The day a person turns 18, many things change. They become an adult and gain many privileges. One of the few things they are still not trusted with is alcohol. In the United States, a person cannot consume alcohol until the age of 21. But, this limitation causes more problems than it prevents. In fact, most American teenagers drink simply because it is against the law. The minimum drinking age should be lowered and follow the world standard of 18 years old. Many countries with a lower drinking age are setting a good example the Unites States should follow.
When a minor turns 18, they become an adult and are now stuck with this newly found responsibility over themselves. They become independent and gain many privileges such as voting or marrying ("Privileges Of Turning 18”). But, if they are seen as responsible enough to do all these things, why should alcohol consumption be an exception? The reasoning is based off of the old English tradition of men beinging knighted at 21. So naturally, that means they should also gain the ability to vote and drink at that age ( “Why is the Drinking Age 21?”) …show more content…
But prohibition and rebellion are in concord with one another. The main reason most teenagers drink is because it is seen as an irresponsible and illegal act. Most of them are aware of the consequences that come with underage drinking, yet they love the satisfaction breaking the law gives them. But, what if we change the way alcohol was portrayed? Demonstrating responsible drinking may make it seen like less of a thrill. If it’s legal, some of them may not even be tempted to try