Of the 190 countries, 61% have a drinking age of 18 or 19 years old (Drinking Age ProCon.Org). The United States is one of only 12 countries that has a MLDA of 21. It’s hard to think that in the land of the free, when you’re 18 years-old you can serve your country and vote, yet you can’t have a sip of alcohol. We tell teens it’s time to grow up, move out of the house, choose your career, and know exactly what you want to do with your life when you turn eighteen; but they aren’t grown up enough to have a drink with their meal. If you’re old enough to make life changing decisions, you’re old enough to responsibly drink. The minimum legal drinking age in the United States should be lowered to 18, since it’s only fair that when you legally become
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When you were 16 year-old, you were allowed to drive a car. Driver’s training begins at around age 14, and you give driving a go when you’re 15 with adult supervision. When you’re 18 years-old, you can vote, join the military, and finally take control of your own life in every aspect. That is, everything except have a drink. With this restraint on new adults’ lives, they feel like alcohol is this forbidden fruit that can’t be handled, and they’re curious as to why. It is true that few teenagers drink, but those that do are doing it in secrecy and are often binge drinking. Traffic accidents and fatalities are most common among newly-legal drinkers, regardless of the drinking age; and there are fewer drunk driving traffic accidents and fatalities in many countries with a minimum drinking age of 18 (18 Interesting Pro...). However, studies show that with a lowered MPA (minimum purchase age), there was more frequent drinking at pubs/nightclubs among the newly of 18-19 year-olds. It’s true that there will be many more young adults going out for a drink, but isn’t that the point of lowering the MLDA? There will be higher numbers of teenagers drinking, but at least this way they will be drinking in more where there are people that can supervise them the same as everyone e lse; for example, police, security guards, health workers, and other people in similar …show more content…
Teenagers aren’t the only ones who make the mistake of drinking and driving, even adults who are supposedly more mature and responsible make the same mistake. In fatal crashes in 2011, the highest percentage of drunk drivers was for drivers ages 21 to 24 (32 percent), followed by ages 25 to 34 (30 percent) and 35 to 44 (24 percent) (MADD-Statistics). That leaves 14 percent for other drivers who range from under 21 and older than 44. On the contrary, teens naturally overdo it and binge more often than adults (MADD- Why 21). The only reason this may be is because they are having to do it in secrecy. A point often overlooked, is that teens do this because of their curiosity and want to learn about what alcohol is and what it
When you were 16 year-old, you were allowed to drive a car. Driver’s training begins at around age 14, and you give driving a go when you’re 15 with adult supervision. When you’re 18 years-old, you can vote, join the military, and finally take control of your own life in every aspect. That is, everything except have a drink. With this restraint on new adults’ lives, they feel like alcohol is this forbidden fruit that can’t be handled, and they’re curious as to why. It is true that few teenagers drink, but those that do are doing it in secrecy and are often binge drinking. Traffic accidents and fatalities are most common among newly-legal drinkers, regardless of the drinking age; and there are fewer drunk driving traffic accidents and fatalities in many countries with a minimum drinking age of 18 (18 Interesting Pro...). However, studies show that with a lowered MPA (minimum purchase age), there was more frequent drinking at pubs/nightclubs among the newly of 18-19 year-olds. It’s true that there will be many more young adults going out for a drink, but isn’t that the point of lowering the MLDA? There will be higher numbers of teenagers drinking, but at least this way they will be drinking in more where there are people that can supervise them the same as everyone e lse; for example, police, security guards, health workers, and other people in similar …show more content…
Teenagers aren’t the only ones who make the mistake of drinking and driving, even adults who are supposedly more mature and responsible make the same mistake. In fatal crashes in 2011, the highest percentage of drunk drivers was for drivers ages 21 to 24 (32 percent), followed by ages 25 to 34 (30 percent) and 35 to 44 (24 percent) (MADD-Statistics). That leaves 14 percent for other drivers who range from under 21 and older than 44. On the contrary, teens naturally overdo it and binge more often than adults (MADD- Why 21). The only reason this may be is because they are having to do it in secrecy. A point often overlooked, is that teens do this because of their curiosity and want to learn about what alcohol is and what it