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Essay On Lowering The Drinking Age

782 Words4 Pages

Abstract
This research paper discusses how the legal age for drinking may affect maturity, binge drinking, and sexual assaults; and how greatly age plays into it. The articles vary in what they bring to the paper. The New York Times article discusses whether or not the drinking age should be lowered. An article that was featured in News Week talks about how lowering the drinking age may curb binge drinking in college students. On the other hand, Washington University in St Louis argues that lowering the drinking age would do the opposite and lead to increased binge drinking. In this research paper, there will be more in depth explanations and findings to whether legally there is a way decrease the large population being negatively affected …show more content…

The biggest question people are asking is why other countries can withhold a drinking age of 18 but America has to hold onto 21. Supporters of lowering the drinking age to18 argue that drinking in nontoxic environments will result in decreased drinking in precarious situations. According to an article found on The Odyssey, “A 2007 Gallup poll revealed that 77% of Americans are against lowering the national drinking age. (The Odyssey). The argument this population is putting forward is that drinking will become more prominent among the 18-20 year old population and increase the dangers we are already encountering. In the United States there have been various deaths following alcohol abuse and intake. The lack of education on alcohol may very well the reason many accidents are not prevented. The biggest problem the U.S. and Americans are facing is underage drinking. In today’s society, we see many young teenagers that begin to drink come of age 10-16. The mismanagement of alcohol causes many teenagers to experience alcohol poisoning, alcohol dependency, and accidents leading to death. This has continued and will continue to happen to the younger generations unless American’s intercept and get something done

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Over the years the controversial question, “Should the drinking age be lowered back down to 18?”, is constantly contemplated. One reason this should be changed is, there are no age restrictions at this age except for buying and drinking alcohol. Also, at the age of 18, Americans can vote, buy tobacco products, join the armed forces, drive, marry, and even get sentenced to death. Second, questions arise about possible addiction, lower brain activity at a younger age, and a higher rate of alcohol poisoning death.

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