What Are The Pros And Cons Of Lowering The Drinking Age
The cons of lowering the drinking age
The cons:
There are many dangers and potential problems with lowering the drinking age. The states of Massachusetts, Michigan and Maine lowered the drinking age, and then experienced a slight increase in alcohol related crashes among the 18 to 20 year old age range. Desired results? Hardly. What about insurance companies? The law may recognize the age being lowered, but insurance might not. The rates of drivers 21 years old and younger would skyrocket which seems really unfair, especially when the unemployment rate is so high right now. Most teenagers who have not had a drink yet might engage in binge drinking, causing legal issues, and using lack of judgment. The crime rate would be outrageous.
Not to say that teenagers have poor judgment or good common sense, but drinking limits one’s ability to make good choices. Vandalism, theft, high incidents of traffic fatalities will be some of the issues that will wind teenagers in jail. Teenagers over 18 may be considered an adult in the eyes of the law, but their minds are still underdeveloped. Many teenagers’’ reasoning abilities may be compromised while under the influence. They would have slower reaction time on decisions that a sober person may be quick to decide, causing a multitude of problems. According to many studies, the lower the age that a person starts drinking, the higher risk there is of becoming an alcoholic. Teenage minds are so underdeveloped compared to that of an older adult that being exposed to alcohol could be dangerous to their emotional mental and even physical growth. Learning problems, as in the ability to set or think about long term goals, concentration and problem solving techniques could all be affected with long term alcohol use.
The cons:
There are many dangers and potential problems with lowering the drinking age. The states of Massachusetts, Michigan and Maine lowered the drinking age, and then experienced a slight increase in alcohol related crashes among the 18 to 20 year old age range. Desired results? Hardly. What about insurance companies? The law may recognize the age being lowered, but insurance might not. The rates of drivers 21 years old and younger would skyrocket which seems really unfair, especially when the unemployment rate is so high right now. Most teenagers who have not had a drink yet might engage in binge drinking, causing legal issues, and using lack of judgment. The crime rate would be outrageous.
Not to say that teenagers have poor judgment or good common sense, but drinking limits one’s ability to make good choices. Vandalism, theft, high incidents of traffic fatalities will be some of the issues that will wind teenagers in jail. Teenagers over 18 may be considered an adult in the eyes of the law, but their minds are still underdeveloped. Many teenagers’’ reasoning abilities may be compromised while under the influence. They would have slower reaction time on decisions that a sober person may be quick to decide, causing a multitude of problems. According to many studies, the lower the age that a person starts drinking, the higher risk there is of becoming an alcoholic. Teenage minds are so underdeveloped compared to that of an older adult that being exposed to alcohol could be dangerous to their emotional mental and even physical growth. Learning problems, as in the ability to set or think about long term goals, concentration and problem solving techniques could all be affected with long term alcohol use.