Persuasive Essay On Lowering The Drinking Age

While some individuals believe introducing alcohol to underage kids while at home reduces the risk of binge drinking, as well as a reduction in the number of regular drinkers, I feel the United States law makers should not be more lenient of underage drinkers nor lower the legal drinking age. Reasoning is due to teens not handling alcohol responsibly, and thus would be more likely to harm or kill themselves or others. Underage drinking is illegal in the United States; it is dangerous, and may lead to alcohol abuse. Respectfully, as a teen turns 18 and enters adulthood, he or she becomes responsible for their own actions, can get married, has the legal right to vote, and enlist in any military branch, but should not be allowed to drink. This debate has many pros and cons as well as raising many questions. No, the United States should not be more lenient or lower the legal drinking age,
because history shows us a lowered legal drinking age of 18 increases injury, serious mishaps, and even death.
History shows in the roaring 1930’s all U.S. states had a set legal age for drinking or purchasing alcoholic beverages which was 21. In a publication by J. Carroll found in the Gallup, Inc. illustrates in the 1970’s numerous U.S. states legislation decided to lower the drinking age from 21 to “18, 19, or 20” (Carroll, 2007). This lowered drinking age only lasted approximately 14 years; then in 1984 Congress elected to raise the legal drinking age back to 21. This change would affect states who did not follow through their funding, “states would be subjected to a decrease in federal funding for highways if they state did not enforce the minimum age of 21 for purchasing/possessing alcohol” (Carroll, 2007). This was due to the increased fatality and accident percentages among teens during this time. When it comes to talks of drinking and age,
not much has changed except the views of the ‘younger adults’ of today. As a teen, the body cannot handle alcohol therefore causing teens to make health and life-threatening decisions they would not make in sober circumstances; binge drinking, getting behind the wheel or getting into a vehicle with someone who had been drinking. Studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH) reveal that individuals under the age of 21 are involved in nearly 5000 deaths annually. The findings from studies show the deaths of underage drinking “includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 as a result of homicides, 300 from suicide, as well as hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns, and drownings” (Alcohol Alert, 2006). Underage drinking is dangerous but can lead to alcohol abuse, risky behaviors, unprotected sexual activity just to name a few. Consuming alcohol at a young age, may contribute to the risk factors associated with heavy drinking later in life, medical problems; cancer, cirrhosis, and stroke. Also, studies show that early ingesting of alcohol by young individuals results in alcohol abuse or dependence (Consequences of Underage Drinking, 2010). Polls from the July 27th, 2007 edition of the Gallup, Inc. reflects that 77% of Americans feel the legal drinking age should not be lowered, and 60% feel that there should be stricter penalties for underage drinking and or driving such as “fines, license suspension, probation, criminal penalties, or jail time” (Drinking Under 21, 2014). Also, fines, suspension or cancellation of licenses should be proposed for who sell alcohol to minors. Implementing such penalties and endorsing a zero-tolerance law may hinder a teen’s judgment of binge drinking, with could lead to alcohol poisoning or death because of the rate of alcohol consumption. The zero-tolerance law would apply to any individual under the legal drinking age of 21 to consume alcohol. Although, each state has different ranges from blood alcohol content levels (BAC), this would mean that any underage driver found to have a BAC level of anything other than 0.0% may be subject to any variation of alcohol field tests the police officers deems necessary. Several of the field sobriety test officers may use include the horizontal gaze nystagums (HGN), divided attention test (walk-and-turn, one-leg stand), nine steps, heel-to-toe, counting or reciting alphabet audibly, Breathalyzer or a blood test (Drinking under 21, 2014). If a parent allowed their child to drink in moderation, at home, and with permission shouldn’t that be allowed? In all aspects, the parent or child custodian should have the final say in what the child does, but it is illegal to purchase for or give alcohol to minors. Studies have shown that by allowing children under the age of 15 to try or experiment with alcohol puts them at “six times more likely to end up with alcohol problems” (Beck, 2011) declares Peter Delany of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). On the other hand, studies have shown that introducing teens or young adults to alcohol within the home has reduced binge drinking as well as, the number of regular alcohol users. Studies and groups are encouraging proposals of teaching the aspects of drinking and alcohol; one in particular, Choose Responsibility, argues the age should be dropped from 21 to 18, and individuals should complete classes before obtaining a license, “favor of licensing 18-to-20-year-olds to drink after they have completed an exhaustive 42 hours of instruction in the history, chemistry, psychology and sociology of alcohol – which could even include sitting in on an AA session for three hours” (Cloud, 2008). In summary, the U.S. should not be more lenient or lower the legal drinking age, because underage drinking is not only illegal and dangerous but it can lead to alcohol abuse. Study after study has shown that lowering the legal age for alcohol consumption hurts or worse off kills the child and or others.