Once the 21st amendment repealed alcohol prohibition in 1933, states were allowed to set their own drinking age laws. Most states set their minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) to 21 except for two. When the legal voting age was lowered by the 26th amendment in 1971 from 21 to 18, many states began to lower the MLDA as well (Drinking Age ProCon.org). The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 mandated for the MLDA to be 21 in all states, since reports of teenage crashes increased in states where the MLDA was under 21. Across the United States drinking under the age of 21 is illegal, but there are 45 states that have exemptions: 29 states allow it if done on private premises with parental consent, 25 states if for religious purposes, and
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It was a failure for the following reasons: the problems with alcohol were worsen because drinkers switched to spirits (strong distilled liquor), it created a large black market that contributed to the development of organized crime and it was widely disregarded by most Americans (Hall). The reason why prohibition of alcohol is the only amendment (18th )in the constitution to be repealed by another of amendment (21st ). According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "Alcohol is the drug of choice among America's adolescents, used by more young people than tobacco or illicit drugs." This demonstrates the popularity of drinking at a young age despite the MLDA being 21. About eighty percent of college students say they drink (Singh). Which is a reason for the main concern about lowering or keeping the drinking age, because of the safety of teenagers and those around them when …show more content…
Indeed in general no matter the age, alcohol can be damaging to one's health. Alcohol is classified as a depressant, which can cause slurred speech, unsteady movement, disturbed perception and an inability to react quickly. Since the drinking age was increased to 21 there was an increase in binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time. The health problems associated with this type of drinking are: unintentional injuries, intentional injuries, alcohol poisoning, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancy, children born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. High blood pressure, liver disease, and neurological damages (CDC). However people that argue against lowering the drinking age uses these health problems for how the health of teenagers will be worse. Although there are all these health issues, people that are for say that teenagers would be less afraid to seek out medical attention which would reduce the number of people who get hurt from alcohol related injuries (Drinking Age
It was a failure for the following reasons: the problems with alcohol were worsen because drinkers switched to spirits (strong distilled liquor), it created a large black market that contributed to the development of organized crime and it was widely disregarded by most Americans (Hall). The reason why prohibition of alcohol is the only amendment (18th )in the constitution to be repealed by another of amendment (21st ). According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "Alcohol is the drug of choice among America's adolescents, used by more young people than tobacco or illicit drugs." This demonstrates the popularity of drinking at a young age despite the MLDA being 21. About eighty percent of college students say they drink (Singh). Which is a reason for the main concern about lowering or keeping the drinking age, because of the safety of teenagers and those around them when …show more content…
Indeed in general no matter the age, alcohol can be damaging to one's health. Alcohol is classified as a depressant, which can cause slurred speech, unsteady movement, disturbed perception and an inability to react quickly. Since the drinking age was increased to 21 there was an increase in binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time. The health problems associated with this type of drinking are: unintentional injuries, intentional injuries, alcohol poisoning, sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancy, children born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. High blood pressure, liver disease, and neurological damages (CDC). However people that argue against lowering the drinking age uses these health problems for how the health of teenagers will be worse. Although there are all these health issues, people that are for say that teenagers would be less afraid to seek out medical attention which would reduce the number of people who get hurt from alcohol related injuries (Drinking Age