Lowering The Drinking Age Research Paper

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Persuasion Paper The debate whether or not the drinking age should be lowered began many years ago and still continues to this day. In the United States, the legal drinking age in all 50 states and the District of Columbia is 21 years old. As both sides go back and forth between changing the law and keeping it, I am on the side to go ahead and allow adults over the age of 18 to drink alcoholic beverages. I strongly believe in changing the law for many reasons including the fact that many 18 year olds have already drank and are now adults, that surprisingly lowering the drinking age in many ways can increase the safety and health of minors, and lastly that the college campus rape dilemma would decrease. A teenager’s 18th birthday is a day …show more content…
An average of 5,000 lives belonging to people under the age of 21 are lost each year due to alcohol related activities. Many are quick to assume that most are caused by drinking and driving however 60% of the deaths are off the road (McCardell). This is essential because a vast amount of underage drinkers are dying in tucked away places where parents and law enforcement can’t see them. Also, 12-20 year olds consume 11% of the alcohol in the United States and 90% of that is consumed through binge drinking. Lowering the drinking age would stop the need to pregame and use fake IDs. This would reduce criminal activity, binge drinking, overdoses, and assaults (Cary 2). This is serious because pregaming puts pressure on teenagers and young adults to drink and do more which sometimes leads to critical and fatal outcomes. Lastly, having a younger drinking age would mean many would be legal and becoming close to age to drink while at home. Many teens right now don’t have experience drinking leisurely because drinking has only been “allowed” secretly at parties. This is necessary because if kids are starting off drinking with their families and in the presence of their home, they are getting more education through their parents while they are learning the ways of drinking. A younger drinking age …show more content…
It’s been since 1984 since the last 18 year olds were legally allowed to drink and ,because of the rule that a state who lowers their drinking age will lose highway funds, kids shouldn’t be expecting a case or bottle for their 18th birthday anytime soon. Just because the chances of a new law coming to the streets doesn’t seem to be in the near future doesn’t mean hopes should be set down because the conversation of kids already participating in the activity, promoting a more open awareness to what children are doing in a safer environment, and decreasing the college campus rape situation seems to be well liked in today’s

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