The U.S. legal drinking age should remain 21-years-old and not be lowered to 18-years-old, because it will save lives and improve society overall. A 2007 report published by the non-profit organization Common Sense for Drug Policy stated, “Every year in the U.S. an average of 85,000 people die due to excessive alcohol consumption.”
Full Answer
Why we should lower the drinking age to 18?
The drinking age should be lowered to 18 because you can vote at eighteen, buy tobacco, it’ll reduce the thrill of breaking the law, evidence supports that early introduction of drinking is the safest way to reduce juvenile alcohol abuse, and college people that are not 21 drink also.
Should we lower the drinking age back to 18?
Yes, the U.S. should lower the drinking age to 18. Yes, I believe that the US should lower the drinking age to 18. The legal age of drinking, 21, seems as if it was arbitrarily picked rather than thought out as a good age to drink. In the US, an adult is considered anyone who is 18 or older.
Why shouldnt the drinking age be lowered to 18?
The drinking age shouldn’t be lowered because of three very real risks: drunk driving, alcohol poisoning, and violent and/or destructive behavior. … Why lowering the drinking age is bad? Our study found that a lower drinking age was associated with a statistically higher risk of unintended pregnancy and, largely as a result, worse infant health.
What state(s) allow drinking at 18 years of age?
There are only five states with no exceptions to the federal law: Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, New Hampshire, and West Virginia. Is drinking age 18 in any state? In Canada, most provinces have a minimum age of 19 years to buy or consume alcohol, while Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, the minimum age is 18 years.
Why should we leave the drinking age the same?
We need to leave the drinking age the same so we can concentrate on more important things for this great country.
What is the legal drinking age in the United States?
Alcohol is consumed around the world and the United States, along with a few other countries continue to keep the drinking age at 21. But many countries such as China, France, Italy and Spain have a legal drinking age of 18. These countries allow their youth to consume alcohol, but are taught to drink in moderation.
How old is too old to drink in New Zealand?
The American Journal of Public Health reported after New Zealand lowered the drinking age from 20 to 18, drunk driving crashes increased, youth started drinking alcohol even younger, binge drinking escalated, and in the first year following the change in age requirement, there was a 50 percent increase in intoxicated 18 and 19-year-old patients at the Auckland City Hospital emergency room.
Why is age restriction important?
The age restriction inspires undesirable activities just as the National Prohibition Act did. From 1920 to 1933, Prohibition gave rise to organized crime and illegal activity. Also, our strict alcohol policies tempt the under-aged, making it more desirable for those who aren’t allowed to consume it.
Why do teens get drunk faster than adults?
Teens react differently to alcohol since their bodies are not fully developed, which means they get drunk faster than the average adult. According to research published in the scholarly journal “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research” in 2000, even into our early 20s the human brain is still growing and developing so “drinking alcohol during that time can damage short and long-term brain growth and that damage can be permanent.”
Why is the age of 21 not set?
The age was not set at 21 just to annoy America’s youth, but to increase safety. The comparison is often made to European countries, since they have a lower drinking age. Many people argue alcohol use there is more of a lifestyle and not about just wanting to get drunk.
How old do you have to be to drink alcohol?
The laws on alcohol consumption are unreasonable and ineffective. Even though the law clearly states a person must be 21 or older to purchase alcohol, young people always get their hands on it.
Why is the drinking age 21?
Why is the drinking age 21 in the first place?#N#The legal drinking age in the United States has been 21 since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984. When President Ronald "Just Say No" Reagan signed the act, he issued a blanket requirement for all states to raise their drinking age, or risk losing highway funding from the government. (Keep in mind, the week before, Reagan had publicly stated ice cream was "a wholesome and nutritious food.") Previously, states had varying drinking ages (from 18 to the now-standard 21), some of which had separate laws for beer and hard liquor (for instance, 18 for beer, 21 for liquor). So, you could be legally withheld from buying a fifth in one state, but then physically walk over an imaginary line in the ground into another, buy all the bottles of sweet, sweet whiskey your little heart coveted, get boozed up, and then just go home. And people did this. Frequently.
How many people are alive today because of the 21 drinking age?
In short, there are more than 25,000 people alive today because of the 21 minimum drinking age law in every state.". From 1982 (remember, this is pre-reform) to 1995, fatal car crashes involving young people with positive BACs dropped from 61% to 31%. That's a considerable difference. Advertisement.
How many cases of alcohol poisoning in the US between 1998 and 2005?
And even despite the age-based prohibition, young drinkers still overdo it. The number of reported cases of alcohol poisoning rose from 779 to 2,290 between 1998 and 2005 for 18-24-year-olds in the US.
Is alcohol forbidden to an American under 21?
Alcohol to an American under age 21 is "forbidden fruit ," that entices with its "Don't do this!" . mystique, and forces kids into risky behavior. I don't need a study to back me up. I was a teenager who -- to be totally honest -- engaged in a fair share of illegal drinking.
Can 18 year olds vote?
Advertisement. In America, eighteen-year-olds can vote, operate a motor vehicle, pay taxes, marry, become a legal guardian, own a gun, fight and die in a foreign country, and even become governor of the great state of Rhode Island. One could easily argue that one or many of those bears way more responsibility than drinking alcohol.
Do European teens spend more time intoxicated than Americans?
This study, however, conducted by the Prevention Research Center, contends that European teens spend more time intoxicated than Americans, which is to some, example enough that the European model of a lower drinking age would be harmful.
Why the drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based upon research
Engs, Ruth C. (1997, 2014). “Why the drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based upon research. Indiana University: Bloomington, IN. Adapted from: IUScholarWorks Repository: http://hdl.handle.net/2022/17594
Summary
The legal drinking age should be lowered to about 18 or 19 and young adults allowed to drink in controlled environments such as restaurants, taverns, pubs and official school and university functions. In these situations responsible drinking could be taught through role modeling and educational programs.
Why should the drinking age be lowered to 18?
The argument against lowering the drinking age to 18 is that it would be medically irresponsible to do so. At the age of 18, there is still growth going on that could be disrupted by the inclusion of alcohol. This may even lead to chronic health problems later on in life.
What is the legal drinking age in the US?
Before highway funds were tied to a mandated national drinking age in 1984, some 30 states had already lowered the legal drinking age to 18 or 19. The age of 18 is treated as the age of majority, so this age demographic is allowed to serve in the military, vote, and smoke, but they aren’t allowed to drink.
How many deaths are caused by underage drinking?
1. 4,300. That’s the number of deaths that are attributed to underage drinking in the United States every year.#N#2. 67% of high school students self-report that they binge drink regularly, or have 5 drinks within a limited time span.#N#3. There are approximately 1.5 billion episodes of binge drinking among persons aged 18 years or older in the United States annually, but most incidents occur when adults at or above the age of 26 are present.#N#4. 17.5% of the alcohol that is purchased in the United States comes from underage purchasers.#N#5. In 2009, the 21- to 24-year-old age group had the highest percentage of drivers in fatal crashes with a higher than legal BAC level.#N#6. The rates of fatal traffic accidents has not decreased as much as it has in Europe since the adoption of a 21 only drinking age in 1984, despite Europe having younger drinking ages.#N#7. Since 1982, there has been a decline of drunk driving fatalities in all age demographics, which means a 21 only drinking age cannot be the only cause of this reduction.#N#8. In 2006, 72.2% of twelfth graders reported drinking alcohol at some point in their lives.#N#9. Only 1 out of every 500 underage drinking incidents in the US will result in an arrest.#N#10. 72% of the studies examined in 2002 on legal drinking ages and social or health problems found no statistically significant relationship despite claims that lowering the MLDA to 18 would increase suicide and criminal activities by adolescents.#N#11. Binge drinking peaks among 21-5-year-olds at 45.9%. The 18-20 age demographic binge drinks at a 35.7% rate, despite it being illegal.#N#12. The number of Americans who would oppose lowering the drinking age to 18: 77%.#N#13. Adults in the 18–25 age demographic report that on average, they drank on 36 days in the previous year and typically consumed 5.1 drinks on the days they drank.
How many underage drinking incidents result in arrest?
Only 1 out of every 500 underage drinking incidents in the US will result in an arrest. 10. 72% of the studies examined in 2002 on legal drinking ages and social or health problems found no statistically significant relationship despite claims that lowering the MLDA to 18 would increase suicide and criminal activities by adolescents.
What age can you smoke and serve in the military?
The age of 18 is treated as the age of majority, so this age demographic is allowed to serve in the military, vote, and smoke, but they aren’t allowed to drink.
Is wine a part of life in France?
Alcohol consumption isn’t glorified or treated as something that can express rebellion. It is treated as a normal part of life. In return, binge drinking rates are much lower.
Is There a Danger To Lowering the Drinking Age to 18?
After the drinking age was lowered to 18 in the 1970’s, several states noted that there was an increase in highway accidents and fatalities. It is true that people are typically more mature at the age of 21 then at age 18, but there is also a certain stigma on alcohol that American society has.
When was the drinking age changed?
It used to be that you couldn’t vote, drink or enter into binding legal contracts until you were 21 in most states. When the Constitution was changed in 1971 to let 18-year-olds vote, a number of states, but not all, lowered the drinking age to 18 as well.
Why can't the USA lower its alcohol consumption age?
The USA cannot lower it’s alcohol consumption age to 18, because the USA is not in charge of that. The US is a union of States, and this does not fall under federal powers.
What happened to people who were too young to drink in their own state?
Then we ended up with a big problem. A lot of people who were too young to drink in their own state would drive to a neighboring state, get drunk, then drive home. As you can imagine, there were plenty of car wrecks from this. Common sense tells you that
How old do you have to be to vote for the right to drink?
Also it’s important to remember that 18 years old is still old enough to vote for a person to vote for the right to drink as an 18 year old.
Why are you arrested for being ignorant of the law?
Other than those, however, you are probably arrested, because being ignorant of the law does not excuse you violating the law.
When did the Supreme Court uphold the drinking age?
So, in 1984 , Congress decided to do something about it: They passed a law saying that states that didn’t set their drinking age at 21 would get a portion of their federal highway aid money withheld. That’s arguably a violation of states’ rights, but the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it.
Can states change their drinking age?
So, individual states are free to change their drinking age, but at a cost. From time to time, states will study how much money they can receive
What is the legal age to drink?
28351. In the United States and most countries around the world, the legal age of majority is 18. Despite the fact that people are considered adults at this age, they are unable to do certain things, such as being able to legally drink.
When was the legal age for drinking set?
When the legal age of drinking was set in 1984 on a national basis, the rate of traffic fatalities and accidents decreased less in the United States than it did in countries that currently have lower drinking ages.
What would happen if you drank alcohol at 18?
It would increase the rates of binge drinking and intoxication. Using other countries that have lower drinking ages as a standard, allowing alcohol consumption at the age of 18 would create higher rates of binge drinking and intoxication in the 18-20 age demographic. Kids younger than 13 also begin drinking at higher rates in areas where ...
How old do you have to be to drink alcohol?
With the legal drinking age being 21, there are 3 years that a person is an adult where they have certain activities restricted, which may be considered a restriction of a right. There are some definite advantages and disadvantages to lowering the drinking age to 18.
Can you drink at 21?
Drinking affects the frontal lobe of the brain and lowering the drinking age could put the 18-20 age demographic at risk for chronic mental health problems. Drinking isn’t the only right that comes at 21 in the US. There are a number of things that someone at the age of 18 can’t do, but someone at the age of 21 can do.
Is it bad to lower your drinking age to 18?
The Cons of Lowering the Drinking Age to 18. It could affect the final growth stages of people. The human body continue to develop through the rest of the teenage years, especially from a mental standpoint.
Should the drinking age be lowered below 21?
Should the drinking age be lowered below 21? Many states have had a lower drinking age at some point in their history. It has happened in the past in the US and other 21 only nations, so the precedent has been set. There are some advantages and disadvantages to the idea of doing this, however, so the subject must be completely evaluated before action is taken.
When did the drinking age go down?
2. Between 1970 and 1976, 30 states lowered their Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) from 21 to 18, 19, or 20. [ 3]
What is the legal drinking age in the US?
All 50 US states have set their minimum drinking age to 21 although exceptions do exist on a state-by-state basis for consumption at home, under adult supervision, for medical necessity, and other reasons. Proponents of lowering the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) from 21 argue that it has not stopped teen drinking, ...
What is the drinking age for MLDA 21?
MLDA 21 reduces alcohol consumption and the number of underage drinkers. 87% of studies, according to a meta study on MLDA, found higher legal drinking ages associated with lower alcohol consumption. [ 19] . Studies indicate that when the drinking age is 21, those younger than 21 drink less and continue to drink less through their early 20s, ...
Why is MLDA 21 not lowering?
MLDA 21 should not be lowered to mirror European drinking age limits because the rate of drinking among US teenagers is lower than most European countries. 20% of American youth aged 16-to-17 and 7.4% aged 14-to-15 report drinking alcohol in the past month compared to an average 38% of European youth aged 15-to-16 years.
How many lives have been saved by MLDA 21?
[ 50] The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that MLDA 21 has saved 31,417 lives from 1975-2016. [ 50]
What was the drinking age in Illinois in 1933?
5, 1933, Illinois (1933-1961) and Oklahoma (1933-1976) set their state drinking age at 21 for men and 18 for women. The 1976 US Supreme Court case Craig v. Boren ruled 7-2 that this age difference violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
How old do you have to be to drink alcohol?
1. Although many believe that anyone under the age of 21 is prohibited from consuming alcohol in the United States, underage drinking is allowed in 29 states if done on private premises with parental consent, 25 states if for religious purposes, and 11 states if for educational purposes. [ 1] [ 2] 2.
When was the drinking age lowered?
The drinking age was first lowered to 18 in many states back in the Vietnam War era. 1 The country was asking thousands of its young men to fight and die for their country on foreign soil, so the popular thinking was, "How can we ask them to die for their country and not let them have a drink if they want one?"But the lower drinking age begins to take a toll on the nation's highways.
When was the minimum drinking age set?
2 Congress again put pressure on the states to raise the drinking age because of this startling increase in highway deaths, and the age-21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) was universally adopted nationwide as of July 1, 1988. 3
How many lives have been saved by raising the drinking age to 21?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that raising the drinking age to 21 has reduced traffic fatalities involving 18- to 20-year-old drivers by 13 percent and has saved an estimated twenty thousand lives from 1975 to 2003. 4
Is it illegal to drive after drinking?
It is illegal in all US states for anyone under age 21 to drive after drinking any alcohol. Minimum legal drinking age laws make alcohol sales to minors (anyone under age 21) illegal in all states. Every state has adopted zero tolerance laws making it illegal in every state to sell alcohol to anyone under 21. 6.
What is the legal drinking age?
With this development, individuals who are 18 years of age are now legally allowed to drink.
What happens when you drink alcohol at a young age?
According to a peer review, when an individual learns to drink alcohol at a young age, he or she is more likely to try illegal drugs. For opponents, letting individuals drink at a younger age, like 18 instead of 21, can also encourage them to experiment on drugs. 3. Alcohol Access of Younger People.
Can an 18 year old buy alcohol?
With the lowered drink ing age, it is possible for 18 year-old individuals to buy alcohol for even younger people. Despite the advantages of lowering the drinking age of individuals, there are also disadvantages that come with it. Even when the age limit for drinking was for 21 year-old individuals, the issue on drinking age was already ...
Is lowering the drinking age good?
At the end of the day, the lowered drinking age is a good thing. 3. Form of Recreation. Drinking is an enjoyable activity and also a social one. Proponents say that this should not be denied from 18 year olds since they are also allowed to do other activities legally.
Can you buy alcohol at 18?
With the lowered drinking age, it is possible for 18 year-old individuals to buy alcohol for even younger people.
Can you drink at 18?
With this development, individuals who are 18 years of age are now legally allowed to drink. This has sparked controversy between supporters and critics. While others see this as a practical and logical thing to do, some groups are concerned on the negative effects of lowering the drinking age can bring.
Is it legal to lower the drinking age to 18?
List of Pros of Lowering the Drinking Age to 18. 1. Legal Age. In the United States, persons who have reached the age of 18 are already considered adults and should be independent. This is one of the issues proponents point out about lowering the drinking age to 18. For them, if persons are allowed to join military service, ...
