Should the national drinking age be lowered to 18?

by Sam Janus

Created on: July 02, 2009   Last Updated: July 05, 2009

I don't believe the drinking age should be lowered to 18. Even people at or above the legal age are irresponsible about drinking, so imagine what 18 year old people will do.

Even though the drinking and driving is illegal, people still do it. Teens, at 18, also just got their driving license, so they will be more likely to drink and drive, which is extremely dangerous to everyone.

There will also be an increase in college parties, since it would be legal to drink before they turn 21.

There is evidence that the current legal age of 21 has saved lives, and that it was the reason for it to begin with. Higher drinking ages saved more than 20,000 lives on America's roads. 20,000 is a lot of lives. Alcohol-related fatalities among minors have declined ever since 1984, when the law of no drinking under 21 was passed. Today, alcohol is still the leading cause of deaths in car crashes. Facts show that when teens drink and drive, they are extremely less likely to wear seat belts.

The younger teens start drinking, the higher the chance is of alcoholism. If we lower the age to 18, even younger kids will want to drink. Younger kids will have it more available to them than before.

Even though the drinking age of 21 and over does not completely guarantee that there will be absolutely no minors drinking, it does prevent a lot more harm to society. The age 21 law has successfully decreased deaths.

Adults above the age of 21 that aren't alcoholics use alcohol to celebrate special occasions and holidays, which minors do not. Minors only use alcohol to achieve getting drunk. They have no reason to celebrate with it. Minors are more irresponsible than adults, so they are more likely to binge drink and get alcohol poisoning, which can cause death.

It is typical that kids under the age of 21 want to lower the drinking age to 18 so they can either drink or be closer to the age that is legal.

Even though 18 year old people can vote, sit in juries, and enter into contracts, drinking is completely different. Since alcohol can can possibly lead to death if used the wrong way, it should be in a different class completely.

Also, the fact that teens at 18 can serve in the military doesn't mean they should be allowed to drink alcohol. The military is under very strict supervision,and it doesn't even compare to the maturity needed to drink in uncontrolled parties or social settings.

Lowering the drinking age to 18 will do nothing but increase death rates.

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