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Lowering The Drinking Age Essay

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Throughout United States history there has been thousands of traffic accidents associated with general alcohol consumption. While some of these are because people make irresponsible choices, some people think that alcohol is simply a dangerous drug that should be made illegal. However, it is more plausible to acknowledge that alcohol has become a part of our country’s everyday life. Alcohol is present at celebrations, parties, or even lunch at a restaurant. It is seen in grocery stores, convenient stores, and of course, the Alcohol Beverage Control, otherwise known as the ABC store. Because alcohol is here to stay, and it should be drunk responsibly, it is imperative it is legally obtained and consumed. There are groups in place that …show more content…

An article discussing binge drinking, by Ralph Hingson, a professor in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department at Boston University, further explains the problem of binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks in one occasion. A drink, from college education courses, is considered to be 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or one standard shot of liquor. The problem with binge drinking, besides the obvious health effects and even deaths that it causes, is that when younger people do it, it imposes more risks. A study found that the rate of binge drinking did not change between those who were under the age of 21, and those who were legally drinking at ages 21-23 (Hingson). This poses a serious threat. The rate at which younger drinkers consume should not be the same as older, legal drinkers. This is especially true because as discussed above, once drinking ensues, the number of alcohol-related highway fatalities is significantly higher for younger drivers. If underage drinkers are already consuming five or more drinks in one sitting just as much as legal drinkers, than lowering the drinking age would most likely increase their binge drinking significantly. This would then act as a chain reaction as the number of alcohol-related highway fatalities would drastically

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This is why there are different limits in order to drink alcohol. Thinking about lowering the age is a bad choice to consider making. The United States shouldn’t allow this to happen to society. Lawmakers should not make eighteen the legal drinking

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In this essay I am going to tell you why I think the drinking age should stay the same. Why lowering it would be irresponsible to our younger and upcoming generation. Cdc.gov says that more than 10,265 people died in alcohol related accidents in 2016that is accounting to nearly one third of all traffic accidents each year you heard that right nearly 29%. Of all traffic related accidents are caused by alcohol alone and many more deaths with domestic abuse prompted by alcohol. So by Lowering it will make it more available for even younger people.

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Lowering the legal drinking age would be harmful to our country. One reason lowering the legal drinking age would be harmful to our country is that even though 18 year olds receive certain rights,they are still developing certain parts of the brain. For example consuming alcohol can interfere with the development of certain parts of the brain (the frontal lobes), which is essential for certain

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Newly-legal drinkers often purchase alcohol for their underage peers, creating a "trickle-down" effect. Surveys show that the most common source of alcohol among 18- to 20-year olds is their 21- to 24-year-old peers. Binge drinking peaks among 21- to 25-year-olds at 45.9%, while the binge drinking rates of those aged 12-17, and 18-20 are 35.7% respectively. Allowing 18 year olds to purchase and drink alcohol can make it way easier for middle schoolers. and high schoolers easy access to alcohol because the 18 year old can purchase it for them and give it to them.

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In the 1970s, the drinking age had been lowered to 18, in all 50 states, due to demand and influence by other states. This had increased the drunk driving rate by 30% and during this time, it caused the highest drunk driving accidents in a lot of the American history (Issues & Controversies). This isn’t something that needs or wants to be repeated by lowering the drinking age once again. To start, one reason to not lower the drinking age is it could increase the chances of drug use. If the MLDA was lowered from 21 to 18 it would cause people to irresponsibly drink in nightclubs, not be as safe when in this environment, and could also easily increase the risk of drug use (Procon).

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In 1984, The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. The act requires all states to increase the minimum age a person can purchase or possess alcohol to 21. Even though the drinking Age Act was signed, most adults admit to having their first drink between the age of 15 to 16. The 6 year separation between the age an average person has their first drink, and the age which it is legal to drink shows how unrealistic the act is. The legal drinking age should be lowered to 18 because it is an age where a person becomes a legal adult and responsible for their own actions.

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Andreasson, et al conclude, “...data includes alcohol related mortality and morbidity and alcohol related crime.” Alcohol is highly admired and it is causing alcohol related crimes, such as car accidents. People are getting hurt due to alcohol. The amount of people harmed in a society can be prevented by less alcohol consumption.

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Will Lowering the Drinking Age Ensure Public Safety? The alcohol industry can often be seen as one of the wealthiest and most successful components of the American economy. In a year, the American people invest $90 billion in alcoholic beverages (“The Authority in Drug and Alcohol”). Although the U.S. spends a substantial amount of money on alcoholic beverages, the effects of alcohol do not go unnoticed.

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When looking at the drinking age of the United States, it changed from being a state chosen age to a national age of 21 in the 1980’s. Currently, it is 2018, which is over 30 years since the change. The switch from 18 to 21 was an important one at the time, it has not been reevaluated since then. Lifestyles have drastically changed over those 30 years and it needs to be reevaluated. Also, it has been shown that by increasing the drinking age, it has had little effect on the number of alcohol related traffic incidents.

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Young adults from the ages twelve to twenty drink eleven percent of the alcohol consumed in the United States of America. Even though the youth may not drink as often as adults do when the young adults do consume alcohol they can drink a lot more. “The reason this happens is that more of the youth consumes more than ninety percent of their alcohol by binge drinking”(NIH)! Kids start at an early and become alcoholics and have a higher chance of dying sooner than the usual. I feel like if we drop the age limit for drinking, we will see a lot more binge drinking, alcoholics, and either now or later our average age for life will drop lower.

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Could you imagine a 45 year old alcoholic and gang leader sitting alongside a fresh 18 year old at a bar? Today, it may seem ludicrous but soon this situation may become reality due to the support for lowering the legal age of recreational alcohol consumption from 21 to 18. At 18 years old, teens are hardly able to manage a grocery list and safely control vehicles such as cars, motorcycles etc. Therefore, expecting them to limit their consumption to what is considered appropriate while abiding by laws previously implemented, such as the policy of not drinking and driving is prone to be a precursor to a life of alcoholism and perpetual failure to meet requirements. Medical professionals can validate that drinking at 18 has a much more profound impact on an individual compared to drinking at the age of 21, both physically and mentally.

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Lowering the drinking age: risky or safe? When teenagers turn 18, they are told that they are adults and are sent into the world. They go to college, get a job, marry or join the military. They do grown-up things like vote, pay taxes and become parents, but they can 't go to the bar for a beer.

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Why drinking age should be lowered? If one is considered an adult at age eighteen in most of the country, are they not allowed to purchase and legally consume alcohol? The minimum legal drinking age needs to be lowered, and not just for that reason. The amount of teenagers with drinking problems and alcoholism is far greater than in Europe, where drinking ages are far lower. Also, studies show that the current minimum age drinking laws have been ineffective to a high degree.

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