Why The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered To 18

In a way, alcohol is a large part of how society puts a number on physical and mental maturity. Logically, only the mentally and physically mature should have access to alcohol, but this presents the problem of deciding on an age when humans are universally, more or less, physically and mentally mature. There is a problem with how alcohol is introduced to and used by first time drinkers. Access to alcohol is not the only privilege that presents this problem of deciding on a universal age limit, the same goes for war, working age, and driving to name a few examples. Nearly a third of all traffic deaths are alcohol related in the U.S.. Clearly, there is a responsibility issue with alcohol, change is in order from the current age of 21, the drinking age should be lowered to 18.

“Of the 190 countries, 61% have a drinking age of 18 or 19 years old.”(“Drinking Minimum Legal Drinking Age in 190 Countries”, 2016) Just over 60% of countries have their minimum legal drinking age set to either 18 or 19, an MLDA (minimum legal drinking age) of 18 is almost similar to the metric system in a way, as in the rest of the world has adopted it, except for America and a few other places. In fact the U.S has a higher minimum legal drinking age than 86% of all other countries. People that have reached 18 years of age are legal adults in the U.S, they are able to enter contracts, serve in the military, vote, and in many states, buy a rifle. Even though all of these privileges that arguably demand more responsibility than alcohol are granted at 18, alcohol is not legal for consumption until