Drinking Age Debate

Brandon Robertson
Mrs. Gallos
English III Honors
18 April 2016
How Young is too Young? It is a key issue: what should the drinking age be? Everyone has their own opinion. Many advocates of raising the drinking age to 25 agree that the brain has not fully matured until that age. They believe that drinking before the brain is fully mature can cause health and psychological problems. Advocates of lowering the drinking age believe that if one is eligible to vote and serve in the military, then one should be allowed to purchase alcohol. Others believe that the age should remain at 21, either because they do not care, or they think that it is the the most appropriate age. What is the appropriate age? Should the restrictions of alcohol be determined …show more content…
Many may say that underage drinking is already a thing so since they are already drinking and will continue to drink regardless if it is raised or lowered, that it should be lowered to make it legal. Others may agree that it if the age is lowered, then more people can buy alcohol, therefore putting more money into consumer goods and the economy. A majority of other countries have the drinking age around 18, so some may argue that the drinking age should be 18 in the United States as well. “The United States is one of only three developed countries in the world with a nationwide drinking age over 18” (Laurence). The benefits of a lower drinking age is more money in the economy and less underage arrest due to the possession or consumption of …show more content…
One solution would be for them to petition and write to their representatives and express their thoughts and concerns. Why do they want the drinking age raised in the first place? Advocates believe that raising the drinking will be the solution to the high rate of drinking related accidents. If the drinking age is raised, then less people can obtain alcohol, reducing the number of drinking and driving related incidents. Some people are immature and can make bad decisions and judgements. Alcohol impairs judgement, which is a reason why there are so many drinking and driving related incidents. Advocates would use the statistic that there are more drinking and driving related accidents with a lower drinking age than a higher drinking age, especially in the 18-20 age range. “A study published during 2006 reported that crash injury rates among 18-19 year-old boys were 12 percent higher than expected after the policy change, based on comparisons with 20-24 year-olds” (Higher

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