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Pros And Cons Of Lowering The Drinking Age

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Since 1989 when the MLDA (Minimum Legal Drinking Age of 21) was increased from 18 to 21, law enforcement has admitted that its prosecution is not a priority for most law agencies. "This law has been an abysmal failure," John McCardell, a former president of Middlebury College told 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl. "It hasn't reduced or eliminated drinking. It has simply driven it underground, behind closed doors, into the most risky and least manageable of settings.” Lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18 would not only lower the amount of illegal binge drinking, but it would also help 18 year olds learn to manage additional responsibility at a younger age. If 18 year olds can hold jobs, enlist in the military, vote and drive cars then why can’t they be trusted to have a drink? Moana Jagasia, a Duke University sophomore from Singapore where the drinking age is lower, said,“There isn't that much difference in maturity between ages 18 and 21," and "If the age is lower, you're getting exposed to drinking at a younger age and you don't freak out when you get to college." Indiana University professor Ruth Engs released a 1989 study showing that young adults' alcohol abuse actually increased markedly after the nationwide raising of the drinking age. In 20 years of studies, she's repeatedly found that significantly …show more content…

The percentage of underage drinkers has decreased since 1984 when most MLDA 21 laws came into effect. Studies indicate that when the drinking age is 21, those younger than 21 drink less and continue to drink less through their early 20s, and that minors who do not drink until they are 21 tend to drink less as adults. This may be correct, but by lowering the drinking age, teens would be able to drink in public places where others could keep an eye on

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