Essay On Minimum Drinking Age

Minimum Drinking Age A historical examination of the minimum legal drinking ages laws can be traced back to the 1920's during the time of Prohibition. Then by 1933, during the repeal of the Prohibition the states began to adopt the age of 21 years old as a starting point of being able to purchase alcohol. In 1975, the States pushed the drinking age back to 18 years old due to the voting age being pushed back. After having the drinking age lowered there was a significant increase of motor vehicle crashes among 18-20 year old drivers that were legal to drink. After the increase, the drinking age was brought back up to 21 years of age, making the Act of 1984 being passed to reduce the traffic related fatalities. Some states varied in

Despite the heavy debates about what the minimum drinking age should be, it continues today to be the lead in the most decreasing alcohol consumption and reduced alcohol-related morbidity and mortality (Saylor, 2011). Today, a 21st birthday has became a right of passage. Making a direct link to between the minimum drinking age and binge drinking. “The recent Amethyst Initiative argues that a minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21 has created a culture of heavy alcohol use on campuses by making drinking clandestine and extreme” (Saylor, 2011, pg 330). Making the younger generations tempted to get this rite of passage before the legal age. The younger generation is a major part of the argument is based on. The brain is still under developed by the age of 21, making it a priority health-risk that can contribute to morbidity and morality among the youth. The part of the brain that is effected by alcohol is the frontal lobes. The frontal lobes is the part of the brain that helps us make our decisions. If damaged by alcohol-related actions it can lead to greater impairments in learning, and creating long-term effects on the brain