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Should the national drinking age be lowered to 18?
Should the national drinking age be lowered to 18?
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Results so far:
| Yes | 53% | 394 votes | Total: 739 votes | |
| No | 47% | 345 votes |
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Add to FavoritesAt the seemingly young age of eighteen, the government allows a person to die for our country, or vote for a new president. So, it makes good sense that someone allowed such a great responsibility should also be allowed the great responsibility of alcohol consumption. If the drinking age is not to be lowered, then the voting and enlistment age should be raised.
Yes, there are irresponsible eighteen year old adults; just as there are irresponsible thirty year old adults. The solution to this would be that nobody be allowed to drink unless proof of a passed course in alcohol responsibility. This would solve a good portion of the problems with alcohol related deaths.
There are eighteen year old young adults who hold down two jobs and pay all of their bills on time. On the other hand, there are eighteen year old adults who live in their parent's basement playing video games. I believe the eighteen year old adults who are too lazy to make something of themselves and take responsibility for their life, will not be interested or motivated enough to take an alcohol responsibility course. Therefore, it would keep the less responsible young adults from drinking. Thus allowing the more mature and capable young adults the opportunity to relax with a drink at the end of a difficult day.
All laws have been enacted with some opposition. This law is no different. There needs to be a vote by the public to determine the alloted drinking age. If there are enough eighteen through twenty year old adults mature enough to register to vote in this law; then so be it. If the drinking age is to be lowered, the eighteen through twenty year old adults would face the same penalties from irresponsible drinking as the average adult. Which brings me to my next point: Maybe the question should not be about lowering the drinking age, but about raising the penalties of irresponsible drinking. This way, the drinking deaths statistics are more likely to lower.
In conclusion, drinking comes with great responsibilities at any age. There are some who accept the responsibilities in life, and some who do not. The age is not really the issue here. The person who is doing the drinking is the issue. There will always be people who cannot handle the responsibility at any age. The concern needs to be about the laws governing irresponsible drinking; not about the age at which the responsibility should be accepted.
Learn more about this author, Christina Lynn.
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No
Should the national drinking age be lowered to 18?
No. I absolutely do not think that the drinking age should be lowered to 18. My reasons may be somewhat different to other writers of this subject, as mine are based on experience both as a parent and an ex licensee, in the United Kingdom. I live in the south/southeast of England where several laws are different to those in the United States of America. One important factor to consider here, is that there has been a spate of 'binge drinking' among both female and male teenagers. Having been a nightclub manager and licensee for several years, I have seen the extent of drink related accidents, illnesses, rapes and abuse on a daily basis. It seems almost natural now, or, it is at least accepted, that on Friday and Saturday nights, the streets in most towns and cities in the UK, become a playground for teenage, drunks and hooligans. With inhibitions loosened, those teenagers run the risk of being a danger to themselves or others.
It is commonly thought, here in the UK, that consuming alcohol, has been a factor to consider when researching the higher rate of pregnancies among teenage, single woman in the UK. Now consider this - the extent of teenage abortions has risen also, can we assume then, that the original conception was alcohol fuelled? It is worrying also, to know that there is an extremely high rate of sexually transmitted diseases among young adults, of both sexes and varied sexualities. I am not blaming alcohol, only questioning how much liberation sexually or otherwise is wise among the young and vulnerable.
My intention here was not to undermine the responsibilities of all 18,19 and 20 year olds, and I whole-heartedly apologise to anyone I may have offended. A lot of under 21s are both responsible and careful young adults, but even they can become vulnerable after a drink or two, depending on the company they may keep. Although my vote would make no difference whatsoever in the States, I would stress that if I had any choice in the matter here across the waters, I would be voicing my opinion strongly. Here, in England, it is legal for youngsters to consume alcohol at the age of 18. It was legalised many years ago. No doubt when I reached 18, I thought myself old enough and wise enough to be responsible and have a drink or two. Maybe I was, however there were also plenty of others that were not.
Learn more about this author, Coral Florey.
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