For a long time, there have been debates about lowering the drinking age in the United States from 21 to 18. Some argue that if a person can enlist in the armed forces or vote in elections, they should be allowed the right to drink alcohol. Others feel that it is far too dangerous to lower the drinking age and the outcomes would be disastrous. There are many arguments presented for both sides of this topic. Despite the arguments for lowering the drinking age, there is a lot of research that proves it would be a negative action. I personally believe that the legal drinking age should be lowered because whether it is legal or not, people under 21 will still consume alcohol. No one can deny the fact that alcohol is a big part of the American …show more content…
The drinking age was first lowered to eighteen years old in most states during the Vietnam War. During this time, the number of alcohol-related accidents began to rise exponentially, and a large majority percentage involved young drivers. And so, once again, the drinking age was taken back to twenty-one. “According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, while the drinking age was 21, the number of traffic fatalities involving 18 to 20-year-old drivers has decreased by thirteen percent, saving an estimated 19,121 lives since 1975” ( DUIanswers.com). Because the consumption of alcohol is considered an illegal activity for people until they reach age twenty-one, oftentimes teens are never really taught how to drink in moderation beforehand and therefore are more likely to abuse alcohol and binge drink. According to Doctors around the world, Alcohol consumption can interfere with the development of the young adult brain's frontal lobes, needed for functions such as emotional regulation, planning, and organization. When alcohol intake interferes with this early adult brain development, the potential for serious problems such as greater chance of addiction, dangerous risk-taking behavior, reduced decision-making ability, memory loss, depression, violence, and suicide percentage go up as well. People also argue that if the age