laws that regulate age-specific activities are necessary, such as voting, alcohol consumption, and

driving which require a high level of responsibility, the division between younger and older adults seems unjustified. Before 1984, the legal drinking age was 18; however, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) successfully campaigned to raise the age limit to 21. This led to the passing of the National Minimum Purchase Age Act in 1984.

The main objective of the law was to decrease drunk driving accidents, a goal that it has achieved partially. However, this law has also restricted the freedoms of individuals aged 18 to 21. Americans highly value personal freedom, including excessive alcohol consumption rights. Unfortunately, this essential freedom is limited due to the enforcement of the 1984 law. Instead of having full control over their lives upon reaching legal adulthood, citizens are obligated to wait an additional three years for equal liberties. By lowering the legal drinking age to 18, all rights would be accessible simultaneously and eliminate current inequality. Furthermore, such a change would significantly reduce temptation for underage drinking as college students who fall between legal adulthood and the legal drinking age often seek excitement in engaging in prohibited activities.

When alcohol is banned, it becomes an enticing forbidden fruit that adds excitement to drinking (Rally 1). Lowering the legal drinking age would eliminate the need for college students to participate in binge drinking parties as they could go to local bars. This would decrease the prevalence of private drinking parties since access to alcohol would no longer be a concern. Additionally, reducing the legal drinking age would result in more social events for individuals 18 and older. Currently, many dance clubs only allow entry to those who

are at least 21 years old due to alcohol regulations. This restriction limits entertainment options for other adults, leading to boredom and potentially dangerous activities. Allowing these adults to engage in more activities would reduce the number of people loitering on the streets, ultimately benefiting society as a whole by reducing unlawful behavior.

To decrease excessive drinking, it would be advantageous if more young adults chose to consume alcohol in public establishments rather than in dorm rooms. Bars and clubs offer a controlled environment with a larger number of people, promoting safer drinking practices. In comparison to private residences, the risk of alcohol poisoning and other alcohol-related issues is significantly diminished in bars and clubs due to the presence of individuals who can identify these problems. The age group of 18-21 has historically faced discrimination based on their age, and it's time to address this unfairness. To align with the prevailing standards of adulthood nationwide, the legal drinking age should be lowered.

Despite viewing alcohol as a social activity rather than a means of altering consciousness, eighteen-year-olds face challenges from financial institutions like Wells Fargo and Bank of America. These institutions offer Visa and Master Cards to recent high school graduates, but at annual percentage rates (APR) that can reach up to 25%. Taking on such significant financial responsibilities is tough for individuals with limited income and no credit history. Even though they are willing to sacrifice their lives for their country, eighteen-year-olds still bear the burden of a 25% APR resulting from short-lived substantial debts while being unable to consume alcohol. Lowering the drinking age becomes necessary when considering that many foreign

nations do not differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate ages for drinking. For example, Amsterdam does not have a drinking age, yet there are very few alcohol-related injuries among those under 21 years old.

Young teenagers are aware that they can consume alcohol, removing the element of rebellion and reducing excitement. This makes alcohol consumption a normal part of life without a fixed endpoint, particularly when there is no minimum age requirement. Moreover, Mexico has a lower drinking age than America, leading to more frequent alcohol-related accidents. If the age limit were aligned with Mexico's, teens would not have to travel there to drink alcohol and this would result in a decrease in such accidents.

Many American teenagers annually go to Mexico to drink at a younger age, which has serious consequences like rape and kidnapping incidents involving young girls. Drinking in Mexico is riskier for eighteen-year-olds compared to America due to factors such as the widespread use of Spanish. If an intoxicated teenager encounters a police officer there, they may get arrested and jailed. Changing the legal drinking age in America would help address these issues by reducing the allure and excitement around underage drinking. As teenagers reach eighteen, their lives change significantly with new responsibilities indicating adulthood; however, alcohol consumption is typically associated with mid-adulthood.

In a society that highly values individual freedom, it is interesting that even though young adults are considered adults in the world, they are unable to make simple choices like drinking. Age alone cannot determine responsibility; some 19-year-olds are responsible while some 22-year-olds are not. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize family and establish open communication

between parents and their children regarding alcohol consumption (Griffieon 1). Additionally, we should create safe and supervised spaces for young adults to socialize so they do not have to resort to inappropriate locations like dirty basements or farmer's fields with cans of Bud. Furthermore, the punishment for drunk driving should consistently increase and be enforced as it is done in Europe where there is zero tolerance for this offense. The lenient justice system and lack of accountability contribute to numerous lives being lost due to irresponsibility. It is important to note that in 1992, the average age of individuals pulled over for drunk driving was 39.7 years old.

Research shows that young people are more afraid of driving while under the influence compared to adults. It is crucial for the United States to realize that promoting responsibility is more effective than solely punishing an activity that young individuals are likely to participate in regardless. Moreover, I believe there should be a stronger focus on education and raising awareness before making any changes to current alcohol-related policies concerning age and college campuses. Drunk driving remains the most prominent issue associated with alcohol consumption; however, instead of directly addressing this problem, existing laws avoid it and send a negative message. The current laws pertaining to drunk driving lack effectiveness as defendants often face minimal or no consequences at all.

The current penalty of losing driving privileges for six months is not enough as many offenders continue to drive unlawfully. It is important to consider the severity of drunk driving, which can lead to fatalities, when imposing punishments. Rather than focusing on strict laws against drinking

and driving, the emphasis is placed on preventing underage drinking. This approach overlooks the problem of drinking and driving while only limiting a small fraction of adults from drinking alcohol. By lowering the legal drinking age and increasing the minimum penalties for DUI, we would be adopting a more responsible approach in addressing this issue.

In taking a step towards a law that addresses the entire problem, rather than what is politically convenient, we restrict freedom by not allowing young adolescents to drink. Lowering the drinking age will bring various benefits to our country, aiding both our economic and political success.