The minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) of 21 was set in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan. The goal of MLDA of 21 was to protect children from the negative effects of alcohol. However, raising the drinking age has created opposite results in teen drinking habits. Making alcohol inaccessible to younger people actually results in more excessive drinking when the opportunity arises. Alcohol related incidents are responsible for an average of 88,000 deaths a year, “account[ing] for 1 in 10 deaths among working-age adults aged 20–64 years.”(CDC, 2014). An 18 year old is also considered an adult in the U.S. and is trusted with many life changing responsibilities such as being able to vote, own a gun, and becoming a legal guardian. Reducing the legal
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Many underage drinkers often have no form of authority to make sure they are being safe. Since underage drinking is illegal many people prefer to drink in unsupervised places such as fraternity houses, dorm rooms, or house parties, where they may be more susceptible to binge drinking and other unsafe behaviors. This environment promotes binge drinking because it creates a mindset that this might be the last chance to drink for a while. Instead, if the drinking age was lowered to 18, people who wished to drink could attend bars, clubs, restaurants, and other licensed locations that provide a safer …show more content…
However, as recent statistics are reaching all time highs, it is only reasonable to consider reducing the drinking age to 18. Lowering the drinking age and normalizing the drinking culture in the United States would reduce alcohol related deaths, and create a more responsible drinking mindset. The government believes that 18 year olds are mature enough to handle many important life decisions such as being able to vote, own a gun, joining the military, or becoming a legal guardian. It is time for the United States government to expand their trust and allow 18 year olds to show that the right to consume alcohol is another responsibility that they are mature enough to
Many underage drinkers often have no form of authority to make sure they are being safe. Since underage drinking is illegal many people prefer to drink in unsupervised places such as fraternity houses, dorm rooms, or house parties, where they may be more susceptible to binge drinking and other unsafe behaviors. This environment promotes binge drinking because it creates a mindset that this might be the last chance to drink for a while. Instead, if the drinking age was lowered to 18, people who wished to drink could attend bars, clubs, restaurants, and other licensed locations that provide a safer …show more content…
However, as recent statistics are reaching all time highs, it is only reasonable to consider reducing the drinking age to 18. Lowering the drinking age and normalizing the drinking culture in the United States would reduce alcohol related deaths, and create a more responsible drinking mindset. The government believes that 18 year olds are mature enough to handle many important life decisions such as being able to vote, own a gun, joining the military, or becoming a legal guardian. It is time for the United States government to expand their trust and allow 18 year olds to show that the right to consume alcohol is another responsibility that they are mature enough to