Is it morally right for the drinking age to be lowered from 21 to a younger age?
Gabby Manzari, A8a
Religion
3/1/12
Under Age Drinking
Over the years, there have been many different changes on the law for underage drinking. In the
recent decade, the U.S has been considering whether the minimum legal drinking age (MLAD) law
should be changed. The supporters for lowering the MLDA have found that the law has not stopped
teens from drinking, but has pushed more teens to drink underage.1 The people who oppose this
possible law change bring up the point that teens are not yet mature enough to handle their alcohol
responsibly and are more likely to hurt themselves while having alcohol.2 While all 50 states have
the same law on underage drinking, there are no rules on whether it is allowed to be consumed at
home with adult supervision.3 One of the main arguments for providing alcohol to teens is to ensure
use in a safe environment. However, there have been many cases of injury in adult-given parties.
In 1933 when the alcohol prohibition ended, each state was allowed to set its own drinking age
limit.4 Every state but two set their MLDA to the age of 21. Illinois and Oklahoma set the male MLDA
to 21 and the MLDA for women to 18.5 The 1976 US Supreme Court case Craig v. Boren ruled that
an age difference violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.6 After this
amendment, 30 states lowered the MLDA to an age range between 18 and 20.7 In the late 1970’s,
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(Drinking Age, 2012)
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Is it morally right for the drinking age to be lowered from 21 to a younger age?
there were many reports of drunk driving cases, which made the U.S. pass the MLDA act of 1984.8
This law did not state that the MLDA had to be 21, but if the MLDA wasn’t changed to 21, the state
would be fined for underage teens that bought alcohol.9 The consumption of alcohol by teens under
the age of 21 is generally illegal across the United States.10 However, 40 states have set laws that
allow underage drinking of alcohol in certain circumstances.11 For example, underage drinking is
allowed in 29 states when done on private property with parental consent, 25 states allow it for
religious purposes, and 7 states allow it for educational purposes.12
Works Cited
“Drinking Age ProCon.org." Drinking Age ProCon.org. 22 May 2009. Web. 04 Mar. 2012.
<http://drinkingage.procon.org/>.
(Drinking Age, 2012)
(Drinking Age, 2012)
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