Should The United States Be Lowered To The Drinking Age At 18?

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The current law in America states that a person who is the age of twenty-one or older is legally allowed to consume alcohol. There are many arguments whether this law should be changed to a lower age, preferably eighteen, or raised to an age somewhere around twenty-five. When the hardcore facts concerning this substance are thoroughly examined and thought over, one would see there is only one answer to this dispute. The United States has many problems concerning alcohol and younger people in today’s society; therefore, the legal drinking age must be raised. Alcohol is a beverage that has been produced since the beginning of history. With the discovery of ancient artifacts, researchers and historians have found that the first alcoholic beverage produced is similar to our current day beer. Distilled spirits, beer, and wine make up the three main groups of alcoholic beverages. There are a variety of forms of alcohol, but the type that is safe to consume is ethyl alcohol, which is also known as ethanol (Henningfield 9-13). These drinks have many effects on the human body and can lead to problems with an array of outcomes. Regardless of the amount of alcohol that has been consumed by an individual, the substance will cause damage to one’s organs. One organ in particular that is affected is the brain. The brain is the most complex part of the body which needs to be protected from harm in order for a person to live a long, healthy life. It is a part of the nervous system and has control over many of the body’s functions. Although it is an organ, the brain is comparable to a muscle because it is constantly growing and becoming stronger through time. With this in mind, one must consider how alcohol would disrupt and cause damage to the brain's development. Researchers such as Tim McQueeny, a doctoral student in the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Psychology, have studied the effects of alcohol and suggest “ … since the brain is developing in one’s 20s, it could be interacting with developmental factors and possibly altering the ways in which the brain is still growing” (qtd. in Fuller 1). Taking this statement into consideration, twenty-one should not be the age alcohol is permitted to be consumed. Not only does alcohol have an influence on development, but also on the brain’s anatomy which is responsible for one’s behavior and actions. Alcohol affects the brain because it “ … is a depressant, which means its effects slow down mental and physical functioning” (Henningfield 58-59). The part of the brain that endures the effects of alcohol first is the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is what allows sensory information and thoughts to be processed, and it also controls consciousness and voluntary muscle movements. The cerebral cortex is affected more whenever the percent of alcohol that is in one’s bloodstream increases. As the blood alcohol concentration, also known as BAC, escalates behavioral inhibitory centers are depressed and one will become more talkative and less shy. Sensory information will also begin to slow down which leads to problems with the ability to see, touch, and taste and one’s judgment will be debilitated. The limbic system, which controls emotions and memories, …show more content…
They compare other countries such as Europe, who’s drinking age is eighteen, with the United States and conclude that the current legal drinking age causes rebellious behavior. To many, this behavior could be prevented by legally allowing younger people to drink. Society believes that if the drinking age were to be lowered to eighteen, those who drink before the legal age of twenty-one will not be compelled to consume alcohol in private which will lead to less binge drinking. However, these opinions are not supported by facts. If the legal drinking age were to be lowered, young adults below the age of eighteen would more than likely still show defiant behavior. Those who are eighteen years of age could still be attending high school, therefore having an influence on those seventeen and under. These students would be able to have access to alcohol and most likely binge drink when it is available to them. Therefore lowering the legal drinking age can not be supported by these

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