Kat Hanni
Michelle Lawrence
ENG 111
October 27, 2009
Lowering the Drinking Age
Many arguments have been made in the past about lowering the drinking
age. Common points have been argued again and again. One of these concepts
is that a person old enough to lose their life for their country should be able to
consume alcohol. People also commonly bring up the facts that U.S. citizens are
also considered adults, can vote for the president and purchase tobacco and
porn. In addition, some people compare America’s drinking age to lower drinking
ages that exist in Canada, Mexico and other eastern countries. Though these
points can be validly debated and supported, the U.S. government has not
budged on their stance regarding the drinking age. Even though the decision of
the drinking age is a state law, the federal government tried to limit the states’
power by making a law that prohibited the purchase or public possession of
alcohol by anyone under the age of twenty-one. Therefore, the states followed
suit and raised the minimum drinking age to twenty-one.
The government will not acknowledge the valid points that at eighteen,
people are considered adults and given many responsibilities and privileges, but
there are reasons other than these that warrant the consideration of lowering the
drinking age. One constantly rising problem among underage drinkers is binge
drinking. Binge drinking is defined by the Department of Health and Human
Services as consuming four or five alcoholic beverages in the time period of two
hours. They also report that 90% of drinking by minors is considered binge
drinking (“Binge Drinking”). This statistic alone shows that there is a flaw in the
U.S. drinking policy. Many Minors resort to binge drinking because they were not
taught to drink responsibly and in moderation. There are many negative health
effects that result from binge drinking. Some of these include alcohol poisoning,
liver disease and neurological damage (“Binge Drinking”).
In correlation with the results of the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920’s,
the laws made against the consumption of alcohol only increase the desire to
purchase and consume it. During the time of prohibition, Americans avoided the
law by drinking at speak-easies. Presently, minors have created their own type of
speak-easies to conceal their drinking. This method of concealing drinking has
created many dangerous environments for minors. In an article by CBS News it
was stated that, “[Lowering the drinking age] hasn't reduced or eliminated
drinking. It has simply driven it underground, behind closed doors, into the most
risky and least manageable of settings” (The Debate…”). Minors can find refuge
for drinking in basements, dorm rooms, parties on college campuses and even
houses that parents may have left for the weekend. As revealed in the previous
statistic about binge drinking, when minors drink it is rarely in moderation.
Drinking games, taking shots and the heavy consumption of hard alcohol fuel
binge drinking and dangerous behavior. Lowering the drinking age would
eliminate the need for sheltering drinking. It would stop minors from drinking in
dangerous environments. In monitored environments such as bars, restaurants
and parties where there is a less threatening environment, it is less likely for any
person consuming alcohol to partake in dangerous activities such as binge
drinking. Also, if a problem did arise, they would not be hesitant in getting help.
Usually, minors try to hide the fact that there is problem, in fear of getting in
trouble by parents or the law. Covering up the problem only allows it to escalate
in create an even more treacherous environment.
One main reason why a large percentage of people in the age group of
eighteen to twenty drink is because of the environment they live in. Many people
in this age group are attending college or have friends that are twenty-one years
or older. On a college campus, since there is a separation of students who are
legally allowed to drink and those who are not, the students who are not legal
drink anyway because alcohol is so readily available. Eighteen to twenty year old
students are thrown into an environment of constant drinking and partying once
they reach college. Since most students have not learned to drink in moderation
prior to attending college, the result is binge drinking.
The prominent reason why the legal age was raised in the 1980’s was to
limit alcohol related car accidents. USA Today reported that, “The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration says laws setting the drinking age at 21
have cut traffic fatalities involving drivers ages 18-20 by 13%” (Keen). Though
this statistic is astounding, it is talking about all traffic fatalities, not just those
involving alcohol. It does not take into account improved drivers’ education
programs and increased safety standard in vehicles. These factors would also
drastically reduce the number of traffic fatalities. Therefore, the statistic does not
support maintaining the drinking age at the age of twenty-one.
Another reason why the drinking age was raised was because of the
health risks. However smoking poses greater health risks than drinking. For
instance, “Cancer is the second leading cause of death and was among the first
diseases causually linked to smoking” (“Health Effects…”). The legal age for
smoking and purchasing tobacco is eighteen and tobacco causes worse long
term health effects than alcohol. If tobacco’s legal age is eighteen and it has
worse health effects, then why does alcohol have a higher legal age for
consumption?
So far, the reasons for lowering the drinking age have outnumbered those
for maintaining the current drinking age. An additional reason to why the drinking
age should be lowered involves the economy. If the drinking age were lowered, it
would give a boost to the economy. That would be especially helpful during the
current economic downfall that America is experiencing. “Approximately 20% of
the alcohol consumed in the United States- accounting for approximately $22.5
billion in sales in 1999- is consumed by underage drinkers” (Foster 58). Since
this statistic is from 1999, it only means that the sales and percent of alcohol
consumed as increased. Minors make up a large portion of the alcohol industry
and lowering the drinking age would make the sales of alcohol increase.
Many people who oppose lowering the drinking age believe that it will just
trickle down and Americans will start consuming alcohol at even younger ages.
However, this would not be the case. Lowering the drinking age to eighteen
would provide more education about drinking, while also exposing teenagers to
alcohol before they are thrust into the drinking environments on college
campuses. Cultures in other countries do not have the same problems with
alcohol consumption because of their beliefs about alcohol. Dr. Ruth Engs
mentions groups such as Italians and Greeks to demonstrate cultures with few
drinking problems. Engs states that,
Alcohol is neither seen as a poison or a magic potent, there is little or no
social pressure to drink, irresponsible behavior is never tolerated, young
people learn at home from their parents and from other adults how to
handle alcohol in a responsible manner, there is societal consensus on
what constitutes responsible drinking (Engs).
Since minors put alcohol on a pedestal, their drinking behavior is not responsible.
Lowering the drinking age would help the U.S.’s current attitude toward alcohol
change to the attitude of those cultures that do not have rising problems with
alcohol consumption. With a lower drinking age, eighteen year olds who would
be of legal age to drink as well as teenagers who would still be considered
minors would not feel as much social pressure to drink. Thus, problems such as
binge drinking and drinking in dangerous environments would be eliminated.
Along with the common arguments made in support of lowering the legal
drinking age, the rise in binge drinking and dangerous drinking habits should
raise awareness for the need to lower the drinking age. Changing the legal
drinking age to eighteen would teach healthier drinking habits and make people
more responsible when they drink. The current flaw in the drinking policy would
be destroyed and the underage population would become more educated about
alcohol.
Works Cited
“Binge Drinking.” Cdc.gov. Department of Health and Human Services. 6 Aug.
2008. Web. 30 Oct. 2009.
Engs, Ruth C. “Why the Drinking Age Should Be Lowered.” Indiaia.edu. N.p. 20
March 2008. Web. 30 Oct. 2009.
“Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking.” Cdc.gov. Department of Health and
Human Services. 29 May 2009. Web. 30 Oct. 2009.
Keen, Judy. “States Weight Lowering Drinking Age.” Usatoday.com. 1 April 2008.
Web. 29 Oct. 2009.
“The Debate on Lowering the Drinking Age.” CBSNews.com. 22 Feb. 2009
Web. 29 Oct. 2009.
Foster, Susan, Linda Richter and Roger Vaughan. “Public Attitudes About
Underage Drinking Policies; Results From A National Survey.” Journal of
Public Health Policy (1999): 58-77. Web. 29 Oct. 2009.