Should the national drinking age be lowered to 18?

by Christina Lynn

Created on: July 02, 2009   Last Updated: July 20, 2009

At 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.

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