Pros And Cons Of Lowering The Drinking Age

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Since 1984 the legal age to drink alcohol is 21 years old. The National Minimum drinking age act prohibited people under 21 in the United States to drink alcohol. Before 1984 the legal drinking age was 18 years old. There are many pros and cons to lowering the drinking age. Alcohol poisoning, drunk driving accidents, and stupid actions while being drunk happen to 18 year olds and 21 year olds the same even with the drinking again being 21. Some pros of the minimum drinking age being lowered are that 18 is the age of adulthood. People this age are able to make the decisions they want and should also be able to drink. 18 year olds are allowed to serve on juries and serve in the army. Allowing 18-20 year olds to drink alcohol would reduce the …show more content…
The consumption of alcohol can interfere with the development of the frontal lobes of the young adults brain. The potential for addiction to alcohol is more likely, causes the drinker to take more risks, reduces decision making ability, and the potential to develop depression and commit suicide is greater. Lowering the age to 18 would allow younger people to drink in bars and night clubs, which are not safe establishments. Most DWI charges are charged to people who drank at licensed establishments. The age should stay the same because of the dangers that comes with drinking alcohol. There is lower alcohol consumption with the drinking age being 21 because less people are allowed to drink alcohol. The minimum age helps take away from underage binge drinking. 21 year olds are more responsible and mature than 18 year olds. Lowering the drinking age could also allow even younger kids to get ahold of alcohol. High schoolers could give even younger kids alcohol. Even with European drinking age being younger, a greater percentage of American teens drink than European teens. This may just be because of the minimum drinking age is 21 and kids want to break it. In Europe the kids may drink less because it is legal for them to. ("Drinking Age ProCon.org."

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