BY: Clark Ryan McCants
The debate behind lowering the minimum drinking age has been the source of contention in American law making. Currently, the law mandates a drinking age of 21 years. The intent was to curb highway fatalities among the youth. While it’s debatable that the age raise has curbed vehicular deaths, a new problem has risen: binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as the heavy consumption of alcohol within a small amount of time with the intention of intoxication. Binge drinking is on the rise, especially in collegiate settings. For example, 44% of students attending a 4-year college drink at the level considered for binge drinking. Along with this, 48% of students interviewed in a survey admitted to drinking solely to become heavily intoxicated. These alarming statistics show that binge drinking is still highly prevalent regardless of the law. This is why I propose the minimum drinking age to be lowered. A lowering drinking age will promote moderation in drinking in young adults.
Many college students report having their first drink under the age of 21, for it has often been seen as a traditional rite of passage. While I waited until I turned 21 to drink, I know others don’t do the same. This rite is thoroughly embedded in American youth society, and has no intention of halting. However, lowering the drinking age will be beneficial for several reasons. Many college students under the age of 21 will often drink in unsupervised settings, which create the perfect setting for reckless behavior. This is where the culture of binge drinking sprouts from, and where extreme drinking habits occur. Also, when young adults finally do start drinking, it’s usually done without any knowledge of alcohol, which often leads to them not being able to handle being drunk their first time. Lowering the drinking age to 18 will allow younger adults to relieve themselves from drinking in the shadows, away from parents and campus police. This in turn will also promote more moderation in drinking if the students will then be allowed to enter bars, where ultimately bartenders can limit the drinking amount.
For proof that the age lowering is effective, a look should be taken at the European approach. In many European nations, the minimum drinking age ranges from ages 16-18. Also, binge drinking is as rarely prevalent as it is here. This can attribute to the fact that being legal at a younger age, there becomes a greater experience with alcohol and the responsibility to take care of ones self grows. Alcohol no longer becomes this great vice, and then becomes an activity in which young adults can engage in responsibly.
A lowering of the drinking age will promote responsibility and remove some of the mysticism it has in American youth culture. There is no doubt that the incidence of binge drinking will decreased among the youth and more moderated use of drinking will take place.
Many people would add the fact that at 18 it is legal to do many other things such as enlist in the army and smoke. The average 18 year old has most likely already tried alchohol and as you said may only binge due the fact that they can not drink casually and publicly. great article!
ReplyDeleteIn high school I had to write a paper arguing against the drinking age being 18. I believe that if you can vote, get married, and die for this country, then you should be able to have a drink and not have to worry about the police. People argue that at 18 you won't know your limit and there will be an increase in the amount of alcohol poisonings, but statistics show differently. At 18 you are able to experiment and find out your limit earlier which can lead to a smaller probability that you will become dependent as you get older.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the drinking age should be 18. At 18 that gives you an extra 3 years to find your limit for drinking. I think also that would cut down on binge drinking.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting seeing how different countries view the consumption of alcohol and how its managed. I feel as though America has heavily associated drinking alcohol with getting drunked and acting recklessly. With this being said, I find the drinking age restriction to be quite ineffective for anybody can get their hands on alcohol no matter their age.
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