Lowering Drinking Age

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Lowering Drinking Age in the United States
Lowering the drinking age from 21 to a lower age doesn’t seem like the U.S. government is trying to save young lives. Reducing the drinking age will impact on safety in a negative way because in today’s society majority of young adults are not mature enough to drink responsibly. Lowering MLDA from 21 to 18 will irresponsibly allow a greater segment of the population to drink alcohol in bars and nightclubs, which are not safe environments (Procon.org, par 2). Not only will lowering the drinking age be an irresponsible decision it also would be dangerous to allow young adults to consume alcohol at a young age when their bodies are not physically developed. Alcohol consumption can interfere with development …show more content…
“Underage drinking is a significant problem in the US. It is irresponsible for several thousand mortalities and fatalities each year, both among minors and other members of society. Additionally, underage alcohol consumption produces a severe economic burden in the US. Introduction to alcohol in youth poses serious long-term risks for adolescents, including occupational, educational, and psychosocial impairments, and increases the risk for developing alcohol abuse disorders in adulthood. In order to address and mitigate this problem, the US has set a minimum age drinking law of 21 in all 50 states, and has implemented several supplementary laws limiting the possession and consumption of alcohol. Though these laws have successfully reduced underage drinking, several additional strategies are noteworthy, including preventative and intervention efforts incorporating environmental, individual, communal, and parental factors. The following literature review describes these concepts as they relate to underage drinking laws in the US. Directions for future research, interventions, and ongoing challenges related to the minimum drinking age in the US are also discussed (Green, R., Jason, H., & Ganz, D. par 1)”. This study attracts consideration regarding the significance of deferring the start of liquor …show more content…
Drinking age shouldn't be lowered to 18 because this wouldn't facilitate in improving safety. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 90 percent of underage alcohol consumption involves binge drinking. While laws should not be abolished simply because they are widely ignored, laws should also reflect the way people live. And this law, tainted with the ineffectiveness of prohibition, actively encourages rebellion during those angst years when it’s most tempting. Lowering the drinking age and allowing provisions for parents to use their discretion would eliminate many of the temptations that have arisen as unintended consequences of our alcohol laws. Assuming that the law will create teetotalers of teenagers until three years after they have reached adulthood is wishful thinking. Rather than ignoring reality, we could take important steps toward limiting abuse and cultivating the virtue of temperance (Pittman B. par 12). How would this reduce accidents, when many 21 and older don’t drink responsibly? What makes people think that anyone under 21 will to? According to the NIAAA, more than 5,000 minors die of alcohol-related causes every year. Many of these deaths are preventable, but underage drinkers often do not call for help because they are worried about marring their permanent record with charges
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