Legal Drinking Age
Could lowering the legal drinking age actually be more beneficial for the U.S? The drinking age debate has been more prevalent today because of the conflicting viewpoints. People are now coming up with statistics and valid points as to how lowering the drinking age could be more safe than keeping it at 21. In our history, the legal drinking age in nearly all states was 18. In 1984, Ronald Reagan established the Presidential Commission Against Drunk Driving to control the drunk driving epidemic(Choose Responsibility). This law was set in place at a very different time in history, where the widespread teaching on the dangers of drunk driving was not prevalent. In today's age, dangers of drinking are taught in health class and are advertised nationally. There are many benefits that could be
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With our culture today, teenagers are in the habit of over drinking at whatever chance they get. Many high schoolers are seen illegally getting alcohol and having to consume all of it in order to not get caught with it. This practice is extremely dangerous and can lead to serious health repercussions. In the US over “150,000 students develop health-related problems from drinking”(Hall 1). This shows how serious the problem is today and is partly due to the drinking age. Lowering this will make kids feel more safe to drink and not have to consume large quantities. By trying to get around the legal drinking age of 21, this brings another illegal activity of making fake IDs. By lowering the drinking age, it will “ bring the college fake ID business to a dead stop”(Cary 1). College students will not need a fake ID if the drinking age was reduced and do not have to participate in the illegal making of ID’s. This could result in serious consequences. Therefore, lowering the drinking age will have more benefits because it would reduce the urge to binge drink and stop the illegal fake ID