Lowering of Drinking Age

When teenagers turn eighteen, we tell them they are adults and send them into the world. They go to college, get a job, marry or join the military. They do grown up things like vote, pay taxes and become parents. They can drive cars, buy a gun, smoke, serve on a jury, and go to an adult prison. But they can t go to a bar for a drink because when it comes to liquor, they are still just kids. Where s the logic in the twenty-one and older drinking law? The minimum drinking age should be eighteen since it is the age of adulthood.

The drinking age of twenty-one has not been around for long. In 1984, only eighteen states required that drinkers be twenty-one until the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed. Through this amendment, legislators tried to solve the drunken driving crisis across the country. In essence, the federal government blackmailed the states into doing what it wanted. Since then, the decrease in drinking and driving problems are the result of many factors, not just the rise in purchase age. These include education concerning drunk driving, designated driver programs, increased seat belt and air bag usage, safer automobiles, lower speed limits, and free taxi services from drinking establishments, along with many others.

It s obvious that teenagers drink alcohol despite the drinking laws. Most kids who want to drink are going to do it, and just because it s against the law doesn t stop them from drinking in fact, it makes it more appealing. When they have the opportunity to drink, they do so in an irresponsible manner because it is seen as a badge of rebellion against authority . Lowering the drinking age to eighteen would take away the thrill and excitement of having something that you re not supposed to. Even for those who are underage, liquor is the easiest drug in the world to get. Many liquor stores are willing to sell alcohol to teenagers without asking for identification. It s also not hard to get older friends or siblings to buy for minors.

Young adults should be allowed to drink in controlled environments such as restaurants, bars, and official school and university functions. In these situations, where mature and sensible drinking behavior would be expected, responsible alcohol consumption could be taught through role modeling and educational programs.

We can learn from this. Because the twenty-one year old drinking age law is not working, we need to change it and teach responsible drinking techniques to those who choose to consume alcoholic beverages. I m not saying that alcohol is good, but if our government feels that eighteen year olds are responsible enough to make important life decisions, it should show confidence in these young adults to act mature when it comes to drinking.