Many people say proponents of lowering the minimum legal drinking age from 21 will not change what will happen. Many argue that the legal drinking age of 21 will not stop teens from drinking, and will it ever stop teens from drinking? It has been pushed for underage binge drinking in private and less controlled environments According to MLDA, underage drinking can be dangerous, as teenagers may not yet have the ability to handle alcohol responsibly. This increases the risk of harming themselves or others, even resulting in fatalities. Therefore, it is recommended not to drink alcohol before the age of 21.
The legal drinking age was changed from 18 to 21 in 1984. When it was used by young people it had many problems like traffic crashes, drownings, vandalism, assaults, homicides, suicides, teenage pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases. Between 1970 and 1975 29 States lowered the MLDA to the ages 18,19, and 20. This change happened when the voting age was lowered. Evidence shows that by lowering the drinking age there were more traffic crashes among youth.
I think that it should be lowered to 18 because we can vote. An if we have to go fight in a war why can't we have maybe our last drink with our families for when we say goodbye because who knows what is going to happen today, tomorrow, or in a year? We will never know what our future may hold so why can't we live our lives the way we want?
What do you think should the drinking age be lowered or should it stay the same? Why or Why not?
Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered in the US? 13 Pros and Cons, https://drinkingage.procon.org/. Accessed 6 February 2024.
“The Minimum Legal Drinking Age - PMC.” NCBI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6876521/. Accessed 6 February 2024.
Replies
You do a very good job explaining the history behind the change in the 1980's. Well done Tiffany! You only replied on time which is the issue. This was also posted a day late.
I'm very conflicted on the drinking age. This is because on one hand it's safer to not drink till you're 21, but on the other hand many people are underage drinking already and changing the age could possibly help regulate underage drinking. Personally I believe if you can serve and die for your country you should be able to drink responsibly.
I think the drinking age should stay at 21 because our brains don't develop all the way until we are in our 20's. I think kids under 21 do not handle achol responsibly even with the age at 21, if the age was changed I think there would be so many more problems than there already is.
I don't think the drinking age needs to be lowered. I think 21 is a good age for the drinking age to be and I don't really see a reason that it needs to be changed to a lower age. I think people are living just fine with the drinking age we currently have.
I don't think the drinking age should be lowered for many reasons. I think that the care free attitude aspect of it is somewhat true but not fully. Sure you can live and enjoy your life, but it doesn't need to be done through drinking, and especially if you are still immature and don't have a fully developed brain even.
I don't think the drinking age should be lowered because people need to mature enough to be able to legally drink. I think at 18 years old, people are still immature and would not be able to handle alcohol as resposibly.
I don't think the drinking age should be lowered because technically our bodies aren't fully grown until around 25 and it could still be bad for us. Also I think that if we were to lower the legal drinking age that it would cause an increase of crime rates and mostly car crashes due to drunk driving.
No I don't think drinking age should be lowered, because there are many people who don't think about what they do with alcohol, I mean they don't have control when they drink , and that is why many accidents occur, especially with teenagers. Of course there are people who do know how to use it, they know how to drink alcohol without it hitting them and starting to lose control.
No I do not think drinking age should be lowered. I understand there are responsible people, thought that does not mean everyone is. Some people can take advantage of it.
I think it should be lowered because it helps older people calm down and not be so stressed and think it could also help younger people stay calm and not stressed. I also don't see why the law is that you have to be 21 to consume and buy. It does not make a difference whether you are 15 or 21.