...olds can now do everything their parents do except legally consume alcohol. If they are caught in public drinking alcohol they will be arrested. College students and soldiers are being forced to drink unsafely in the privacy of their homes because they are not legally able to purchase or consume alcohol. Minors are surrounded by their drunken peers every day and want to join in on the fun, but can’t legally drink. They are forced to drink heavy amounts of alcohol in a short amount of time, and this leads to alcoholism, drunk driving, heart and liver disease, and alcohol poisoning. Over time lowering the legal drinking age to eighteen will greatly reduce binge drinking which will result in less alcohol related deaths. Binge drinking is having ten or more drinks on one occasion. Binging can lead to violence, alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, and alcoholism, all of which can be deadly. This has become a major problem in the United States. The majority of binge drinkers are minors, people under the legal drinking age of 21. Over the last five years, the number of students binge drinking went up three to five times, which means the number of alcohol related deaths per year is also rising. This is a new problem that was a result of raising the drinking age from eighteen to twenty-one. If it was lowered back to eighteen there would be no need to binge drink. Over time binge drinking will stop being the new thing to do, and less people will...
Words: 1216 - Pages: 5
...Should the Drinking Age be Lowered to 18? In the United States of America, one is lawfully considered an adult on their 18th birthday. With adulthood comes choices, responsibility, and privileges that they did not possess as a minor. At the age of 18, a person can enlist in the army and die for this country, vote for the future president or other government officials, and be charged as an adult, potentially leading to them going to prison, jail, or facing the death penalty. However, an 18 year old can not purchase or legally consume alcohol in America. Although, some think 18 year olds do not have the physical or mental capacity for alcohol, the national drinking age should be lowered to 18 because teens 18 and older are able to make critical decisions. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed over 30 years ago. This act raised the drinking age from 18 to 21. This act has been poorly enforced in America. 10.8 million underage Americans drink(“Minimum Legal Drinking Age”). The higher drinking age causes teens to drink in unsafe settings. These unsafe, unsupervised drinking situations can lead to spiked drinks, injury, and sexual assault. The drinking age does little to stop...
Words: 615 - Pages: 3
...Brendan Michael ENGL 1104: Written English I Professor Beighley 09-23-14 Minor Essay #2 When it comes to the subject of lowering the drinking age, many speculations have been made, both positive and negative. Ohio legislature should take into account both view points. A positive being a drastic reduction in binge drinking among the American population. A negative is the fear of higher death rates due to alcohol poisoning. The drinking age should be lowered and Americans should take charge and know their limit. The drinking age in America has been under speculation for many years now and even though the law is set for 21, there are still minors abusing their availability to the stimulant. One can argue that the law shouldn’t be 21 and should be reduced for many reasons. On the contrary others believe that it just might be the right age if not too low already. Many people disagree with lowering it because of the lack of maturity in young adults, the number of increasing injuries, deaths related to drinking alcohol, and also that effects of long time drinking on the body. Citizens of the United States tend to be rather opinionated on this particular issue for some of the above reasons. These lobbyers for the lowering of drinking age and the ones who think the age of consumption should stay the same are very passionate about their side of this issue as well. Many Americans agree that young students right out of high school are not to full maturity even though many of the students...
Words: 1152 - Pages: 5
...Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE Mt. Gravatt Campus-1030 Cavendish Rd. Mt Gravatt Qld. 4 June, 2012 Mr Kieran Tricker Student -Justice Studies MSIT-Mt Gravatt Dear Ms Turner Please find enclosed/attached the report which you requested on the 4 June 2012 for assessment in the units QLD594JUS01A- Analyse Social Justice Issues and BSBRES401- Analyse and Present Research Information. The aim of the research was to investigate /analyse/identify the Consumption of alcohol at harmful levels among young people which increasing in Australia. This report presents the findings of this investigation and is based on an analysis of both primary and secondary source data including the results of a survey prepared and conducted by Mr. Tricker the writer of the report. This report includes a number of recommendations to assist in addressing the issues raised in the research. I express my gratitude to the participants who completed the survey and who provided valuable input into this research. I look forward to discussing these recommendations with you and will be available to do so at a time convenient to you. Yours faithfully, Kieran Tricker Student, the Diploma of Justice Administration Program MSIT-2012 A report which outlines that Consumption of alcohol at harmful levels among young people is increasing in Australia. By Kieran Tricker Student of MSIT QLD594JUS01A- Analyse Social Justice Issues and BSBRES401- Analyse and Present...
Words: 3874 - Pages: 16
...the minimum legal drinking age should be twenty one or eighteen. In the year of 1980 a law was passed that changed the minimum legal drinking age from eighteen to twenty one in order to decrease the amount of car crashes and fatalities and to keep alcohol out of the hands of an "irresponsible" age group (Ruth Streeter). Since the raising of the drinking age, more harm has been done than good and the drinking age should be lowered back down to eighteen, given some restrictions and changes. While each state was given the option of whether or not to support this act, the government threatened to cut highway funds if the states kept their drinking age to eighteen. It is strange that an eighteen to twenty year old can vote for our Nation's leader, risk their life fighting for our freedom, and be viewed as an adult, yet still cannot sit down and have a few drinks. At the age of eighteen one is considered an adult. This title of "adult" basically gives people the opportunity to make life changing decisions like voting, buying tobacco products, getting married, signing contracts, serving on juries, having abortions, and being drafted into or joining the military. Scientists claim that the pre-frontal cortex of the brain in which controls judgment is not fully developed until the mid twenties, which then leads to people against lowering the drinking age to claim that opportunities new "adults" take on are not necessarily needing full judgment like unsafe drinking would. So voting for...
Words: 2592 - Pages: 11
...What is Binge Drinking? Binge drinking is defined as "the consumption of five or more drinks in a row on at least one occasion." In national surveys (in the USA) about a third of high school seniors and 45 percent of college students reported at least one occasion of binge drinking within the previous 2 weeks. March 26, 2004: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse reports that, “More than five million high schoolers binge drink at least once a month.” As a Floridian who lives near one of the 'Spring Break" hot spots, this comes as no great shock. I guess there are a lot of parents out there who are surprised by these numbers and yet, what were they doing in college or when the drinking age was 18? How do you expect your kid to just say no, when you said yes not that long ago? Talk to your teenagers and be honest with them! ~ Amy. RN ~ [pic] While some national surveys have documented a significant decline in the use of other drugs by high school seniors and college-age youths, there have been only small declines in the numbers reporting binge drinking. Teenagers and young adults drink alcoholic beverages at about the same rates they did 5 years ago. Binge drinking increases the risk for alcohol-related injury, especially for young people, who often combine alcohol with other high-risk activities, such as impaired driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the four leading injury-related causes of death among youths under the age of...
Words: 4997 - Pages: 20
...until mid movie, high school drama, and plenty of teen drinking. In today’s society, teen drinking is something that is no longer seen as taboo. At one point in time, drinking was not something to brag about. During prohibition, the only ones who were actually drinking were the homeless and drunks. Drinking used to be looked down on. Teen drinking was even worse. Underage drinkers were highly frowned upon. Over time, it has become a societal norm that people have grown accustom to. Underage drinking is extremely harmful, a gateway into other destructive things, and is a hard habit to get rid of. In 2009, more than 10.4 million teenagers between the ages of 12 and 20 reported having a few sips of alcohol (“Underage Drinking”). The ages between 12 and 20 are debatably the most influential years of one’s life. This is when a person is supposed to further their education, figure out a plan for their life and act on it. Drinking at this age is completely unnecessary and uncalled for. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), 22% of teenagers binge drink. When most teenagers drink, they aren’t drinking on a daily basis to build their tolerance up. They only drink on weekends for social events. Therefore, because they don’t know their tolerance levels, they drink way more than what they can handle, and this is where the problem arises. This specific act is called binge drinking (“Underage Drinking”). The drinking age is 21, because the government believes that is the appropriate...
Words: 751 - Pages: 4
...College Students and Their Awareness of Binge Drinking I have just been awarded $20,000 by the National Institute of Health to conduct a study on one of the growing health-risk behaviors among college students in the state of Florida. I am going to propose a survey based on how much students truly know about binge drinking. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that affects every organ in the body. It is quickly absorbed from the stomach and poured into the bloodstream. The intensity of the effect the alcohol causes on the body is determined by the amount of alcohol consumed. Everyone can have different reactions and repercussions when drinking alcohol. Some people get angry, some get sad, happy, tired, wild, or depressed. Since alcohol is an erratic drug, the outcome of drinking will constantly change and many factors will affect this outcome. Binge drinking is another word for heavy episodic drinking. Both can be defined as drinking alcoholic with the primary intention of becoming heavily intoxicated. Binge drinking is closely associated with social drinking and is often performed in groups. Binge drinkers drink a lot and drink it fast to feel a sooner and more powerful effect. This is the most common patter of excessive alcohol use throughout the United States. “The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a persons blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 grams or above.” When men consumer 5 or...
Words: 1610 - Pages: 7
...The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 required that all States prohibit people under the age of twenty one from purchasing or publicly possessing alcohol beverages. This act is currently a law in all 50 states. This is a debate about whether or not should the national drinking age should remain at the age of twenty one or if it should be lowered to the age of eighteen. With this topic having many concerns, like health, having the minimum alcohol consumption lowered to the age of eighteen would give a sense of adulthood that should, so to speak, follow up with turning eighteen years old on ones birthday. With that, the age limit to purchase and consume alcohol should be lowered to the age of 18 in the United States. In the United States, adulthood begins at the age of eighteen. Some would say that with age also comes with responsibilities. In the United States turning eighteen means becoming a legal adult with new and different rights, responsibilities, and privileges from those of minors. Such privileges as having voting rights, ability to get legally married, legally sign contracts and other legal documents, have the ability to buy and smoke tobacco products, join the military and much more things without the consult of a parent because one is considered to be an adult at that age (ProCon). A drinking age of twenty one is an embarrassment to a supposedly liberty-loving nation. If you are old enough to enlist and old enough to vote, you are old enough to swill cheap...
Words: 1609 - Pages: 7
...Lowering the American Drinking Age April 18, 2011 Table of Contents I. Introduction- Speculation on the drinking age II. Maturity Level III. Cons against lowering the drinking age a. Students and Drinking b. Party Habits IV. Pros for lowering the drinking age c. Binge Drinking d. The Limit V. Risk VI. The American View e. Legal Responsibilities f. Government Statistics g. Capital VII. Conclusion \Abstract/Executive Summary The drinking age should be lowered and Americans should take charge and know their limit. When it comes to the subject of lowering the drinking age, many speculations have been made, both positive and negative. Ohio legislature should take into account both view points. A positive being a drastic reduction in binge drinking among the American population. A negative is the fear of higher death rates due to alcohol poisoning. Lowering the American Drinking Age The drinking age in America has been under speculation for many years now and even though the law is set for 21, there are still minors abusing their availability to the stimulant. One can argue that the law shouldn’t be 21 and should be reduced for many reasons. On the contrary others believe that it just might be the right age if not too low already. Many people disagree with lowering it because of the lack of maturity in young adults, the number of increasing injuries, deaths related to drinking alcohol, and also...
Words: 1314 - Pages: 6
...Running head: Drinking Underage Drinking and Peer Pressure Melissa Walters January 31, 2012 Why has underage drinking becoming such a serious issue in America? In middle school kids do not think about things like going to a party, drinking, and using drugs. So, why is it when teens get to high school teens feel obligated to do such things? Some peers put pressure on others to fit in and do things people do not usually think they would ever do. Underage drinking has become a serious issue across America. Since then people have been trying to lower the age of drinking thinking it will help, but lowering the age is just going to cause the drinking and driving percent to go up because teens are not mature enough to responsibly drink and still be in control. That shows that our society is not doing everything they can to stop teens from drinking. Teens believe that drinking is something to just make them look, or seem older and more mature. They do not realize the serious consequences and the health risks they are putting on their selves. Teenage drinking is often a gateway into other often dangerous life choices; however, to fully understand the problems associated with T.A.D, one must look at why teenagers start drinking in the first place. T.A.D is a problem often over looked in our society. Alcohol abuse not only causes teens to misjudge things, but can also cause suicidal thoughts and causes them to choose risky sexual behaviors. (Staff, 2011) “A study showed that...
Words: 1137 - Pages: 5
...3/10/2014 In almost half of college students have at least got drunk three times per month. There is a concern across the nation because college students are indulging rapidly at a binge level. In which most of them are have to live with ill consequences, such as: getting drunk, sexual assaults and even deaths. Now day’s underage students (18-20) are experiencing a new form of drinking, binge drinking. This involves drinking a lot of alcohol in a just a few hours. Something students do the majority of time in order to forget about their problems. Peer pressure is also a consistent implication in students who practice irresponsible drinking; other college attending students introduce the younger crowd to the life of partying. Acceptance by their peers is important and it leaves a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, alcohol and peer pressure does increase with age as teens struggle to identify where they fit and the role alcohol plays in their social worlds. This could eventually lead student to drop out of school or have problems facing the real world and a job. Another result of alcohol consumption are often sexual assaults and rape .When you drink there is a higher risk of being targeted for sexual assault victim. A data from The National Highway Traffic Safety presents to us that most vehicle fatalities are among young adults aged 16 and 24. This proofs that these unsafe environments are contributing in increasing alcohol poisoning deaths among youths and young adults...
Words: 426 - Pages: 2
...Twenty-one may be the legal drinking age, but somehow minors find a way to get a hold of alcohol. People as young as fifteen are able to get their hands on an alcoholic beverage. Alcohol is said to be the chosen drug among college students. College students have a tendency to drink more than the general population. It is said that college students spend approximately $4.2 billion annually an alcohol. This money is spent on 430 gallons of alcoholic beverages, and 4 million cans of beer. The type of college, geographical location, the ethnic and gender makeup plays a role in the amount of drinking that occurs on a campus. For example, colleges with fraternities and sororities have higher statistics; this is because of their sponsored parties. They drink more often, which contributes to heavier drinking. Studies show that college students drink more when they are in a group, which speaks to peer influences. When it comes to drinking on campus there is no legal age so to speak. When someone goes to a party, they are not carded; they get a cup. Studies show that students between the ages of 18-21 drink more than those who that are over 21. Statistics show that the younger the person the more he or she drinks (Facts on Tap). Forty one percent of college students report to binge drinking, and nearly four percent drink daily. Binge drinking is defined as four drinks for women in one sitting and five drinks for a male in one sitting. Students that are binge drinkers have even more problems...
Words: 1131 - Pages: 5
...“Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking…” (1). This quote shows that underage drinking is a very dangerous thing and many people should start taking that into consideration. The drinking age should not be lowered for various reasons. If the drinking age was to be lowered it could potentially cause more deaths and interfere with the development of minors along with many other consequences. The drinking age has been 21 since 1984 because of an act that said if states didn’t make the drinking age a minimum of 21 years old they would lose 10 percent of highway funds. “The legal drinking age in the United States has been 21 since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984. When President Ronald . . . Reagan signed the act, he issued a blanket requirement for all states to raise their drinking age, or risk losing highway funding from the government” (7). Reagan did find studies that the 18-20 age group are most likely to be in an accident related to alcohol than any other age group...
Words: 1433 - Pages: 6
...Generation Fucked Up – Danish Drinking Culture. Alcohol consumption is a large part of many cultures, from celebrations at coming-of-age ceremonies to wishing good health on one’s friends. Denmark is a country which does not sway from this notion in the slightest. Denmark, a part of the notoriously-drunk Scandinavian countries, is facing a crisis: Generation Fucked Up. Generation Fucked Up refers to the Danish adolescents, who, heavy with a culture of binge drinking, are spiralling out of control. Who is responsible? Why is it so? And what can we do to stop it. Binge drinking is a concept that is concerning parents in not only Scandinavia, but worldwide. Binge drinking is when people, often young people, go out and consume alcohol at alarmingly high levels, often enough to be hospitalised. This is most prevalent in teenagers. In most parts of the world, it is forbidden to consume alcohol at all until ages 18-21. But in Scandinavian countries, this is not the case. The students of the Norwegian schools are given venues within their institution to consume alcohol. The Swedish teens are sufferers of the Swedish ‘4-day-hangover’ after every weekend and public holiday. And Denmark tops them off with not only the most lax access to alcohol for teenagers, but the highest alcohol consumption, for teenagers, in the world. According to the World Health Organization, the Danish teens are drinking 11.3L of pure alcohol every year. The Danish adults, however, are not as severe. Whilst...
Words: 1153 - Pages: 5
