An Opinion on the Reasons Why the Legal Drinking Age Should Be Reduced in the United States

People always want what they cannot have. But if you could have it, would you still crave it, or want it? That is the question everyone wonders. As of three decades ago a person under the age of twenty-one is not allowed to drink, touch, or even smell alcohol without breaking the law. Although many young adults still break the law to seem cool in front of others. When a person turns eighteen in the United States they are considered adults, yet they do not have the right to consume alcohol.

Which is why I argue that the age of consuming alcohol should be lowered to eighteen. Although, there are many people against it there is maybe just the equal number of people for it.

Drinking under the age of twenty-one should not be illegal in my opinion. There are many reasons why it should be legal one being that at the age of eighteen you have the right to many things.

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Many things like the following: voting, getting married, buying cigarettes, go to the army, etc. You can do all those things once you turn eighteen yet you cannot purchase alcohol! That is just wrong! According to a webpage I found, “Turning 18 entails receiving the rights and responsibilities of adulthood to vote, smoke cigarettes, serve on juries, get married, sign contracts, be prosecuted as adults, and join the military – which includes risking one’s life.”

Following that another claim would be on college students, they can get alcohol from the senior students or older friends.

Early college students that get their hands on alcohol tend to binge drink, because they do not know when they are going to get their hands on alcohol again. Binge drinking is well known for many college campuses and that is how accidents tend to happen. They fear that they will not get alcohol for another long time and find that as an excuse to over drink. Which is the reason why the age of alcohol should be lowered. It can make young adults a little more mature and responsible for their actions. According to a website this is what I found, “When in college most students under the age of 21 can get hold of drink through their seniors. They are not allowed to drink at events where others might be able to drink. This once again makes them want to be a rebel and try out what it is they are being kept away from. They will give it a shot. The fact that they don’t know when they will be able to drink again is the reason most college students tend to get overly drunk when they get a chance. As a result there are problems as serious as deaths.”

There are many pros to this topic as well as cons. I am all for it to change the alcohol but that is just me against many others who disagree. I suppose it all depends on how people view the scenario, like most young adults now I guarantee that they have had a taste of alcohol. I want to argue that fact that we are living the year of 2016 not the 1990’s. Society changed and so did everyone. Now most parents are “okay” with their young adults drinking at family events or closed areas while under their supervision. If a parent lets that slide what makes you think the young adult is not going to drink anywhere else? That young adult has already been exposed to alcohol and although many people think it is not addictive to me alcohol is addictive. Young adults should be able to drink so that they know how to control themselves while out in public drinking.

Matt Nagin stated the following: The drinking age shouldn’t be lowered because of three very real risks: drunk driving, alcohol poisoning, and violent and/or destructive behavior. “What is more, drinking and driving is strongly correlated with youth. According to M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), in 2010 the highest drunk driving rates were found amongst those ages 21 to 25 (23.4%), and 18 to 20 (15.1%). After age 25, the drunk driving rates decrease.” As you can see there are more car accidents from the age over 21 not the ages eighteen through twenty.

Like I said as there are many pros here goes a con on why alcohol should not be lowered to the age of eighteen. This is a con I found and want to talk about it, “Lowering MLDA 21 would be medically irresponsible. Alcohol consumption can interfere with development of the young adult brain’s frontal lobes, essential for functions such as emotional regulation, planning, and organization. When alcohol consumption interferes with this early adult brain development, the potential for chronic problems such as greater vulnerability to addiction, dangerous risk-tak- ing behavior, reduced decision-making ability, memory loss, depression, violence, and suicide is greater.” Not just alcohol can cause any of those things, it all depends on the young adult. Drugs or any other thing can affect your brain not necessarily alcohol.

Most of all these people against not lowering the age of alcohol to eighteen belong to a group called Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) it is a common group. The group con- sists of about 426 employees and about 8,582 volunteers, their mission is to end drunk driving, support the victims of violent crimes, help fight drugged driving, and prevent underage drinking. I understand that they are against it and want to prevent accidents and all but they have to realize that the generations are changing, and that maybe they should consider it.

If you cannot have it, you will want it, and you will crave it. I totally agree with that be- cause I myself wanted to taste the so called “forbidden fruit,” as well as other classmates and friends of mine. There is nothing wrong with tasting just know your limits and what you can han- dle. Not going to lie the first time is always a binge drink night but after you get your hands on it for a second time you know there is no more binge drinking because you have a connection to it. Most young adults end up consuming alcohol during high school at those senior parties some might say it is peer pressure but that is not true, unless you have a gun pointed at your head. Be- cause name calling for not drinking means nothing so there is no such thing of being peer pres- sured to drink. You do it because you want to, because you crave it.