Topic: Drinking Age in the United States
Specific Purpose: to motivate my audience to protest for lowering the Drinking Age from 21
Central Idea: Lowering the legal alcohol consumption age will reduce the rate of underage drinking charges:
INTRODUCTION
I. The Attention Step
A. 10.4 million kids reported drinking last year so obviously this law is not working. The average teen begins drinking at 14, seven years before they can legally drink.
1. I’m sure at least a few of you have taken some of your parents alcohol without them knowing about it or have participated in underage drinking at some point in your life up to now and if not you might in college.
2. If you haven’t and don’t plan on it because it is illegal, just know that if the legal drinking age were changed, one would have nothing to think about.
Transition: So why do we need to lower the drinking age?
II. The Need Step:
A. Since the drinking age was raised teens have tended to drink in more of an abusive manor.
1. In 2011 in the United States, 13,000 underage kids died from alcohol poisoning. The next closest country had just 5,000.
2. If the number of underage drinking charges in America reduces, then the overall rate of crime in America will drop therefore making America a safer country.
3. A recent Kansas City newspaper asked 8,726 students if the drinking age should be lowered. Out of 8,726 asked 7,992 said yes
B. Underage kids want to consume alcohol and them not being of legal age will not be enough to keep them from getting the alcohol and getting drunk. 1. Police will be able to focus on more serious crimes 2. Petty crimes will no longer be a factor thus allowing police to allot more energy to more important crimes.
III. The Satisfaction Step
A. Younger kids will lead healthier lifestyles and crime rates will lower 1. Kids will lead healthier lifestyles 2. No more binge drinking and alcohol poisoning.
B. Crime rates will reduce in America 1. America will be viewed as a safer place and look better to the rest of the world C. More responsible drinkers/people in general 1. Kids will start drinking earlier and learn to be more responsible at a younger age which will in turn cause them to be more responsible as a person as well.
IV. The Visualization Step A. Foreign countries such as France and Spain have lower alcohol consumption age laws and therefore have less alcohol abuse problems. 1. Again, less alcohol consumption problems leads to healthier lifestyles and less crime. B. American Kids see alcohol as a forbidden fruit and a badge of rebellion. 1. Kids see something they cannot have and it makes them want it even more.
2. It is the thrill/rush/adrenaline of doing something forbidden that makes kids wants to do it even more. If we take away the thrill of underage drinking, fewer kids will drink.
CONCLUSION
V. The Action Step A. Lowering the drinking age in America will lead to many benefits and fewer consequences. 1. Less underage drinking will lead to healthier lifestyles ,less crime, and more responsible drinkers,
B. In order to propose a law calling for a lowered drinking age, one must have all those around them write letters to the state and local government as they are the voice of the people.
1. You can find the addresses of the local representatives online or in your phonebook
"Instead of giving money to found colleges to promote learning, why don't they pass a constitutional amendment prohibiting anybody from learning anything? If it works as good as the Prohibition one did, why, in five years we would have the smartest race of people on earth."

REFRENCES
O'CONNOR, A.. Opening a debate over a lower drinking age. The New York Times, 2008. Web. 21 Jul 2012.
Belluck, Pam. "Vermont Considers Lowering Drinking Age to 18." New York Times. New York Times, 2005. Web. 21 Jul 2012.
Streeter, R... "The debate on lowering the drinking age." 60 minutes. CBS News, 2010. Web. 21 Jul 2012.
Minton, M.. "Lower the Drinking Age for Everyone.” National review. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Jul 2012.
Keen, J.. "States weigh lowering drinking age." Usa today. Gannett Co., Inc., 2008. Web. 21 Jul 2012.
Cloud, J.. "Should the drinking age be lowered?." Time. TIME magazine, 2008. Web. 21 Jul 2012.