The Debate Over A Proper Legal Drinking Age - 1243 Words

The debate over a proper legal drinking age has been ongoing for decades. Some people believe twenty-one is the right age for legally consuming alcohol, while others believe twenty-one is too old. There are many supporters of an age limit of eighteen on alcohol consumption, but it has not been enough to sway Congress away from their set age of twenty-one. One major advocate for the age of twenty-one is the organization MADD, or â€Å"Mothers Against Drunk Driving†. This organization supports the age of twenty-one, because there was a decrease in drunk driving crashes after the age limit was raised. Although the age of twenty-one is known as the standard drinking age, there are still many supporters of the old eighteen year old age limit (â€Å"Should†). During the late sixties and early seventies, twenty-nine states lowered their drinking age to match the voting and military consent age of eighteen. The outcome of this action proved to be tragic. The number of alcohol r elated crashes and fatalities increased tremendously. Many car crashes happened due to people under the age of twenty-one who would travel into another state in order to drink legally. These children would then proceed to try and cross the border back into their home state drunk which many times resulted in fatal car crashes. The results of the lowered drinking age raised many concerns, and by 1983, sixteen states had moved their drinking age back to twenty-one. The President Commission on Drunk Driving proposed theShow MoreRelatedLowering the Drinking Age to 18 May Help Reduce Binge Drinking1072 Words   |  5 PagesThe debate of the drinking age has been long discussed throughout America. The drinking age has been 21 for the last 22 years, and people around the country have wondered weather or not this was the right call. People say that 18 year olds may not be mature enough to drink alcohol and might not know when to stop. It isn’t that teenagers don’t know how to stop, but rather have not been properly taught when enough has been consumed or how to drink responsibly. Changing the drinking age from 21Read MoreLowering The Legal Drinking Age857 Words   |  4 PagesAs we know, the United States has the highest drinking age in the world. By 1988 the entire U.S had adopted the Federal Uniform Drinking Age Act, which set the drinking age to twenty-one. However, in 1920 the United States banned the sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcohol. This era known as the Prohibition sparked the popularity of hidden underground bars and events. The Prohibition Era is a prime example of how people did anything to intake alcohol and eventually this ledRead MoreTeenagers and Alcohol1584 Words   |  6 Pagesis to be allowed to drink at the age of eighteen. Before an experienced adult would answer this question of whether or not teens should be allowed to drink, they need to ask themselves – should eighteen-year olds drink? S ome people say yes because teenagers are responsible for their actions and should be able to have a little more leniency. Others say no, because teenagers are more likely to get into trouble with alcohol use and possible accidents due to drinking and driving. However a person looksRead MoreLowering the Drinking Age1523 Words   |  7 Pages According to Andrew Herman, â€Å"Each year, 14,000 die from drinking too much. 600,000 are victims of alcohol related physical assault and 17,000 are a result of drunken driving deaths, many being innocent bystanders† (470). These massive numbers bring about an important realization: alcohol is a huge issue in America today. Although the problem is evident in Americans of all ages, the biggest issue is present in young adults and teens. In fact, teens begin to feel the effects of alcohol twice asRead MoreEssay about Debate Over the Legal Drinking Age1735 Words   |  7 PagesThe Debate Over the Legal Drinking Age College life is filled with changes. It is filled with many new experiences. As college students, we are on our own, adults. As adults we are responsible for keeping up to date on information that affects us. One issue that affects college students nation wide is drinking. The current legal drinking age in the United States is twenty-one years of age. The Federal government raised the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 in 1984. Even with the current drinkingRead MoreCollege Campus : Dangerous Incidents On Colleges Campuses1716 Words   |  7 Pagescampus by other man from a distance. After few days she was introduced to that man at her friend’s birthday party. That man asked her if he could drop her off to the dorm since her friends left her after party without letting her know. The girl was drinking all night and she did not want to be alone with that man so, she asked him to leave the dorm immediately. But he did not leave, and instead he took advantage of the situation. Late r, the girl found herself without clothes and in awful condition whenRead More Lowering the Drinking Age: Making Youths into Adults Essay1033 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the largest questions still up for debate is whether to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18. We know that this issue is very mundane to you if you’re from the 70’s and 80’s. We can also recall learning about prohibition in the 1920s. Banning alcohol wasn’t the answer then and it isn’t the answer now. It is time America has lowered the drinking age. The push for this started by the founder of Choose Responsibility, a nonprofit organization that focuses on the increasing awareness of the harmsRead MoreThe National Minimum Drinking Age Essay1865 Words   |  8 Pagesare considered to be legal adult and receive all of the responsibilities that accompany the title. At the age of eighteen year olds you receive and are expected to use the rights and responsibilities to vote, serve on juries, get married, sign contracts, join the military--which includes taking on the responsibilities of life and death--and be prosecuted as an adults in the court of law along with many other things. In 1984, the national government raised the drinking age from 18 to 21. MothersRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Of The Netherlands1761 Words   |  8 Pagesthe good of the people, there is constant debate over which laws should be reconsidered. One debate that stands tall among the rest is whether or not the minimizing or increasing of drinking age laws should take place. Beginning January 1, 2014, the legal drinking age in the Netherlands was increased from 16 to 18 years of age. This two-year shift in expected maturity contemplates the establishing of laws that restrict alcohol consumption before a set age. In an article by Franklin E. Zimring, itRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Should Remain At 21 Essay1848 Words   |  8 Pagesminimum legal drinking age (MLDA). In the U.S., the legal drinking age is one of the highest worldwide. The MLDA of 21 is to control traffic fatalities, protect young teens from killing themselves while driving under the influence, and prevent damage medically to a developing brain of a young adult. Many Americans believe that the drinking age of 21 has not stopped teen binge drinking events in uncontrolled environments; however, studies have shown that teens have not yet reached an age where they