The US is known for binge drinking even though the drinking age is set at 21, the highest drinking age compared to other countries. Opponents of the current drinking age argue that setting the drinking age at 21 is creating a “forbidden fruit syndrome” while proponents of the current drinking age argue that it helps to reduce accidents that are alcohol related and traffic fatalities while at the same time it helps to prevent teenagers from accessing alcoholic beverages (Cary). Several countries have their drinking age at 18 years while countries like France serve little amounts of alcohol to their children during dinner (Giggs). By doing this, Dwight B. Heath argues that these countries help to educate their children alcohol and prevent them
…show more content…
Cary’s argument stems from way before the drinking age was passed and students in colleges consumed alcohol in on university properties. Cary’s argument also stems from the fact, even though, the drinking age is set at 21, and the US is still suffering from alcohol related problems. Other advocates of lowering the current drinking argue that setting the drinking age at 21 is done without considering realistic expectations and consequences that are seriously unintended (SSDP). Opponents of the current drinking age critically argues that setting the drinking age at 21 is forcing teenagers to experiment with alcoholic beverages in environments that are significantly unsafe, and leads to spree drinking among the youth (SSDP). Furthermore, because of the current drinking age limit, schools and other education institutions are limited to education that advocate for abstinence only, which is less effective when compared to programs that seems to encourage responsibility …show more content…
According to Reagan the US has lost their touch with reality, and were less concerned about issues such as drunk driving that caused most deaths in the US (Choose Responsibility). Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which was founded in 1980 by Candy Lightner also advocated for the drinking age at 21 after realizing young people were dying due to drunk driving (Choose Responsibility). The argument President Reagan put forward for setting the drinking age at 21 is based on the fact that it help to save young people’s lives by preventing fatalities that are alcohol related, the human brain mostly develops during the teenage life, thus allowing teenagers to consume alcohol prevents ones brain from fully developing and when one starts drinking early in his or her life then it is likely that he or she will become alcohol dependent and may even have problems that are related to alcohol later in his life (Choose Responsibility). In that sense, while the current drinking age was set to prevent alcohol related fatalities and accidents that are caused by drunk drivers, the age limit was also set to help young people from problems that are alcohol
Cary’s argument stems from way before the drinking age was passed and students in colleges consumed alcohol in on university properties. Cary’s argument also stems from the fact, even though, the drinking age is set at 21, and the US is still suffering from alcohol related problems. Other advocates of lowering the current drinking argue that setting the drinking age at 21 is done without considering realistic expectations and consequences that are seriously unintended (SSDP). Opponents of the current drinking age critically argues that setting the drinking age at 21 is forcing teenagers to experiment with alcoholic beverages in environments that are significantly unsafe, and leads to spree drinking among the youth (SSDP). Furthermore, because of the current drinking age limit, schools and other education institutions are limited to education that advocate for abstinence only, which is less effective when compared to programs that seems to encourage responsibility …show more content…
According to Reagan the US has lost their touch with reality, and were less concerned about issues such as drunk driving that caused most deaths in the US (Choose Responsibility). Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which was founded in 1980 by Candy Lightner also advocated for the drinking age at 21 after realizing young people were dying due to drunk driving (Choose Responsibility). The argument President Reagan put forward for setting the drinking age at 21 is based on the fact that it help to save young people’s lives by preventing fatalities that are alcohol related, the human brain mostly develops during the teenage life, thus allowing teenagers to consume alcohol prevents ones brain from fully developing and when one starts drinking early in his or her life then it is likely that he or she will become alcohol dependent and may even have problems that are related to alcohol later in his life (Choose Responsibility). In that sense, while the current drinking age was set to prevent alcohol related fatalities and accidents that are caused by drunk drivers, the age limit was also set to help young people from problems that are alcohol