...Brian Basic Should the Drinking age be reduced? The drinking age goes way back in history. Drinking began to be considered a problem around the 1900’s. When the government decided to pass the 18th amendment in 1919 alcohol became prohibited throughout the United States. This amendment forced all alcohol underground. The crime rate started to rise drastically throughout the country. The crime rate rose because people were buying and selling alcohol illegally. As a result of all the problems evolved, in 1923 the 23rd amendment repealed the 18th amendment abolishing the banning of alcohol from the United States. That established the modern drinking age, but the age was not the same in all of the states. The states government had the freedom of being able to assign what they felt were a good age for people to start the consumption of alcohol. Most of the states chose the age of twenty-one, but several states allowed the purchase of beer to be at eighteen. "The political failure of general Prohibition meant that American adults would increasingly focus justifications for alcohol policy less on the perils of drunkenness and more on the tenuous concept that adults can drink properly but youths cannot or should not" (Males 190). This lead to much discussion over the drinking age and the debate will go on for years to come. Throughout this debate, it lead to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which lowered the United States drinking age to eighteen. After this act...
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...Why the drinking age should be lowered When people in the United States reach the age of eighteen, they are no longer considered juvenile. They have the right to choose their political leaders, purchase certain firearms, and even enlist in the military. They are considered legally independent adults. However, they are denied a very simple right: the right to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages. A twenty-year-old man can go legally kill a man or be killed for his country, but he would be denied the right to have a beer with his dinner. An eighteen year old in the US has the right to vote, and serve in the military. If that individual can make the decision of who the next potential leader of our country should be, while at the same time...
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...SHOULD THE DRINKING AGE BE LOWERED???? While doing this research I have noticed that the views over whether or not the legal drinking age should be lowered to eighteen has still not been settled. It all started in 1984 with the national minimum drinking age act of 1984. This act required all states to raise their minimum age to 21(http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol). This law started on July 17, 1984. For a long time people have talked about the good and bad to being able to drink alcohol before the age of twenty – one and still have not been able to come to a conclusion (Drinking Age ProCon.org). Even though most of my peers my think I am crazy for saying this, but I feel the drinking age should not be lowered. Many young American teenagers may disagree with me. They may argue that when you are 18 you can join the army and go to war and die for your country but you still can not drink. Some may say how is eighteen so different from twenty – one. How can three more years of not drinking be helpful to someone maturety level or health. Based on the information I have found in researching, I will explain why the legal drinking age should remain at the age of twenty – one. I will talk about the responsibility that comes with drinking, the medical issues it can cause and the impact it will have on even a younger age group. We as teenagers have not yet reached an age where we can handle alcohol in a responsible way or even understand the effects it can have on us...
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...The drinking age has been a topic of debate ever since an age was established. Many years ago, government said that 21 years old would be the minimum age for drinking. This was fine for a while but later became an issue. People started to think of all the things one can do as an 18 year old, yet still not able to drink a beer. At 18 years old one is considered an adult. They become eligible to serve in the military and yield weapons. Also at 18, one can go out to the store and buy a pack of cigarettes. So why can they still not have a beer. This is where controversy has begun. People believe the drinking age should be lowered to 18. Already in some states it is legal for someone to drink at 18, under some circumstances, but why is it not nationwide?...
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...debate about whether or not to lower the drinking age has been going on for years now with people on both sides having strong points. The side with the stronger side of the argument, in my opinion, would have to be yes, we should lower the drinking age to either eighteen or nineteen years old. I will be going over four points on why the drinking age should be lowered and they are as follows: it would teach responsible drinking behaviors and stop irresponsible college drinking, if we tried to raise the drinking age we would have another prohibition-like era which we all know how that turned out, there are fewer traffic accidents in countries with the drinking age of eighteen, and the morals around it, because if we can send an eighteen year old to Iraq then why can’t he make his own decision and have a drink? Lowering the drinking age to eighteen or nineteen would help the irresponsible drinking and help educate youth to know moderation when it comes to alcohol. “According to procon.org they state that if youth between the age of eighteen and twenty were allowed to drink in controlled environments such as bars, restaurants, social events, and other licensed locations would allow them to learn moderation and not resort to binge drinking in other areas such as fraternity houses or house parties.” (Should) Many college students are drinking as a pass-time and we can’t seem to do anything about it that is just it is. If we lower the drinking age, however, it will not only show that this...
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...Should the Legal Drinking Age be lowered to 18? Ryan A. Conklin is a soldier who enlisted into the Army at the age of 17. He was deployed to Iraq when he was just 20 years old. In his book, he wrote about his daily duties of a soldier in Iraq and all of the sights and sounds that he witnessed. He makes a comment in his book about the drinking age in the United States. He states “I was twenty years old, and on April Fools’ Day, I would turn twenty-one finally legal to drink in a bar. Unfortunately, I was two-and-a-half years into serving my country and was living in a combat zone, and I found it odd that until then I was still not allowed to drink alcohol in the States. A law I hope will be changed in my lifetime.” Different cultures and societies respond different to alcohol in terms of how much they can drink and what their bodies can handle. The legal age to consume alcohol in the U.S. should be lowered to eighteen for the sake of the people, the economy, and safety. When a male or female turns the age of 18, they now reserve the right to serve in the military. When war broke out with Iraq, people were chosen to go over that just turned the age of 18. In the book “An Angel in Hell” by Ryan A. Conklin, he stated “he would always wake up hoping that that day was not the last day he would be on this Earth. He was always on high alert while on patrols, dodging bullets and shooting his own gun just to stay alive.” He also said, in his book, “that he found it odd and annoying...
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...Should the drinking age be lowered to 18? 18 year olds have the right to vote, serve in the military, and get married. Therefore, it seems strange for it to be illegal for them to drink alcohol. By letting 18 year olds drink and be able to purchase alcohol it makes it less of a big deal, less control and restriction makes it less appealing and theres no thrill. That will make them drink more socially and responsibly. 18 is the age where you legally become an adult therefore you should be able to legally drink alcohol. It's the question underage kids have been asking for years: I can fight and die for this country but I can't enjoy an alcoholic beverage? ""18 is the age of adulthood in the US, and adults should have the right to make their own decisions about alcohol consumption."" says (Hayley). The alcoholic drinking age should be lowered to age eighteen because at that age you are responsible, mature, and it will help send the right message. Although many people agree that the age to consume alcohol should be lowered, many others argued for the opposite side of things. People believe that if children are able to drink alcohol legally they will want to start doing illicit drugs because they will try to find a thrill in something else since they won't find it in alcohol anymore. But that is merely an assumption...
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...You're known as an adult in the big wide vast world but cannot enjoy the occasional alcoholic beverage? The legal age of drinking in the U.S should be lowered to 18. This is an ongoing topic throughout law enforcement and very debatable if it should stay, be raised, or even lowered which is what should happen. As civilians are allowed to enlist in the military and fight for our country but cannot have alcohol? As Americans turn 18 they are known as adults but cannot drink. If underage drinking is very common and not often stopped by authorities, why will it not be lowered? There are also many reasons to not lower it and even raise it. Having the ability to enlist into the military and risking the lives of many Americans as they fight for our country but yet, these fellow...
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...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...
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...government activities such as voting or serving in the army. If we are considered adults at the age of 18 then we can fully face the consequences of any law that one might break. 18-year-olds are admitting to drinking before the age of 21 and nothing severe has happened to them. Young adults are fully capable of facing the consequences of breaking the law. A point that explains why the drinking age should be lowered is because 18-year-olds are able to legally marry, vote for office, join the army, own a house, etc. In the article, Should the drinking age be lowered:Pros and Cons“ 18-year-olds may vote in local, state, and federal elections, may serve on juries and may be charged as an adult if...
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...Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered? The drinking age in the United States is as low as it could possibly be, it should not be lowered it is as dangerous as it is already that there are more fatal car crashes due to the alcohol levels of drivers behind the wheel. I believe the drinking age needs to be higher. Alcohol has always played different roles in different situations but the drinking age is a protection against ourselves. The drinking age should not be lowered because it is causing harm to the society and kids, not only does alcohol cause harm but it can also be a trigger to sources of abuse to someone or something. The 1970’s was the first time the drinking age was considered to be moved up from 18 to 21 that today is currently saving lives day by day. Lowering the age can increase the death rate at ages from 18 to 20 years of age either be killed or injured. In this day and age there are not only adults drinking there are adolescents that are taking in the toxicants not knowing at an early age there is even more damage to progress and grow over time to harm the body. Based on a recent study there are 10.1 million underage drinkers in the United States 39 percent of them are 8th graders, 58 percent of them are 10th graders, 72 percent of...
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...Drinking age shouldn’t be lowered to eighteen. Friends and families gathered around for a very special person who is kind hearted, friendly and beautiful. She had a lot more to learn and see but now she’s gone. Her name is Marcela we were best friends since we were in middle school she was always there for me no matter what and we always had each other’s back. I was even going to ask her to the prom but I did not have the courage and now she is gone. The biggest part of my life taken away and it can never be replaced. Drinking shouldn’t be lowered to eighteen years of age because of Safety, Health, and Mentality. First reason why drinking shouldn’t be lowered to eighteen is Safety. Teens are the number one cause of drunk driving; because of this it causes accidents and fatalities. This year according to Department of public safety there are 756 people dead caused by drunk driving and 96 percent of it are teens. Lowering the drinking age privileges can also cause teens to be introduced to illicit drugs. Now that teens can drink they would think they are old enough to use different kinds of drugs. Another reason is violent behavior. In clubs almost 52 percent of fights are caused by teens that just turned twenty one. Even if some teens are very careful they are still bound to get some problems or obstacles. Second reason why drinking age shouldn’t be lowered to eighteen is health. Addiction is one of the health reasons. Teens can easily get addicted to drinking they might now...
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...Why the Drinking Age should be lowered Why the drinking age should be lowered It is a Friday night, after a grueling week of studying, students are excited to go downtown and have a good time with their friends at the bar. One person gets to the bar and the bouncer sees his ID, takes a long look at him and says he can’t let him in. This situation happens to millions of college students all over the United States! The drinking age in the United States is 21 and it is somewhat of a controversy for many people. The drinking age should be lowered because people will engage in more responsible drinking, people in their teens will get in less trouble with the law and most importantly it will be the last step towards fully making 18 year olds a part of the adult community. It is well known that college students like to drink. It is no secret, but where they buy and consume their alcohol is a secret. The president of Middlebury College, John Mcardell says, “kids find ways to get around the 21 year old limit. This law has been an abysmal failure. It hasn't reduced or eliminated drinking. It has simply driven it underground, behind closed doors, into the most risky and least manageable of settings." Since most college freshmen and sophomores are under the legal drinking age they are not able to buy their own alcohol and much less go into a bar and have a drink. In a survey I made out of my class all 11 students said that they have consumed an alcoholic beverage...
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...Drinking Age In The United States The drinking age in the united states should be lowered to 18. At the age of 18 you are considered an adult by law and can be tried as an adult in court, you can serve your country in the military, drive a motor vehicle at 16 and even do tremendous harm to your body by smoking tobacco, but you can’t go to the bar and have a drink. I believe there’s something wrong with that. Studies by the National Youth Rights association say that raising the drinking age didn’t save life's it actually lost more life’s for people age’s 21-24. They also said that Alcohol should be introduced in the home hold before the age of 18 parents should gradually teach them how to drink so they will be reasonably responsible later in life then they’ll be less likely to abuse alcohol because they were taught how to drink. Also Alcohol has played a big role throughout our history and to limit it to certain people should not be allowed. Keeping the drinking age at 21 is not going to solve the problem which is underage people drinking alcohol it’s only going to intensify the problem. According to ProCon.org having the legal drinking at 21 hasn’t stopped teens from drinking what so ever, it pressured them into wanting to drink more and it pushes binge drinking in dangerous environments which can lead to drunk driving and even death. While Interviewing a Fresno police officer he agreed that the drinking age should be 18 he said, “I don’t know how many times...
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...Drinking Age of the Military: Should it be Lowered Jason M. Stoudt DeVry University The drinking age in the military is currently set at 21 years old as it is set for the rest of the country. There has been an age old statement widely used by those in the military, “If I am old enough to fight and die for my country, I should be old enough to drink”. The debate is out there that the drinking age should be lowered for all young adults from 18 years old to 21 years old. The idea behind the fact that younger people tend to have less responsibility and are not good candidates for being allowed to drink is a valid point. Those serving in the military are different in that respect for the fact that they have more responsibilities than that of their counterparts in the civilian side of the realm. Anyone in the military from 18 until retirement has to be more responsible and is dealt with more severe consequences if they break the rules. Now the thing to look at is that it has not always been this way. In earlier years the military service members were allowed to drink if they were 18 years old and older as long as they were on a military base. It did not matter if the military base was overseas or inside the United States. In the middle of the 1980’s advocacy groups such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) as well as other groups lobbied Congress to have the rules changed. Per the U.S.C. 10, Section 2683, an amendment was made that changed the policy to reflect that the...
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