thesis statement on lowering the drinking age to 18

Why the Legal Drinking Age should be Lowered?

This essay will explore the debate surrounding the proposal to lower the legal drinking age to 18. It will discuss the current legal drinking age’s implications on youth behavior and social norms, comparing it with drinking age laws in other countries. The piece will analyze arguments for and against lowering the age, considering factors such as alcohol-related accidents, maturity levels, and cultural attitudes towards drinking. It will also examine the potential impact on public health, education systems, and law enforcement, drawing on research and case studies to provide a comprehensive view of this contentious issue. PapersOwl offers a variety of free essay examples on the topic of Binge Drinking.

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One of the biggest arguments in the country today is the legal age of consuming alcohol. All across the world, there are different drinking ages which differ from country to country. Each country with their own reasoning’s behind the age restrict. In the United States we know, the legal drinking age is 21. In England and Australia, the drinking age is 18. Spain and Austria, have the drinking age at 16. I believe the legal drinking age for the United States should be lowered to 18.

Some of the reasons I believe this is because it would improve the economy, it would decrease the unsafe drinking activities, it would reduce the numbers of arrests, and I believe that adults should be able to make their own decisions.

First of all, lowering the drinking age would be to improve the economy. With allowing more people to legally drink, there would be an increase in revenue. There would be more alcohol purchases from stores and licensed businesses. An increase in alcohol purchases from bars, clubs, and restaurants. More people would be inclined to do more activities that are not directly associated with drinking. For example, festivals, concerts, and sporting events. There would also be an increase in the manufacturing of alcohol. New jobs would be created for the faming, brewing and distribution of alcohol. In all aspects of the economy there would be an increase in revenue.

Second of all, lowering the age limit it would decrease the unsafe activities that follow underage drinking. With young adults not being allowed to drink in public, this leads to very unsafe and unsupervised drinking activities. Instead of being in a situation that would offer protection for new drinkers and have people who know the signs of bad drinking habits like, binge drinking, and other unsafe practices. They are forced to be in situations with no supervision and the possibility of harming themselves or others.

Third of all, lower the age restriction would also lower the number of young adults breaking the law and getting arrested. With making lowering the age, it would make drinking less of a taboo activity and eliminate the reckless use of it during college and young adult years. As seen is the history of the United States, when prohibition was taking place, it was repealed because it was enforceable and received a lot of backlash from the people. Now as we can see the United States are making the same mistake. Binge drinking and heavy drinking are at alarming high rates compared to ages above 21. If the limit was lowered young adults would be better educated and be able to learn the safe and healthy ay to drink with friends.

Lastly, the age of adulthood in the United States is 18 years old. At that age, it is legal to fight and possibly die for the country. Smoke cigarettes and be fully responsible for your own actions. You can marry and serve in juries. Vote for elections and receive many responsibilities of being an adult. With all of these responsibilities that are gained, there is no logical reason on to why legal adults should be banned from consuming alcohol. Some argue that the brain doesn’t fully develop until age of drinking at 21. As I do agree with that statement, as there is scientific evidence, I still believe that if we are allowed to make life or death decisions for themselves, shouldn’t we choses to but again, as adults that is our choice to make.

Now that I explained the few reasons on why the United States should lower the drinking age to 18, hopefully it is clear on why this would be a good choice for the country. The reasons I believe that it should be lowered is because it would improve the economy, it would decrease the unsafe drinking activities, it would reduce the number of arrests, and I believe that adults should be able to make their own decisions.

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Why the drinking age should be lowered

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Alcohol Research and Health History

Why the drinking age should be lowered: an opinion based upon research.

Engs, Ruth C. (1997, 2014). “Why the drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based upon research. Indiana University: Bloomington, IN. Adapted from: IUScholarWorks Repository:  http://hdl.handle.net/2022/17594

The legal drinking age should be lowered to about 18 or 19 and young adults allowed to drink in controlled environments such as restaurants, taverns, pubs and official school and university functions. In these situations responsible drinking could be taught through role modeling and educational programs. Mature and sensible drinking behavior would be expected. This opinion is based upon research that I have been involved in for over thirty years concerning college age youth and the history of drinking in the United States and other cultures.

Although the legal purchase age is 21 years of age, a majority of college students under this age consume alcohol but in an irresponsible manner. This is because drinking by these youth is seen as an enticing "forbidden fruit," a "badge of rebellion against authority" and a symbol of "adulthood." As a nation we have tried prohibition legislation twice in the past for controlling irresponsible drinking problems. This was during National Prohibition in the 1920s and state prohibition during the 1850s. These laws were finally repealed because they were unenforceable and because the backlash towards them caused other social problems. Today we are repeating history and making the same mistakes that occurred in the past. Prohibition did not work then and prohibition for young people under the age of 21 is not working now.

The flaunting of the current laws is readily seen among university students. Those under the age of 21 are more likely to be heavy -- sometimes called "binge" -- drinkers (consuming over 5 drinks at least once a week). For example, 22% of all students under 21 compared to 18% over 21 years of age are heavy drinkers. Among drinkers only, 32% of under-age compared to 24% of legal age are heavy drinkers.

Research from the early 1980s until the present has shown a continuous decrease, and then leveling off, in drinking and driving related variables which has parallel the nation's, and also university students, decrease in per capita consumption. However, these declines started in 1980 before the national 1987 law which mandated states to have 21 year old alcohol purchase laws.

The decrease in drinking and driving problems are the result of many factors and not just the rise in purchase age or the decreased per capita consumption. These include: education concerning drunk driving, designated driver programs, increased seat belt and air bag usage, safer automobiles, lower speed limits, free taxi services from drinking establishments, etc.

While there has been a decrease in per capita consumption and motor vehicle crashes, unfortunately, during this same time period there was an INCREASE in other problems related to heavy and irresponsible drinking among college age youth. Most of these reported behaviors showed little change until AFTER the 21 year old law in 1987. For example from 1982 until 1987 about 46% of students reported "vomiting after drinking." This jumped to over 50% after the law change. Significant increase were also found for other variables: "cutting class after drinking" jumped from 9% to almost 12%; "missing class because of hangover" went from 26% to 28%; "getting lower grade because of drinking" rose from 5% to 7%; and "been in a fight after drinking" increased from 12% to 17%. All of these behaviors are indices of irresponsible drinking. This increase in abusive drinking behavior is due to "underground drinking" outside of adult supervision in student rooms, houses, and apartments where same age individuals congregate. The irresponsible behavior is exhibited because of lack of knowledge of responsible drinking behaviors, reactance motivation (rebellion against the law), or student sub-culture norms.

Beginning in the first decade of the 21st century, distilled spirits [hard liquor] began to be the beverage of choice rather than beer among collegians. Previously beer had been the beverage of choice among students. A 2013 study of nursing students, for example, revealed that they consumed an average of 4.3 shots of liquor compared to 2.6 glasses of beer on a weekly basis.

This change in beverage choice along with irresponsible drinking patterns among young collegians has led to increased incidences of alcohol toxicity - in some cases leading to death from alcohol poisoning. However, the percent of students who consume alcohol or are heavy or binge drinkers has been relatively stable for the past 30 years.

Based upon the fact that our current prohibition laws are not working, the need for alternative approaches from the experience of other, and more ancient cultures, who do not have these problems need to be tried. Groups such as Italians, Greeks, Chinese and Jews, who have few drinking related problems, tend to share some common characteristics. Alcohol is neither seen as a poison or a magic potent, there is little or no social pressure to drink, irresponsible behavior is never tolerated, young people learn at home from their parents and from other adults how to handle alcohol in a responsible manner, there is societal consensus on what constitutes responsible drinking. Because the 21 year old drinking age law is not working, and is counterproductive, it behooves us as a nation to change our current prohibition law and to teach responsible drinking techniques for those who chose to consume alcoholic beverages.

Research articles that support this opinion are found in the Indiana University Repository at: https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/handle/2022/17133/browse?type=title

and https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/handle/2022/17130/browse?type=title

Some material here also used in: Engs, Ruth C. "Should the drinking age be lowered to 18 or 19." In Karen Scrivo, "Drinking on Campus," CQ Researcher 8 (March 20,1998):257.

Alcohol Research and Health History resources

(c) Copyright, 1975-2024. Ruth C. Engs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405

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One of the first associations that come to mind when talking about alcohol is driving. For citizens of the United States, having a car is seen as a must starting from the age when a teenager is allowed to receive a driving license. According to data provided by the organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving , in 2010, a high percentage of car accidents connected to drunk driving (15.1% out of 10.228 individuals) was observed among young people aged between 18-20 years (PolicyMic). Respectively, if youths were officially allowed to consume alcohol from 18 years old, this index of car accidents would necessarily be much higher. Moreover, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that since establishing the drinking age of 21 in 1975, the number of car fatalities among 18-20 year old drivers in the United States decreased by 13% (SFGate).

The medical irresponsibility of allowing teenagers to drink alcohol on a legal basis is also obvious to those who have at least a basic knowledge in biology. Consuming alcohol on a regular basis can negatively affect the development of an individual’s brain’s frontal lobes, which are responsible for emotional regulation, as well as for planning and organization (ProCon.org). Underage individuals who consume alcohol put themselves at more risk of addiction, decreased ability of decision-making, tend to behave less responsibly, and may become violent, depressed, and even prone to suicide.

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The “trickle-down effect,” well-known to sociologists, is another reason against lowering drinking age that should be taken into consideration. This effect implies individuals who already have a right to legally purchase and consume alcohol tend to buy it for their younger peers (ProCon.org); for example, 21-year-old students buy beer or spirits for themselves and for their friends who can be of the age 18-20. In the case of the drinking age being lowered to 18 years, the age of individuals who in fact have access to alcohol will decrease even more, reaching ages of 15-17 or even less. Considering the specifics of adolescence, granting teenagers with a wider access to alcohol can have negative consequences for their health and wellbeing.

Though in a number of countries worldwide the drinking age is 18 years, in the United States, this index is 21, and it should not be lowered. Lowering the drinking age to 18 years old would lead to an increase of car accidents connected to drunk driving; it would also negatively affect youths’ cognitive development, clouding their ability to make decisions and plans, and would make them more vulnerable to addiction and other negative effects; due to the “trickle-down effect” lowering the drinking age would also mean granting access to alcohol to individuals who are younger than 18 years old. It seems this debate in the U.S. will linger on much longer.

“Minimum Age Limits Worldwide.” ICAP.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://www.icap.org/table/minimumagelimitsworldwide>.

“Top 3 Reasons Why the Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered to 18.” PolicyMic. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://www.policymic.com/articles/14574/top-3-reasons-why-the-drinking-age-should-not-be-lowered-to-18>.

“Keep the Drinking Age at 21.” SFGate. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Keep-the-drinking-age-at-21-3271409.php>.

“Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered from 21 to a Younger Age?” ProCon.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Jan. 2014. <http://drinkingage.procon.org/>.

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Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Legal Drinking Age — Lowering the Drinking Age: An Analysis of the Pros and Cons

Lowering The Drinking Age: an Analysis of The Pros and Cons

• Categories: Legal Drinking Age

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Published: Sep 5, 2023

Words: 874 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, arguments for lowering the drinking age, arguments against lowering the drinking age, the debate surrounding the drinking age.

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Solutions and Alternatives to the Drinking Age

Current policies involving young people and alcohol are both ineffective and discriminatory. Our society needs to implement smarter policies that address the potential dangers of drinking for everyone – not just young people. Here are some suggestions on how to both adopt better alcohol policies and mitigate the damage of the current ones. Some solutions can be implemented at the local level, while others require national support. Some are short-term solutions, while others can be used to replace current policies. All of them are efforts to address the dangers of alcohol without relying on discrimination.

Provide comprehensive alcohol education.

Public policy that requires complete abstinence from a popular activity will often rely on telling people to “just say no.” However, this method is both unrealistic and has negative consequences. We see this in places that have adopted an abstinence-only model of sex education and have had their rates of unplanned pregnancy and STD transmission increase considerably , largely due to ignorance about safe sex. Likewise, any public policy that ignores that fact that most people don’t wait until they are 21 to have their first drink, will inevitably encourage binge drinking due to ignorance about safe alcohol use.

Implement Medical Amnesty policies.

Medical Amnesty policies, also known as 911 Good Samaritan or Lifeline policies, protect underage drinkers from punishment if they call for help during an emergency related to alcohol or other drugs. As of 2017, thirty-seven states have passed statewide Medical Amnesty laws . Many colleges and universities have also implemented these policies so that underage drinkers also do not receive disciplinary action. These policies have shown to be effective in increasing people’s likelihood of calling emergency services when needed.

Provide student-led designated drivers programs.

Student-led designated driver programs are practiced at universities, sororities, and fraternities where members of that establishment select a sober driver to safely transport intoxicated individuals. These programs have been a legitimate solution for reducing drunk driving. Unfortunately, there are many barriers that get in the way of providing this policy, such as the university or chapter not wanting to give the impression that they encourage excessive consumption of alcohol.

End parental notification policies for student drug & alcohol offenses.

Over the years, more and more colleges have been implementing policies that allow them to report cases of underage drinking to parents . Usually, students’ right to privacy is protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Colleges are not allowed to share a student’s academic information to anyone, even if the parents pay tuition and the student is under 18. Unfortunately, however, FERPA does allow colleges to inform parents of any reports of underage drinking. These policies may prevent students from getting help if in fact they do have a problem.

Decriminalize underage drinking and reduce penalties.

Several communities have reduced penalties for underage drinking. Just like similar forms of decriminalization , the law imposes a civil fine rather than harsh punishments that come with life-altering consequences. Recently, underage drinking has been decriminalized or moved to an infraction status in the states of Maryland , Michigan, and in the District of Columbia . Decriminalization would be most effective in jurisdictions that have the harshest penalties for underage drinking, such as jail time. This policy may be a good step in the long effort to lower the drinking age.

Many jurisdictions also impose excessive fines for underage drinking. Several can impose fines of $1,000 for a first offense. Oklahoma and Utah can impose fines of up to $2,500. These fines can be a severe financial burden not only for young people, but for their families, many of whom may be already struggling financially. In the decriminalization efforts, fines for underage drinking—and especially for underage possession—should decrease to below $500 or be eliminated altogether.

Designate underage drinking as the lowest law enforcement priority.

Cities and towns can be encouraged to classify underage drinking as a “lowest law enforcement priority,” which is a strategy adopted by other decriminalization groups. Nearly 16 cities across the United States directed local law enforcement to de-prioritize marijuana possession charges , with differing laws from place to place. For example, Santa Cruz, California has classified investigations, citations, arrests, property seizure, and prosecutions for adult marijuana offenses as law enforcement priority. Communities can also put drinking by 18- to 20-year olds in this category.

Allow parents to monitor alcohol use.

Just like any activity in life, drinking responsibly is an activity that one must learn. Years ago, this took place in one’s family. Parents were allowed to demonstrate healthy drinking practices and to monitor use. Currently, we deny this education to millions of young people. Rather than a gradual introduction to drinking over the period of several years, the current attitude towards youth drinking says that a person shouldn’t have a drop of alcohol until their 21st birthday, and at that time it is perfectly fine to consume as much hard liquor as they want. Parents should be allowed to educate young people on responsible drinking habits by introducing them to alcohol gradually, in both small quantities and with beverages low in alcohol content, such as beer or wine. In this model, parents would be obligated to present an example of moderate drinking.

This policy is currently allowed in 31 states , where an individual under the age of 21 may possess and consume alcohol in a private residence with their parents, guardians, or spouses of legal drinking age. There have been also attempts to expand this policy into licensed drinking establishments. Former Minnesota state representative Phyllis Kahn proposed a bill that would allow underage people to drink in bars and restaurants if accompanied by a parent or guardian, or spouse that is of legal age. In the state of New Hampshire, a bill was filed that would allow individuals aged 18-20 to drink as long as they are accompanied by someone older than 21.

Lower the drinking age to 18 for those serving in the military.

Currently, it is required by federal law under United States Code, Title 10, Section 2683 , that military installation commanders adopt the same drinking age as the state the military base is located in. However, since many people feel that if you are old enough to go to war, you should be old enough to drink, there have been several attempts to lower the drinking age for those in the military.

• In 2010, U.S. Representative Jack Kingston sponsored a bill to allow service people younger than 21 to drink beer or wine on post. H.R. 5958 (111th Congress) was introduced in the House on 7/29/2010, and referred to the House Committee on Armed Services and Subcommittee on Military Personnel, but never made it past that.
• Maryland senator , Ron Young proposed a bill in 2015 (Senate Bill 213) to lower the drinking age for active service members of the military under the age of 21. His bill would permit service members under 21 to drink beer and wine at a bar or after showing valid Military I.D.
• North Dakota state representative , Andrew Maragos had introduced a bill in 2015 allowing service members under the age of 21 to purchase and consume alcohol on military bases in the state. This bill did not pass , with 23 yeas and 67 nays.
• New Hampshire state representative James Splaine had  introduced a bill in 2005 proposing to lower the drinking age for military personnel in New Hampshire. This bill was rejected.

Issue a “learner’s permit” for new drinkers.

Issuing a license to purchase alcohol could work the same way the government controls who can operate a motor vehicle. States could provide a permit for purchasing alcohol, after individuals pass an alcohol education course. This idea was first introduced by John McCardell, Jr., the current President and Vice-Chancellor of Sewanee: The University of the South. McCardell has suggested that licensing requirements would include classes that would cover the chemistry of alcohol, the physical consequences of abuse, and attending AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings. Individuals would need to pass an exam to be given a license to drink and could lose their license if they violated their state’s alcohol laws. Others have also suggested a licensing program where individuals can get points on their license for engaging in negative behavior while drunk, such as aggression or disturbing the peace. And then, just like with a driving license, individuals would need to go through safety courses or have their license revoked for accumulating too many points.

Lower the drinking age in select states as part of a pilot program.

Repealing the National Minimum Drinking Age Act is a difficult task, but individual states could be allowed to run a pilot program with a lower drinking age to study the effects. Choose Responsibility has suggested that if a state presents a plan for educating and licensing young adults to drink, and show how it can help maintain low levels of fatalities while lowering the drinking age, that they could perhaps be a waiver of the imposed penalties of the NMDAA for a minimum of five years. One of the ways they suggested doing it is through individual states creating a mechanism to collect data to monitor the effects of the change in law, and states should submit these statistics to congress, along with an analysis of the effects of the waiver.

Relax guidelines for purchasing low-content alcohol.

Because beer and wine have a lower alcohol content than spirits, lowering the drinking age for these drinks can help lessen the problems that inexperienced drinkers have with harder liquor. In this successful Massachusetts campaign , citizens supported a lower drinking age for wine and beer.

Legalize drinking where it can be monitored.

Legalizing drinking for those aged 18-20 in public venues will take drinking out of the basement and into the open, where there are responsible servers can cut off individuals who need. Staff at drinking establishments are also able to step in to prevent fights, physical assault, and other dangerous behaviors that can be associated with excessive drinking. Individuals who go out to drink, regardless of their age, can have a designated driver assigned, to take them back home safely. Legalizing consumption in public venues can ensure people are monitored while drinking, and can be prevented from performing dangerous actions.

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A Youth Rights Lesson from Superbad

Lowering The Drinking Age To 18

Lowering the Drinking Age to 18 Thesis Statement This research will focus on the need of lowering the drinking age to 18, because drinking has always been viewed as a "forbidden fruit” as well as a "symbol of rising against authority" but at the age of 18 one is considered an adult and must be given all the adult privileges along with the right to drink. Introduction Ever since the drinking age was set at 21, there has been controversy. Many Americans accept as factual that if a juvenile individual is mature enough to risk their life keeping protected their homeland at age 18, then they are mature enough to drink alcohol (Smith, 32). Discussion There has been a lot of disagreement when it comes to the legal drinking age in the US. When it comes to legal perspectives, there is always estimation, some are for it and some are against. Legal drinking age varies by country. When it comes to the authorized drinking age being 21 we are completely in opposition to it (Mayer, 215). Let's see some of the reasons as to why we think the legal drinking age in US should be 18 and not 21. I will initiate out with the one that more or less all and sundry against the law seems to chatter about. An 18 year vintage in US has the right to ballot, and assist in the military. If an 18 year vintage can make up their brain as to who the promise foremost of the homeland should be and take a projectile for their homeland, they should have every right to buy and drink alcohol (Schuckit, 494). It is generally said that an 18 year vintage has less tolerance as in evaluation to a 21 year old. Although this might be factual, in most situations you don't actually understand how much you can handle as long as you trial it out. Tolerance doesn't arrive with age, tolerance arrives with realization of blame and there are persons that are more to blame at 15 than some are at 50 (National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2005, 78). Anyone under 21 sees alcohol as a “forbidden fruit.” The curiousness directs to more persons under the age of 21 consuming anyway. If consuming is made lawful for the 18 and older, it will assist much better as the curiousness isn't as high and the crop isn't forbidden anymore (Smith, 32). Countries for example Italy, China, Greece are some of the nations where the lawful consuming age is smaller and they appear to have less alcohol associated problems. Current regulation in periods of lawful consuming age has initiated more alcohol associated killings than there has ever been. When in school most scholars under the age of 21 can get contain of drink through their seniors. They are not permitted to drink at happenings where other ones might be adept to drink. This one time afresh makes them desire to be a rebel and trial out what it is they are being kept away ...

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Drinking Age in the United States Essay

The United States legal drinking age of twenty one years has been the subject of discussion for a long time based on the fact that some people are for it, while others are against it. The act which was established in 1984 prohibits drinking below the age of twenty one as it states that any state which allows teenagers under the age of twenty one to purchase alcohol would not receive any revenue.

Before 1984, the minimum drinking age varied from state to state such that some states would allow teenagers to consume alcohol publicly while others would not allow it to happen. However, although it is believed that all states go by that law, some states still allow teenagers to drink in private settings.

Consequently, different agencies and scholars have come up with their proposals concerning the same issue. As much as both sides have got their own reasons, based on several factors, the legal drinking age should be lowered to eighteen years. In addition, since America recognizes an adult after attaining eighteen years, it is illogical to prevent such a person from enjoying rights being enjoyed by other adults.

Therefore, bent on that, this essay argues for the idea that the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen years since the current law does not make much sense.

Majority who propose the drinking age to remain at twenty one argue that teenagers drink irresponsibly and end up getting involved in irresponsible and risky behaviors like careless driving. However, in the same country, a person can be taken to court and be tried at the age of eighteen years and above.

Therefore, even if someone commits such a crime, there is usually a way to deal with such incidences. In addition, the court is supposed to maintain law and order and therefore, teenagers under the age of twenty one ought not to be prevented from drinking in order to prevents accidents and other unlawful behaviors (Engs, 1998).

In United States, a person is allowed to join the military after attaining eighteen years of age. Therefore, it means that in legal terms, a person aged eighteen years can be considered as an adult and more to that, such a person can be trusted with very sensitive and important responsibilities like protecting the country from military attacks.

On the same note, such a person is also allowed to make decisions that affect the future of a country like voting. Bent on that, it is clear that in legal terms, a person who has attained eighteen years is mature and should be allowed to enjoy other rights that are being enjoyed by the rest of the population (ICAP, 2002).

Before making major conclusions, it is important to compare the problems of alcohol that existed before the establishment of the law and after the establishment of the law. According to Engs (1998), even after the establishment of the alcohol law in the year 1987, teenagers below the age of twenty one were still involved in irresponsible drinking which is characterized by behaviors such as missing classes, poor performance and other forms of violence.

The same study illustrates that the main cause of such behaviors is as a result of prohibiting teenagers from drinking in the company of adults who can teach them responsible drinking behaviors. Therefore, even though consumption of alcohol has reduced, other problems that emanate from the same have increased.

Since the main aim of rising alcohol drinking age is to lower such problems, a critical evaluation indicates that that the law does not entirely serve the intended purpose. It would then be more logical to lower the drinking age and allow teenagers to drink in public places; together with the older members of the society so that they can be taught how to drink in a responsible manner.

A study conducted by ICAP (2002) indicated that although United States is among the countries that have the highest drinking age; it has more problems with alcohol than other countries which have a lower minimum drinking age. For instance, in a country like Netherlands, the minimum drinking age of teenagers is eighteen although at sixteen; one is still allowed to buy alcohol from premises which are licensed.

Nevertheless, any one below the age of eighteen is not allowed to purchase and consume spirits. Similarly, in a country like New Zealand, the minimum legal drinking age is eighteen years meaning that all teenagers above the age of eighteen can purchase and drink alcohol at all licensed premises like bars and restaurants.

In consequence, since more countries have a legal drinking age of eighteen years, the minimum drinking age of United states is not is only strange but also impractical. Although countries like Britain and United Kingdom still record deaths that result from road accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol, U.S still records higher death rates than such countries (Engs 1998).

United States is characterized by many violent activities that require the attention of police officers and other law enforcement agencies. With such a high minimum drinking age, the police officers usually have a lot of work in monitoring the drinking age of teenagers below the age of twenty one.

Worse still, research that has been conducted indicated that teenagers below the age of twenty one drink more than even the people above that age. If the minimum age was lowered, the police and other agencies that enforce law and order would concentrate on other activities instead of focusing on college and high school students.

As much as anyone may want to argue that increasing the drinking age is helpful, the available research and evidence illustrates otherwise. The main problem emanates from the fact that rising the drinking age has little if any impact on behavior. To confirm this, Hanson (n. d.) records that in a study which was conducted among teenagers aged sixteen to nineteen years, the daily intake of alcohol did not change even after minimum drinking age was raised.

In addition, in yet another study which was conducted in the District of Columbia, results illustrated that there were more accidents in states which had a high minimum drinking age. Studies conducted illustrated that once the drinking age was raised, teenagers below the drinking age developed a habit of borrowing alcoholic drinks form their older colleagues and that is the main reason why the consumption rate remained high.

A critical review of the alcoholic related issues prior to the increasing of the minimum drinking age and after clearly illustrates that the law does not solve the intended problem. The main reason is due to the fact that it targets a certain age group and not the alcohol problem at hand. Although no one negates the fact that alcohol is a major problem to teenagers, it is important to come up with a law that can solve the problem instead of aggravating it.

Even if alcohol abuse is serious since it carries serious consequences, it is possible to come up with a law that can mitigate the problem. For example, even without much struggle, studies have indicated that in societies where alcohol is not prohibited like in the Jewish society, young people have less problems than in a place like United States where there is a law prohibiting anyone below the age of twenty one from taking and buying alcohol.

Engs, R. C. (1998). Why the drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based upon research . Web.

Hanson, D. J. (n.d.). The Legal Drinking Age: Science vs. Ideology . Web.

Internartional Center For Alcohol Policies (ICAP). (2002). Drinking Age Limits . Web.

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Example Of Lowering US Drinking Age To 18 Research Paper

Type of paper: Research Paper

Topic: Law , Family , Teenagers , Alcoholism , Education , Parents , Criminal Justice , Alcohol

Words: 1900

Published: 12/14/2019

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Lowering US Drinking Age to 18

The problem of teenage crimes have rapidly caused concerns in the government, private sector and even in the communities for the past couple of years due to the increasing severity of these crimes. Police records and investigations show that many of these crimes are done under the influence of alcohol. For the United States, the legal drinking age is set to 21 years old. Despite this law, teenagers under 21 could gain access to alcohol with or without guardians and easily purchase alcohol without any warning. Talks of changing the legal drinking age in the country to 18 years old are dominating various discussion boards and even the two legislative branches of the US government, arguing the pros and cons of approving such change. However, it cannot be denied that there is a need for a more sustainable and detailed law that would enforce strict guidelines for teenagers to resist the temptation of drinking.

Supporters to changing the drinking age to 18 pointed out some advantages to the idea of allowing 18 year old teenagers drink alcohol. Most groups such as the National Youth Rights Association argue that the reduction of the drinking age to 18 with the addition of accepting moderate drinking in society would reduce the phenomenon known as the “forbidden fruit”, which is normally done by teenagers once they wish to try out something illegal and find out why it is being regulated. According to Smith and Brogan (2008) the Association believes that teaching only about the risks, policies, and showing that alcohol is an evil substance, it would only cause teenagers to be curious. Like any other activity in life, drinking is something that must be learned by one’s self and the responsibilities attached to it. The Association believes that the government is denying teenagers this healthy way to learn about life’s many activities and entice temptation . Youngerman and Kittleson (2005) supported Smith and Brogan’s argument by quoting Ruth Engs, a professor of Applied Health Sciences at Indiana University, who is known as a major supporter for reducing the legal drinking age. According to Engs, the main reason why many young teenagers start drinking and drink irresponsibly is because drinking is seen as an enticing “forbidden fruit”, a means to rebel against adults and authority; and a symbol of initiation to adulthood. If the drinking age is reduced or changed, the policy would enable adults to regulate teenage drinking habits as it would be done under their supervision and guidance until they reach their maturity .

For Peck (2009), lowering the drinking age would shift the responsibility away from the state to the parents, who should be the ones to handle teenager’s drinking habits and guide them. With parents’ supervision, children can grow up into fine adults and understand the risks involved in alcohol consumption and drinking moderately. According to Radley Balko, a known libertarian journalist, it is better letting children, and teenagers learn how to drink moderately with the supervision of their parents rather than learn it on their own and far from their parents. Drinking without supervision is one of the major causes of teenage-related accidents and casualties, which is why a lowered drinking age would give parents enough leverage to influence their children. In another position noted by Peck by quoting Marc Fisher, Fisher wrote two possible benefits of lowering the drinking age. The first benefit is pushing drinking into a more private context which normally is supervised by adults and the second benefit eliminates the taboo that adults would not regulate the younger generation on their drinking. Instead, adults would be able to entice teenagers and adolescents to drink moderately under their supervision and with reason .

White and Rabiner (2011) pointed out that the current Minimum Legal Drinking Age Law is ineffective and has served as a deterrent for alcohol consumption. Both authors quoted John McCardell’s position over the issue of college drinking with McCardell noting that alcohol is a way of life for many American teenagers. Restraining them from drinking alcohol would only entice them to find ways to acquire alcohol illegally. McCardell also explains that with alcohol as a common factor in American life, it should not be denied and legislated. There would also be a rift between those teenagers ages 18 to 20 to those teenagers already 21 as the regulation separates their legal rights under the law .

Opponents to the age change for alcohol drinking to 18 contradict the supporter claims that it would entice parents to monitor their children’s drinking habits can control teenage alcohol abuse. The main argument that is being raised with regards to the lowering of drinking age to 18, as noted by Maisto, Galizio, and Conners (2010) is that there is no clear proof that it would lower the chances of teenage binge drinking. There is a possibility that college students would be most likely drink more now that they can drink at an earlier age, especially in the beginning of their college schooling. Teenagers currently under the age 18 and 20 would most likely be subjected to initiation by drinking to be considered part of their age group would increase those who would be addicted to alcohol. There might also be cases that there are already teenagers who enter college who already started binge drinking. Should the age be lowered to 18, it would not impact these teenagers and would make the provision useless in its intention to prevent and regulate teenage drinking . According to Hyde and Setaro (1999) when the legal drinking age in the United States was still 18 in the early 1970s, cases of increased fatalities have been reported especially in 48 states in the United States caused by the low drinking age as victims were aged 18 and younger. States have also recorded an increase of 11 percent worth of fatalities in the age group as seen in the 1978 National Study of Adolescent Drinking Behavior. The study has pointed out that 10th to 12th graders in states that have lower drinking ages were prone in drinking more than their average capacity Teenagers were also drunk more often, causing erratic behaviour and recklessness. The study has also pointed that teenagers are less likely to abstain from drinking considering that they are legally allowed to purchase and drink them. The study, along with many others, have consolidated that the reason why the drinking age must be raised to 21 is due to the concern that the number of teenage-drinking problems may continue to increase if the age is not changed to 21 .

Von Wormer (2010) and Biglan, Brennan, Foster, and Holder (2005) support Hyde and Setaro’s arguments as to why the legal drinking age should remain in 21. One of the most common reasons of teenage deaths is usually related to alcoholism and binge drinking. Deaths can range from alcohol poisoning, mixing drugs with alcohol and to accidents both vehicular and accidental. Most of these cases are normally due to teenagers being younger than 21, which is considered still immature than those aged 21 and over . Kivisto (2010) added the position of groups such as the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the American Medical Association, the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, the National Transportation Safety Board, and others that rendering the 21 age requirement to a much lower and younger requirement would constitute to more teenage casualties. These groups have noted that studies have proven that the 21 drinking law saved many teenagers’ lives and shows that these teenagers are less likely to continue drinking as they grow older. If teenagers younger than 21 are allowed to drink, the more likely they would become dependent to the substance and drive drunk often, which may cause to more accidents . In addition to this, Bonnie and O’Connell (2004) stated that a reason as to why the drinking age is set to 21 is to delay underage alcohol consumption as long as possible, or if it has already started, restrain the teenager from consuming more alcohol. This policy would then support parents in watching and protecting their children especially in the risks that can be caused by drinking. The only problem with the implementation of this law is how to apply the law without suppressing the teenager and supervising. Nevertheless, the authors argue that having the drinking age set to 21 has saved 18,220 lives and reports have concluded that the 21 year age requirement for drinking was the main proponent for reducing 19% casualties involving teenagers ages 20 below .

Regardless which age requirement is allowable for drinking, it is still important that alcohol presents enough risks for both young and adult drinkers. The federal government, alongside all state departments and organizations, must create a stricter and specific policy to restrict alcohol drinking in all aspects. On the one hand, reducing the age requirement to 18 would be able to entice parents to become stricter and hands on in dealing with their children on their drinking habits. Legalization of a younger age drinking requirement would also force the government to enforce the law to ensure that teenagers would be regulated in their drinking habits. On the other hand, there is a reason as to why the age for drinking is set to 21 years old. Teenagers in this age are more informed to the risk involved with alcohol, and it becomes a deterrent for many teenagers to resist alcohol consumption. However, both positions would be in vain if proper education with the risks and effects of alcohol would not be done. Without proper education and policy implementation, it is plausible that any form of action on teenage drinking would become irrelevant as education would enable people to understand the importance of knowing the risks of alcohol and drinking.

Biglan, A., Brennan, P., Foster, S., & Holder, H. (2005). Helping Adolescents and Risk: Prevention of Multiple Problem Behaviors. New York: Guilford Press. Bonnie, R., & O'Connell, M. E. (2004). Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press. Hyde, M., & Setaro, J. (1999). Alcohol 101: An Overview for Teens. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books. Kivisto, P. (2010). Illuminating Social Life: Classical and Contemporary Theory Revisited. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press. Maisto, S., Galizio, M., & Connors, G. (2010). Drug Use and Abuse. Belmont: Cengage Learning. Peck, G. (2009). The Prohibition Hangover: Alcohol in America from Demon Rum to Cult Cabarnet. Piscataway: Rutgers University Press. Smith, T. P., & Brogan, R. (2008). Alcohol. New York: Infobase Publishing. von Wormer, K. (2010). Alcohol Problems: Practice Intervention. London: Oxford University Press. White, H. R., & Rabiner, D. (2011). College Drinking and Drug Use. New York: Guilford Press. Youngerman, B., & Kittleson, M. (2005). The Truth About Alcohol. New York: Infobase Publishing.

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Thesis statement for lowering the drinking age to 18

• Uncategorized
• 18 Sep, 2015

In the United States at age 18, a person is legally allowed to buy tobacco, vote, get married, enlist in the military, and work in a bar, among other privileges. However, in most states, he cannot legally drink champagne at his own wedding or have a beer with his fellow comrades. 18 is the age of adulthood in the United States, and adults should.

Sample Thesis Paper A young boy was driving very precariously. So much so that he had a brutal accident in which his car rolled over nearly half a dozen times until it finally landed upside down on the side of the road. A passing motorist stops and after having dragged the driver out from the wreckage, asks him, Why in God’s name were you driving.

Nonsense! Clearly the drinking age should be lowered to 18. If a person is old enough to vote, and has the mental capacity to decide who should make the country s. The legal drinking age is the age at which a person can consume or purchase alcoholic beverages. These laws cover a wide range of issues and behaviours, addressing. This is a tough.

As we are all aware of, the United States of America has ruled that the legal drinking age is twenty-one. Many citizens, including myself, believe this to be preposterous. We all have our reasons for believing which side of the line is best, and this essay includes mine. I know that some of you may believe that twenty-one is a suitable and.

Drinking Age Lowering Drinking Age: A Crucial Decision? Thesis statement: Despite the fact that many Americans claim that persons under 21 do not have the capacity to handle drinking, in my opinion, drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18 due to the fact that teenagers at the age of 18 can make important. Lowering Drinking Age: A Crucial.

Alcohol belongs in the category of psychoactive substances one can legally buy in almost any country, according to certain criteria. Most often this criteria is age; in the majority of cases, it is set to 21 years. However, in a number of countries such as Australia, China, or Russia, it is set to 18 (ICAP). In the United states, calls for lowering.

Lowering the drinking age, especially in today s society will help young adults to be more responsible for their actions and make better decisions. A lower drinking age will promote responsibility in younger adults as well as providing role models for even younger.

LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE It is legal for eighteen year-olds to die for their country, it is legal for eighteen year-olds to marry, and it is legal for eighteen year-olds to vote. Why then isn t it legal for eighteen year-olds to drink? I don t think that is right, and I believe that the drinking age in the United States should be lowered from.

Should Alcohol Drinking Age Be Decreased of Increased? Should alcohol drinking age be decreased of increased? In my opinion it should be decreased because if we are classified as an adult and we are allowed to get married and etc. Why are we not allowed to drink. Lowering the drinking age would teach kids how to be more responsible at a younger.

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lowering the drinking age to 18

Updated 28 April 2021

Subject Communication ,  Hero

Downloads 119

Category Law ,  Sociology

Topic Audience ,  Challenges ,  Legal Drinking Age

According to Gabrielle Glaser's article "Return the Drinking Age to 18, and Impose It (2015)," teenagers between the ages of 18 and 21 should be licensed to consume alcohol. The author backs up his arguments by stating that since the stated age group is permitted by the constitution to vote, marry, buy weapons, and join the military, they should also be allowed to drink. Glaser's goal is to include a detailed case that opposes the 21-year-old drinking age in order to persuade lawmakers that lowering the drinking age to 18 years is necessary. Glaser is talking to a broad audience through her article's plain words. Work Cited Glaser, Gabrielle. "Return the Drinking Age to 18, and Enforce It." The New York Times, [New York City], 10 Feb. 2015.Drinking Age should be lowered to 18 Years Glen Hanson, Peter Venturelli, and Annette Fleckenstein book, _x0093_Drug and Society (2015)_x0094_, argues that the college students with the age of 18 years should be permitted to drink. They support their claims by arguing that despite increasing the drinking age to 21 years, the America as a nation has continued to experience series of problems related to irresponsive drinking. The purpose of the mentioned authors is to provide a lengthy discussion that clearly elaborates that the restrictive measures on the drinking age have been ineffective in order to convince the public that the drinking age should be reduced to 18 years. Considering their passionate and persuasive tone, they are writing to the American legislatures. Work Cited Hanson, Glen, Peter Venturelli, and Annette Fleckenstein. Drugs and society. Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2011.Drinking Age should be lowered to 18 Years Mathew R. Lippman_x0092_s book, _x0093_Essential Criminal Law, (2017)_x0094_, claims that the college students with the age of 18 years and above should be permitted to drink. He supports his argument by noting that there is a small margin between the age of 18 and 21 years; therefore, it is needless to bar those with the age of 18 from consuming alcohol. The purpose of the author is to portray the restrictive drinking measure as discriminative in order to convince the American legislators to reduce the drinking age to 18 years. Basing on the legal language used in the book, Mathew is writing to a well-educated audience with some knowledge of the law.

Lippman, Matthew R. Essential Criminal Law. 2017.

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Why Are Older Americans Drinking So Much?

The pandemic played a role in increased consumption, but alcohol use among people 65 and older was climbing even before 2020.

By Paula Span

The phone awakened Doug Nordman at 3 a.m. A surgeon was calling from a hospital in Grand Junction, Colo., where Mr. Nordman’s father had arrived at the emergency room, incoherent and in pain, and then lost consciousness.

At first, the staff had thought he was suffering a heart attack, but a CT scan found that part of his small intestine had been perforated. A surgical team repaired the hole, saving his life, but the surgeon had some questions.

“Was your father an alcoholic?” he asked. The doctors had found Dean Nordman malnourished, his peritoneal cavity “awash with alcohol.”

The younger Mr. Nordman, a military personal finance author living in Oahu, Hawaii, explained that his 77-year-old dad had long been a classic social drinker: a Scotch and water with his wife before dinner, which got topped off during dinner, then another after dinner, and perhaps a nightcap.

Having three to four drinks daily exceeds current dietary guidelines , which define moderate consumption as two drinks a day for men and one for women, or less. But “that was the normal drinking culture of the time,” said Doug Nordman, now 63.

At the time of his 2011 hospitalization, though, Dean Nordman, a retired electrical engineer, was widowed, living alone and developing symptoms of dementia. He got lost while driving, struggled with household chores and complained of a “slipping memory.”

He had waved off his two sons’ offers of help, saying he was fine. During that hospitalization, however, Doug Nordman found hardly any food in his father’s apartment. Worse, reviewing his father’s credit card statements, “I saw recurring charges from the Liquor Barn and realized he was drinking a pint of Scotch a day,” he said.

Public health officials are increasingly alarmed by older Americans’ drinking. The annual number of alcohol-related deaths from 2020 through 2021 exceeded 178,000, according to recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : more deaths than from all drug overdoses combined.

An analysis by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism shows that people over 65 accounted for 38 percent of that total. From 1999 to 2020, the 237 percent increase in alcohol-related deaths among those over age 55 was higher than for any age group except 25- to 34-year-olds.

Americans largely fail to recognize the hazards of alcohol, said George Koob, the director of the institute. “Alcohol is a social lubricant when used within the guidelines, but I don’t think they realize that as the dose increases it becomes a toxin,” he said. “And the older population is even less likely to recognize that.”

The growing number of older people accounts for much of the increase in deaths, Dr. Koob said. An aging population foreshadows a continuing surge that has health care providers and elder advocates worried, even if older people’s drinking behavior doesn’t change.

But it has been changing . The proportions of people over 65 who report using alcohol in the past year (about 56 percent) and the past month (about 43 percent) are lower than for all other groups of adults. But older drinkers are markedly more likely to do it frequently, on 20 or more days a month, than younger ones.

Moreover, a 2018 meta-analysis found that binge drinking (defined as four or more drinks on a single occasion for women, five or more for men) had climbed nearly 40 percent among older Americans over the past 10 to 15 years.

What’s going on here?

The pandemic has clearly played a role. The C.D.C. reported that deaths attributable directly to alcohol use, emergency room visits associated with alcohol, and alcohol sales per capita all rose from 2019 to 2020, as Covid arrived and restrictions took hold.

“A lot of stressors impacted us: the isolation, the worries about getting sick,” Dr. Koob said. “They point to people drinking more to cope with that stress.”

Researchers also cite a cohort effect. Compared to those before and after them, “the boomers are a substance-using generation,” said Keith Humphreys, a psychologist and addiction researcher at Stanford. And they’re not abandoning their youthful behavior, he said.

Studies show a narrowing gender divide, too. “Women have been the drivers of change in this age group,” Dr. Humphreys said.

From 1997 to 2014, drinking rose an average of 0.7 percent a year for men over 60, while their binge drinking remained stable. Among older women, drinking climbed by 1.6 percent annually, with binge drinking up 3.7 percent.

“Contrary to stereotypes, upper-middle-class, educated people have higher rates of drinking,” Dr. Humphreys explained. In recent decades, as women grew more educated, they entered workplaces where drinking was normative; they also had more disposable income. “The women retiring now are more likely to drink than their mothers and grandmothers,” he said.

Yet alcohol use packs a greater wallop for older people, especially for women, who become intoxicated more quickly than men because they’re smaller and have fewer of the gut enzymes that metabolize alcohol.

Seniors may argue that they are merely drinking the way they always have, but “equivalent amounts of alcohol have much more disastrous consequences for older adults,” whose bodies cannot process it as quickly, said Dr. David Oslin, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia.

“It causes slower thinking, slower reaction time and less cognitive capacity when you’re older,” he said, ticking off the risks.

Long associated with liver diseases, alcohol also “exacerbates cardiovascular disease, renal disease and, if you’ve been drinking for many years, there’s an increase in certain kinds of cancers,” he said. Drinking contributes to falls, a major cause of injury as people age, and disrupts sleep.

Older adults also take a lot of prescription drugs, and alcohol interacts with a long list of them. These interactions can be particularly common with pain medications and sleep aids like benzodiazepines, sometimes causing over-sedation. In other cases, alcohol can reduce a drug’s effectiveness.

Dr. Oslin cautions that, while many prescription bottles carry labels that warn against using those drugs with alcohol, patients may shrug that off, explaining that they take their pills in the morning and don’t drink until evening.

“Those medications are in your system all day long, so when you drink, there’s still that interaction,” he tells them.

One proposal for combating alcohol misuse among older people is to raise the federal tax on alcohol, for the first time in decades. “Alcohol consumption is price-sensitive, and it’s pretty cheap right now relative to income,” Dr. Humphreys said.

Resisting industry lobbying and making alcohol more expensive, the way higher taxes have made cigarettes more expensive, could reduce use.

So could eliminating barriers to treatment. Treatments for excessive alcohol use, including psychotherapy and medications, are no less effective for older patients , Dr. Oslin said. In fact, “age is actually the best predictor of a positive response,” he said, adding that “treatment doesn’t necessarily mean you have to become abstinent. We work with people to moderate their drinking.”

But the 2008 federal law requiring health insurers to provide parity — meaning the same coverage for mental health, including substance use disorders, as for other medical conditions — doesn’t apply to Medicare. Several policy and advocacy groups are working to eliminate such disparities.

Dean Nordman never sought treatment for his drinking, but after his emergency surgery, his sons moved him into a nursing home, where antidepressants and a lack of access to alcohol improved his mood and his sociability. He died in the facility’s memory care unit in 2017.

Doug, whom his father had introduced to beer at 13, had been a heavy drinker himself, he said, “to the point of blackout” as a college student, and a social drinker thereafter.

But as he watched his father decline, “I realized this was ridiculous,” he recalled. Alcohol can exacerbate the progression of cognitive decline, and he had a family history.

He has remained sober since that pre-dawn phone call 13 years ago.

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