Should the legal age for drinking alcohol be lowered?
If youre allowed to fight in the army you should be allowed to have a glass of wine with dinner
18 is the age at which people are allowed to vote, get piercings, be a part of the army, yet not drink? If youre allowed to do all of that you should be allowed to drink. You should be mature enough to know how much alcohol to consume without going crazy.
Posted by: AnonymousKids will get it anyway.
Everything but the drinking age is 18. It just makes it more dangerous because kids will get it from dangerous sources instead of in a safe legal way.
Posted by: rogueSupervision
If you have supervision from an older person when you drink you are more likely to learn your limit of alcohol. Where as when young people drink with other friends most of the time they exceed their limit of alchol consumption. Adults would be able to teach you when you need to stop drinking, just like driving you have an adult help you learn how to drive. The same should be for drinking.
Posted by: AnonymousIt is legal right
Sure a person under 21's brain doesn't fully develop until 21, if we are over the age of 18 and no longer a minor, it should be our decision to make that choice of whether to drink or not. It is our right to choose whether we want to drink or not, not the government's.
Posted by: AnonymousThe legal drinking age should be lowered to 18 because this is the military draft age.
The legal drinking age in the United States should be lowered from 21 years old to 18 years old because once a man is 18 years old he can be drafted into the military. If you're old enough to have all your rights stripped away as you put your life on the line for your country regardless of whether or not you want to, then you are old enough to have all of your rights.
Posted by: TwoVicI support lowering the drinking age, so as to be consistent with other laws.
When someone is 18 years old, they have the right to enlist for the military and die for their country. They have the right to vote. They can get married, without parental consent. They can do just about anything a legal adult can do, short of running for President or getting Social Security and Medicare. But, they have to wait three more years before they can legally drink. We trust them with their lives, but not alcohol?
Posted by: FlakyHerb64Drinking age should be at 18.
A lot has changed since the bill first passed to raise the drinking age to 21. Reagan reasons were derived from the idea that it will prevent less car accidents. Initially it worked but now the reason there are less car accidents involving alcohol is because of the higher restrictions, better laws and punishments for one that decides to drink and drive. There are always going to be those idiots that want to ruin his or her life by drinking and driving, but that is their stupid decision and has no correlation on age. This said, there is no reason why the drinking age should not be lowered to 18. At 18 we have the right to vote, buy a fire arm, get charged as an adult, and much more. My argument is that if the drinking age is lowered to 18 there should be restrictions and one should not have the right to abuse the power. Like a learners permit there should be regulations and laws to control what 18-20 buy and can get their hands on. This will ensure that there is safer drinking that is not underground. The law now is not preventing 18 and up young adults from drinking but having us put it underground having higher risks because it is not in a controlled safe environment. There are facts showing that people are less likely to call for help if one gets alcohol poisoning if the one sick is not of legal age to drink. This causes many deaths and harm to people and all can be stopped by lowering the drinking age to 18. Other countries that have the drinking age at 18 view drinking as a common and casual thing that is apart of the culture. They are not harming anyone buy having a beer or cup of wine. Why are cops in America so adamant about getting young adults in trouble when they are not causing any harm or trouble by having a beer or two and people are getting raped and killed everyday. I believe the drinking age should be lowered to 18 under restrictions like a learners permit.
Posted by: mattgaddyDrinking age should be lowered.
The hypocritical principle of allowing eighteen year olds to go marching off to war where they are legally allowed to kill other human beings and potentially lose their own life in the process, and experience the horrors and hardships of war, but legally be unable to purchase alcohol is intolerable and should be examined in great detail.
Posted by: AnonymousIt would reduce alcohol-related harm/death in the 18-25 yo range.
As someone pointed out, the US has way more problems with alcohol poisoning and drunk driving than comparable countries in Europe. This is because of the novelty/secrecy involved in "underage" drinking. One of my classes at the college I attend was asked who would be less likely to report alcohol-related harm (ie. alcohol poisoning) if they knew the consumer was underage; everyone raised their hand. This is scary! I think this shows that lowering the drinking age could actually cater to the greater good of the population in that drinkers would be safer.
As a college student (I can only speak from my experience), I can't think of any of my peers whose drinking behavior changed when they turned 21. Either they had already been drinking since graduating high school, or they didn't drink, and when they turned 21 they still didn't drink. As mentioned, 18 is just a much more logical age to allow drinking. It's when every other adult privilege is allowed.
Also, for all of the "no" responses, you guys are talking about kids developing alcoholism and referring to 18-21 year-olds as "youngsters"! It's not like we're talking about lowering the drinking age to 12.Posted by: Anonymousthe legal alcohol age should be lowered!
i think the legal age of alcohol should be lowered to 16 becuase if they keep it higher...people think its clever to drink because they are to young...if they lower the legal age..children will see its not so fun to be drunk all the time and will agree that the old legal age was better!
Posted by: AnonymousYes For A Number of Reasons
If it's so bad for brain development why hasn't Europe turned into a third world country by now?
Even if there is a risk to brain development you need to consider who's brain is it and who does it belong to? An 18-year old can join the military, and one of the greatest risks in combat these days are brain injuries. If an 18-year old is responsible enough to take that risk they are responsible enough to take the risk and drink. Otherwise, be consistent and raise the military age to 21.Posted by: MasturDbtorI believe the legal age for drinking should be lowered so that in is in the same standard as military service and voting.
I believe the legal age for drinking should be lowered so that in is in the same standard as military service and voting. The current legal age to drink in the United States is 21, which is three years after an individual can serve in the military and cast a vote for the next President. In addition, many individuals under the age of 21 already have access to alcohol from friends and family, lowering the age would not create a boom of alcoholism or alcohol related tragedies. Also, the money created from the increased sale in alcohol could go towards a variety of public projects such as education, health care and crime prevention. Proper education is needed to go with the age reduction and common sense would prevail.
Posted by: 53r3n3PiersAs long as they can be watched and controlled
As long as the sibling can be controlled I think it would be okay as long as you control their limit and not give in. And like flakyherb64 said at 17 and 18 years old you can enlist in the military and give away your life. You can get married at age 14 in Kentucky and in most states 18 but you cant decide for yourself whether or not you can have an alcoholic beverage. Which in reality is stupid because if your giving them the right to sign away their life to the military you are giving them so much responsibility but they cant have the lesser responsibility of having their own life in their hands still face the fact at 18 parents cannot control what their children anymore. So its stupidity to say that a person the age of 18 can sign away their life and get married and be a normal average productive adult in society but not be able to decide what they can put into their body.
Posted by: AnonymousThere are different things to consider.
Is it healthy? No. At no point in your life is drinking beneficial (provided you have healthier outlets for stress and good social habits). However, this question feels more like it's about choice. I think drinking is a pretty basic choice to make. It is a large responsibility, sure, but kids are entrusted with a lot of responsibilities before 21. I would say driving is a bigger responsibility than drinking, and if people drank and knew how they were when they were drunk, it might cut down on drunk driving. In moderation, drinking wont kill people under 21 immediately, so the legal age is completely arbitrary. If it were based on our biology, it would be 27 or 26 when our brains have fully developed (aside from grey matter storing new patterns). Since consideration for all of this has almost nothing to do with health, people should be allowed to drink if they're able to drink. I know some people with bad livers who wont ever be able to drink because of some heavy medication they were on as teenagers.
Age alone isn't a good fact. Given other factors and valuing choice over what is best- the age should probably be lower.Posted by: TwistedLocusThe drinking age should be lowered.
I do believe that the drinking age should be lowered. I think that the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen years old. If you have the right to buy cigarettes and be considered an adult then I think you should be able to make adult decisions. Thus, you should be able to buy alcohol at 18.
Posted by: barbiegirllYes to 18 years old.
Old enough to go to war old enough to drink I'm legally an adult I make my own decisions and I decide to drink. Binge drinking depends on the person not the age so don't say that people under 21 are more likely to binge drink drink than people over 21.
Posted by: AnonymousI believe 18 should be the drinking age.
It's simple. Old enough to vote? Old enough to die for your country? You should be allowed to drink. I think it is hypocritical of our country to allow 18 yr. olds to fight in a war, and politicians spend countless millions to get the "young" vote, but no one thinks to say if they are mature enough to vote and fight, they should at least be allowed a drink.
Posted by: jabbeeYes you should lower the legal drinking age to 18
At the age of 18 your able to vote drive and smoke right? You ruin yourself by smoking, your responsible enough to vote and you can pay attention enough to drive. If you can do all three of these things then why not top it off with a drink or two at the local bar?
Posted by: AnonymousDrinking Age Should Be Lowered
I strongly believe that the drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18 because a man becomes a man at this age. He can be drafted into war and fight for a country that would not even allow him to have a beer or other alcoholic beverage in celebration or in general. As one reaches 18, they are allowed a plethora of new benefits that did not apply to them until now. As of attaining this age, one is allowed to legally purchase and smoke a cigarette, vote for the nation's next leaders, rent cars, order things on television, own property, etc. The list goes on and on. A respectable amount of people believe that it would be irresponsibility and the ability to not make the right decision kicking in, but this is not entirely true. If they lived up to that statement, they would not let these "bad-decision-makers" vote for senators, representatives, and the President; all of whom are important and crucial impacts to our economy, society, and our country as a whole.
Posted by: AnonymousThe legal drinking age should be lowered to 18
I believe that the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18 not to only promote safer drinking amongst young adults that partake in drinking alcohol but to offer the rights that young adults at 18 deserve. If at 18 the community views you as an adult you should have the right to drink alcohol like you have the right to serve in the military, vote, and get charged as an adult sentence if involved in criminal activity. All of the drinking that occurs with young adults is underground. The law at 21 is not holding young adults below this age from drinking; rather it puts it underground out of a safe environment making drinking underage even more dangerous than risking braking the law. The drinking age should be lowered to 18.
Posted by: AnonymousYES the drinking age should be lowered.
The drinking age should be lowered for many reasons, but to make my argument short, I believe if the drinking age isn't lowered to 18 years old than other aspects should be raised to 21 years old . Such as being able to go to war,voting and several other things.
Posted by: AnonymousKids will do as they please, why not just supervise it?
Teens nowadays do everything behind their parents backs. Why not lower the age to lower the temptation of drinking. Especially in homes. It's legal to give a minor alcohol in the security of home with the consent of a parent. That way you can control consumption, and other activities that come with drinking. Such as driving, which leads to death. Parties which can lead to being roofied,raped,etc. If you teach them at home they can learn how to drink civilly.
Posted by: Anonymousyounger adult mind
Were reapeting history again here. When we banned alochol back in the 1900s it only increased the drinking problem, and people were brewing their own drink. Its obvious that when ever the law makes certaint things illeagl (weed, drinking ect.) we only are ecorage to do these things. Thats truth.
Posted by: AnonymousMAKE IT LEGAL NOW!
Learning how to use alcohol responsibly is just like learning how to drive responsibly. When talking about a new driver the ages 16 and 17 are very key to them. This is when a person develops the experience to know how to drive well and not get into accidents. Also during these times the young driver doesn't have a full license. It is restricted for their safety so they can't do something's like drive past 9pm or they must be in the car with an adult over the age of 21. This same process that works to aid thousands of drivers each year in safe and effective driving should be applied to drinking. When you turn 18 you can sign up for a drinking permit, which limits the amount of alcohol you can consume as well as other restrictions that aid in a safe drinker.
Posted by: AnonymousA shift in alcohol culture
We can see in many European countries with lower drinking ages that alcohol is not as big of a problem as it is in the United States. Why? Because drinking is part of mainstream culture there; it isn't a "rite of passage" or something to abuse on weekends. When teens enjoy alcohol in moderation at the family table, they are less susceptible to abusing it later in life.
Posted by: InVinoVeritasIt should be lowered down to at least 18.
Yes. The age should be lowered to at least 18. Why? Because at that age I can join the military and go to war. I can by tobacco products and gamble. I can live on my own and get married. I'm legally able to watch, buy and even be in porn related things like videos. I 'm old enough to go to jail and prison. I also think you're able to buy a gun at that age. And the other thing is that you are considered an adult at the age of 18. But people under 21 are still treated like kids because they are not able to drink. Drinking is nothing compared to some of those things like going to war. If I'm old enough to die in a war for my country I'm old enough to drink.
Posted by: AnonymousYes
It should be lowered to 18 years old.
Posted by: EvanKImmature War, Mature Drinking.
We can blow our brains out in Afghanistan, Iraq, Vietnam, Europe, Japan, the ocean, and even our home front, but we're worried that our brains can't handle a little alcohol at the same age. When people go to war they take a lot more risks on brain damage and mental illnesses than they would if they went and had a little fun at a party.
Posted by: Anonymousshall be 18 yrs of age
Hence the fact that you can join the military, vote, have kids, get married, buy cigarettes, serve on a jury, drive and be tried in court.
However I believe the government should stop spending $$ to keep alcohol out of college. Instead keep it out of high school.Posted by: AnonymousAt age eighteen men and women are considered adults
We can vote, buy tobacco products (like cigarettes which kill), and fight for our country. An eighteen year old is qualified of making every other choice as an adult, but is unable of making a conclusion whether or not they should drink? Law should be changed! I am 24 btw.
Posted by: Anonymousthey are adults
18 year olds are adults and should be treated as such. They can fight in war, get married, own a house, own a car, own a gun, get kicked out of their parents house, but when they come back from fighting for their country, they cannot even have a beer.
Posted by: AnonymousYes then we could be like everyone else.
It should be lowered because not only it is at the age of 18 in other countries its because it would make more sense. Everything else is lowered at the age of 18 to buy certain drugs, and get into bars, or clubs. 18 years old is when the human being reaches adulthood. Might as well make the drinking age at 18 just like everything else is.
Posted by: AnonymousYou can die for your country but can't drink a beer to celebrate surviving.
It is ironic that someone can be married or in the military for three years, have been allowed to drive a car for five years, and have sex for three to seven years before they can legally drink beer or alcohol. Of all the risky behaviors one can indulge in, alcohol done responsibly has less risk than a car crash or an unplanned baby. It should be legal at 18 as long as one doesn't get drunk and drive.
Posted by: Pir4AndThe drinking age should be lowered to age 18 since that is the age at which one is considered an adult.
People are legally considered adults at age 18. They can live on their own and join the military. 18 year olds are considered to be solely responsible for themselves. They should have the right to be responsible in their alcohol consumption as well as everything else. it makes no sense to allow an 18 year old to do anything they want with the exception of drink alcohol.
Posted by: I0rdForevercause its just dumb
causer if you think about it some kids think oh well its cool to go get drunk because its a law i am disobaying but if lowered then they wouldn't think it was so cool.... Then they can try you as a adult at 18 you can vote go to the army get marry do anyting besides drink that just makes no dang since at all so some people needa think smarter and like us teens we think things are cooler when we are not aloud to do them...!
Posted by: AnonymousThe drinking age should be lowered because it'd make everyone safer.
I love drinking. I am careful when I do it, so don't tell me about drunk driving. I don't have brain damage from drinking either. Lowering the drinking age keeps young people from meeting up with strangers too, since you don't have to walk up to someone and ask them to buy alcohol for you.
Posted by: AnonymousAdult at 18 but not really?
A person should be allowed to make their own decisions once they are legally an adult, this superficial age of 21 that proclaims a person to be a "true" adult is absurd. You allow a person to drive at 16, make complex financial decisions and even get into debt at 18 but they are not mature enough to drink till 21? Seems like a bit hypocritical to me.
Posted by: EvanvdBergYes, alcohol drinking should be lowered to age 18.
It should be legal for 18 year olds; that way they won't be trying to get it illegally because they can’t buy it in local supermarkets. Also they are mature enough to be drinking it at that age. After all, it is the age when they become adults. It also will help our economy with more people purchasing the alcohol at stores where it is sold. They won’t be trying to make strangers buy the alcohol for them and getting others in trouble for buying alcohol for under-aged kids.
Posted by: keiryThe drinking age should be lowered to the age of eighteen, conforming with other age-based milestones.
If an individual is allowed at eighteen to vote and to serve in the military, this is the appropriate age to be allowed to purchase alcohol. The mandatory drinking age of 21 is wholly arbitrary, and does not coincide with any specific level of maturity not seen at the age of eighteen. Social norms suggest that eighteen is the age of adulthood, and should be the legal age for drinking alcohol.
Posted by: N3r0nKrooIYouths are safer when they aren't hiding from their parents or the police.
The USA has a higher drinking age than most of the world, and it does nothing to reduce alcohol-related issues. What is more likely to help is educating youths about alcohol and responsible drinking without getting hysterical over it, and allowing them to start slow with the guidance of their parents.
Posted by: PazuI believe the drinking age should be completely done away with and the responsibility put solely on the parents.
Having any legal age for the consumption of alcohol is the basis for all other drinking problems. European countries that have no drinking age do not have the problems we have here in the States, i.e. high rates of drunken driving and alcohol related violence. To them, drinking is nothing special and commonplace. Here, on the other hand, it is quite special; it is something you are you supposed to wait a long time for to be able to do. And when is that magic age? The time when young adults are full of energy and rambunctious behavior. I say do away with all drinking age limits and thereby remove the "special" stigma that is attached.
Posted by: BrianDj
Instead of it being lowered, alcohol should just be banned.
Because too many people die from getting drunk. Beer should just be banned overall. I know a lot of people would lose their jobs but there are tons of other jobs! That way less crashes would happen with young kids drinking and driving. And if kids like the taste they could get carried away and get drunk.
Posted by: AnonymousIt's not good for you.
A lot of people, even at the age of 13, drink, and they think its fun, but you can get in a lot of trouble with it. Being 14 now, I can say I did not make good diamonds, but now after getting in trouble I do. People don't realize how much trouble you can get in.
Posted by: AnonymousThe legal drinking age should not be lowered as it will cost lives.
If the legal age for drinking alcohol is lowered it will result in an immediate and noticeable increase in drinking fatalities on the highways. In addition to this, the burden on the health care industry will be increased to an influx of young people who will need to address alcohol issues via hospitalization and intensive counseling.
Posted by: ThegaXena
Health reasons.The 18 year old brain is still developing, especially the frontal lobe of their brain. Sure, they can go off to war, vote, fight at 18, but they don't have the right to ruin their brains at that age. Their livers aren't sufficiently developed. Worst of all, the drunk driving rates will drastically increase
Posted by: AnonymousNO WAY JOSE
Say the drinking age is lowered from 21 to 18. Finally, 18 year olds will be satisfied and will pick up drinking heartily. However, children even younger than 18 will begin to abuse the new-found privilege of 18 year olds. They will be motivated by the same factors that fueled the 18 year olds to drink when the drinking age was 21.
Posted by: AnonymousUse of alcohol at a young age can cause permanant brain damage
Research has shown that children and young peoples brains are still developing into their mid twenties. Warly drinking can inhibit this development significantly.
We are not giving our children a chance to develop to their full potential.
Alcohol is involved in over 70% of aggresive crimes and murders. Young people already have less control over their impulses, why increase their chances of being involved in such crimes.Posted by: AnonymousCars are more common among US teens/18yr than other countries
Many other countries have lower drinking ages, such as 18, however, the US is one of the very few countries where it is considered the norm for a teen, esp. an 18 yr old, to drive or own a car. Combining the relatively new responsibility of driving with drinking is a dangerous combination, not just for those teens but their friends and other drivers.
"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that through 2002, the increase in the minimum legal drinking age has saved 21,887 lives in the 50 states. NHTSA estimates that the current MLDA will continue to save 1,000 lives each year. While alcohol was involved in 60 percent of U.S. vehicular fatalities in 1982, the rate in 2005 stood at 39 percent."
Although there are many teens/18-year-olds who could certainly handle these combined responsibilities, there are too many who cannot and threaten the safety of others.Posted by: AnonymousDon't change what doesn't need to be.
The law was made this way for a reason. I think changing it now would only effect the world poorly and not benefit anyone. Even though at the age of 18 you are consider and adult, there is still a lot of growing up that needs to be done before alcohol can be consumed daily.
Posted by: AnonymousShould the legal age for drinking alcohol be lowered
Kids are not responsible enough. It would be as if we are supporting them to drink, they may not be able to hold their alcohol and may result in altercations or even death. The drinking age should remain the same some adults can't even handle it so I know underage drinkers will probably be the same way.
Posted by: AnonymousI do not believe that the legal drinking age should be lowered. The level of maturity would be lacking.
At 21 people can still be pretty stupid when it comes to drinking and driving or drinking and doing other stupid things. To lower that age even further will just increase the risks. Also creating a drinking habit earlier in life will make it harder to break for some people.
Posted by: Chr0IviobileI do not agree with lowering the legal drinking age because even having it at 21, there is still much trouble with excessive drinking.
Even with a legal drinking age of 21, people younger than that are becoming intoxicated. Some are getting by with no consequences, but some are not only losing control but driving drunk, raping or getting raped, hurting themselves as well as others and some aren't even old enough to be tried in court as an adult. It is true that at 18, we can go to war, but we cannot drink until we are 21. But when you are 18 in the military, you are still under the protection and guidance of authority, when you are home drinking supervision is not necessarily included and bad things do occur.
Posted by: TatumHConsidering the number of alcohol-related accidents already occurring, I do not believe that the legal age for drinking alcohol should be lowered.
Because of the many negative side effects of excessive alcohol, and because it is already involved in a high percentage of accidents and conflicts, despite the current age limit, I do not think the age limit for alcohol consumption should be lowered.
Posted by: ToughEfrain26No, the age for drinking alcohol should stay where it is because of its effects on the brain.
What a lot of people don't know is that the brain continues to develop into early adulthood, up until the mid-twenties for some people. Drinking alcohol and doing drugs does effect the way the brain continues to develop and form. Some people feel that the age for purchasing cigarettes justifies lowering the age of alcohol, but I believe the age for purchasing cigarettes should be raised as well.
Posted by: 54ndDaviheath resons
The 18 year old brain is still developing, and if you're handing them a drink, that's increasing the percentage of alcohol poisoning deaths, the percentage of drunk driving deaths, and the amount of healthcare dollars spent on trying to cure the flow of new alcoholics that will surely come if you try and lower the drinking age to 18.
Posted by: AnonymousHealth reasons.
The 18 year old brain is still developing, especially the frontal lobe of their brain. Sure, they can go off to war, vote, fight at 18, but they don't have the right to ruin their brains at that age. Their livers aren't sufficiently developed. Worst of all, the drunk driving rates will drastically increase.
Posted by: Anonymousno it shouldnt be lowered
Why should it be lowered? Of what exact benefit is it to you? NONE... Being a teenager myself and having consumed alcohol I find it very unnecessary for a young teen to be drinking, it distracts people from there school studies and young people are becoming intoxicated, people think they look cool by falling all over the place on a night out - when really they just look like fools. People are making complete idiots out of themselves and it really does show their level of immaturity.
Posted by: AnonymousNo, the legal drinking age should not be lowered.
Consuming alcohol is very serious responsibility. Not to say that serving your country at the age of 18 isn't equally as serious of a responsibility because it is, however not every 18 year old joins the military. I'm sure if the drinking age were lowered than almost every 18 year would be drinking alcohol. Not to mention, teens are going to drink and find alcohol regardless of the legal drinking age, but if the government made it legal to drink at a younger age we would certainly see more deaths due to drunk driving. Personally, when I was 18 and 19 years old, I can't say that I made the best decisions with alcohol. At the age of 21 you've matured and are more aware of the dangers of alcohol.
Posted by: jew0329brain isn't full developed
The brain isn't full developed at the age. The best age to consume alcohol is 21 to early 40's. Consuming alcohol at an early age can affect you and people around you. It has been proven by many people that alcohol is bad for you in general. That's all i have to say
Posted by: AnonymousNo, we should higher the legal age.
An examination of death rates from homicide and vehicle accidents. There isn't much difference between 18- to 20-year-olds (who cannot drink legally) and 21- to 24-year-olds. Both groups have about 16 homicides per 100,000 and 30 vehicle deaths per 100,000.
The real change comes around age 25, he said. For that reason, you might argue that the drinking age should be raised to 25 or older, Cook said, where there were only 6 homicides and 16 motor vehicle accidents per 100,000. "Of course there is no support for raising the age, because everyone accepts 21-25 year olds as 'adults.'
Teenagers are four times as likely to be involved in a car crash and three times more likely to die in one than adults according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Recent studies have shown that these statistics may have to do with teenage brain development. A National Institutes of Health study proposes that the part of the brain that restrains risky behavior, including reckless driving, and thinking skills is not fully developed until the age of 25.
In 2007, about 10.7 million persons aged 12 to 20 (27.9 percent of this age group) reported drinking alcohol in the past month. Approximately 7.2 million (18.6 percent) were binge drinkers, and 2.3 million (6.0 percent) were heavy drinkers. These figures have remained essentially the same since the 2002 survey. Lowering the legal drinking age would also lower underage drinkers.Posted by: SnowCapeThe drinking age should remain 21 to prevent excessive underage drinking.
Although it is not uncommon for teens to get their hands on alcohol, the drinking age of 21 helps maintain enough of an age difference to make it more difficult for most teens. Simply reaching the age of majority does not guarantee that the person has the maturity or experience to handle the effects of using alcohol. By the time someone turns 21, they have not only are more mature and knowledgeable to handle the impact that drinking will have on their lives, but also be responsible enough to keep alcohol out of the hands of those that are too young.
Posted by: erica03Young people under the age of 21 do not have the life experience and/or judgment to be allowed to drink.
A child's brain is still developing and changing until the age of 24. That in itself should tell us that we should not allow alcohol to interfere with that normal development.
They do not have the life experience or good judgment that tells them what the outcome of their actions might be. Although they are intellectually aware of such consequences, their emotional development is not such that they will refrain from activities that seem desirable just because they know the long-term outcomes will be undesirable. That takes a level of maturity they have not achieved.
It is often pointed out that we let people vote and send them off to various wars when they are 18. A person can process information and vote based on that information at 18. As for fighting in a war, if we limited our military to those over the age of 50, we would not be so quick to start wars.
By not allowing our youngsters to drink at an earlier age we are not punishing them. We were not punishing them when they were 4 years old and wanted to run out into the street. We are protecting them until they are ready.Posted by: CI3IikeStupid
Drinking is just stupid in general. People should not drink alcohol at any age. If the minimum age is reduced, then it just allows more people to drink when they want to. this in turn can cause more accidents caused by drunk driving and there are already too many of those as it is.
Posted by: AnonymousTeens and young adults under 21 don't need the right to drink!
Research shows the brain keeps developing well into the twenties, during which time it continues to establish important communication connections and further refines its function. Scientists believe that this lengthy developmental period may help explain some of the behavior which is characteristic of adolescence—such as their propensity to seek out new and potentially dangerous situations. For some teens, thrill-seeking might include experimenting with alcohol.
Posted by: AnonymousNo, the legal age for drinking alcohol should not be lowered because youngsters may get addicted to drinking if allowed a free reign.
Young people are not exactly known for their skills in judgment. If they are allowed to drink they probably will drink as much as they want and become alcoholics before they reach 18. It is better if the legal age remains the same.
Posted by: TigerDeIIThe legal age for drinking alcohol should not be lowered, because people of legal age are still not handling alcohol responsibly.
Every day, many people die because of alcohol. People drink this poison and are not only hurting their insides, they are hurting others in many different ways. Drunk driving, overdosing, and abuse occur because of someone's stupidity. Alcohol is not to be ingested. It kills the brain and the organs. Drinking alcohol at all is not responsible. Others have to deal with wrecks and abuse and irrational behavior caused by drunk people. If people in their 30s are still learning not to drink so heavily, then the drinking age should not be lowered. Teenagers turn 18 and make many mistakes out in the world. Many start drinking illegally. They do not need to be given the okay to drink poison. This will only cause more problems in their lives and others lives.
Posted by: Pl4tinumCammyDrink Problems!
if the legal age of drinking was lowered then, because children are still developing until they are 18, it would be easier for them to get drinking problems, i think the legal age to drink should stay the same. because then the world would be A better place for everyone.
Posted by: AnonymousHealth reasons.
The 18 year old brain is still developing, and if you're handing them a drink, that's increasing the percentage of alcohol poisoning deaths, the percentage of drunk driving deaths, and the amount of healthcare dollars spent on trying to cure the flow of new alcoholics that will surely come if you try and lower the drinking age to 18.
Posted by: AnonymousHaving a legal drinking age doesn't completely stop kids from drinking, but I think it keeps them from drinking when they are too young.
People say lowering the drinking age will keep kids from having drinking problems; they say "Looks at Europe, no one is an alcoholic there". Having lived in Europe, I have to say that alcoholism statistics have been misrepresented. Because alcoholism is not considered a problem, it is under-reported. There are many studies that show if kids drink alcohol under the age of 18 it can cause a higher risk of alcoholism in adulthood. I think having a drinking age of 21 helps keep teenagers from drinking.
Posted by: babiekangaThe age for legalized drinking should be raised not lowered because even at 21 most young people are not ready to handle the responsibility of legalized drinking.
I believe that 21 is not a high enough age for legalized drinking because even at 21 most young people are not ready to handle the responsibility of drinking. Plus they still have way to many underage friends at 21 which leads to a lot of underage drinking. The 21 year old is still susceptible to peer pressure and immature thinking and thus they don't handle the responsibility very well.
Posted by: TasticBranI am strongly opposed to the drinking age being lowered as drinking alcohol requires a level of maturity so as not to prevent harm to others.
Driving accidents and deaths due to drunk drivers are already to high. Lowering the age will only make these statistics worse. Some communities already have major problems with high school age students consuming alcohol and every effort should be made to enforce the current law and age. If anything the drinking age should be returned to the earlier age of 21. If that is not possible than there should be major programs set up to educate those the dangers of driving and drinking. High schools need to have strong programs pointing out the dangers of drinking. Parents should be reminded not to leave or supply alcohol for underage children. In other words we need to do all we can to enforce the current law and educate teenagers to the dangers that can come from drinking.
Posted by: SportElanI firmly believe that drinking alcohol is not beneficial to everybody else so there is no use of lowering the legal age for drinking alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol can have long term adverse effects to human being. Later in life when the young ones continue to drink alcohol they can have diseases related to this and it may be a burden afterwards. Alcohol doesn't do any good effect to our society. Few people get drunk and get wild while drinking alcohol because they are aware of the actions they made. If we lower the legal age of drinking alcohol more people will be deluded to alcohol. In this, there might be increase in accidents and crimes due to taking of alcohol. In my observation as a nurse in an emergency room most of the accidents happens are people who drink alcohol and young ones. alcohol is doing not any good so there's no sense of lowering the legal age of drinking alcohol.
Posted by: AnonymousIT SHOULD BE RAISED
This means more people will not be caught on the road with drunk driving. We want to keep kids young while we can! 18 years can sometimes be too young and irresponsible. :) The police are already busy and they don't need anymore goon heads on the road to cause more trouble. I personally think that if these people get off the road then other people will be safer!
Posted by: AnonymousNo way, Jose.
First of all, no one brought up school. I was 18 and in my senior year of high school. If children could get that before they graduated I'm sure you would see a slight drop in school stats. Also, most kids are not mature at that age, not really at 21 either, but it's better than 18. I don't want to see more deaths upon drunk driving and such.
Posted by: BonboncandieI think it should increase
I think that the legal drinking age should be raised to about 23 years as that is the time most people will have finished their studies and hopefully will be mature enough to control how much they drink! This is why it should be raised. People will be able to get a good job and also not get drunk.
Posted by: Anonymous