In our modern country today, many Americans due to their freedom tend do whatever they want. Even their younger populations usually engage in acts that are deemed for grown man people only. Examples of these activities are smoking cigarettes, sexual activities, and buying alcoholic drinks. However, the United States imposed the right selling age of these alcoholic drinks and cigarettes. That is why in convenient stores, the sellers in the stores usually ask the people buying alcoholic drinks their identification cards that would indicate their age to verify if they are already in the right age.
This is where this question comes in: What is the right selling age of alcohol to the Americans? Although their government already stated that the right age for the younger population is 21, there are other people who believe that that age limit should be lowered to 18. In order to come up with a stand regarding this matter, let us weigh the pros and cons or the advantages and disadvantages of lowering the age limit of selling alcoholic drinks and beverages. Whether should we push through with lowering the age limit or just stay with the current limit more specifically in America.
Over the past years especially before 1984, the minimum age limit is different from state to state. There are various states by that time that used to lower their minimum legal age of drinking from 18-20. They have observed that higher incidents of traffic-related happened that was why they reversed them then meaning that they returned from their original age limit for selling and allowing alcohol usage (Bidwell, no page).
According to Allie Bidwell, there is a research that shows that the countries with lower drinking ages have the higher use of alcohol or higher alcohol abuse. Because of higher rate of alcohol abuse, the mortality rate of the older population that started drinking alcoholic drinks at the younger ages is higher than countries with higher age limit (n.page). Maybe the United States of America finds the result of this finding true that is why they have high age limit of alcohol usage for the younger people in their country. Thirty years ago, the previous President of the United States signed a decree limiting the age of selling alcoholic drinks so that they can control these younger population because they can be so happy-go-lucky types and sometimes get to rush into things that they will just regret in the end while in the influence of the alcohol. In addition to that, increased rate of teenage pregnancy is also alarming and this event can be connected to the use of alcoholic beverage of teenagers. Also, most of the teenagers who got arrested and questioned by the police are under the influence of the alcohol. By lowering the age limit in the United States, the occurrences of this might increase.
We know that people tend to drink because it is one form of socializing to other people. Other good effects of drinking include the reduction of anxiety while socializing and to make them more comfortable in various social situations. Bidwell also quoted DeJong’s counter argument regarding the statement of the President Emeritus of Middlebury College, John McCardell, who said that the 21-year-old drinking age limit policy is a social policy which is bad and that it is a terrible law. He wanted to lower the drinking age limit from 20 to 18. What DeJong said to counter McCardell’s statement is that once the United States will change their drinking age limit, they would suffer the same fate as to those countries that already lowered the drinking age limit like in New Zealand from 20 years old to 18 years old. After the New Zealand lowered their age limit for drinking alcohol, increased rates of alcohol-related traffic and car crashes happened not to mention other alcohol related problems that also occurred. (n. page).
Also according to Bidwell (no page) that quoted McCardell, if the congress should repel the current limit of drinking age by lowering the permitted drinking age, they should do responsible things in order to compensate or reduce the negative effects that might happen from lowering the limit. For example, under the Choose Responsibility proposal, the states would have to require a fulfilment of an educational course regarding the usage and drinking of alcohol. After fulfilling the said requirement, they will be given a permit that would license them to drink in that particular state.
Doraiwamy (no page) in her online article also weighed the good things and bad things that might happen by permitting the lowering of the current minimum age limit for people when it comes to alcohol drinking. According to her, those who are in favour of lowering the age limit argue that the present drinking age limit of 21 in the United States does not make much of a different at all. Doraiwamy quoted the work of Dr. Reginald Fennel that the doctor said that the present limit of drinking age which is 21 years old is just like a prohibition all over again. It means that even if the state is prohibiting those people aging from 20 years old and below from drinking alcoholic beverages, it will not stop these people from this age bracket from drinking. Another argument that has been raised is that when the government will make it illegal for the said ages that are not yet allowed to drink alcohol, we are just encouraging these individuals into drinking in “underground” locations. These underground locations include private parties where they would attend to so that they will not get caught. It would be dangerous for these younger populations because they will not have any supervisions as well as safety while in these “underground” locations. Those who are into lowering the age limit also say that if these younger ones especially students will be allowed by the state to legally buy alcoholic drinks, these people would tend to drink alcohol in safer and more controlled places like in bars. Students would also binge if they will be given alcoholic drinks. It means that these students below 21 years of age may think that they should now get the chance to experience drinking alcoholic drinks. It will be now or never for them and they would tend to drink more. In fact, those people or students who are under aged are more likely to binge drinking alcohols than those people in their peers who are of legal age to drink alcohols.
After stating the reasons why should the U.S. Government, Doraiwamy (no page) then stated few reasons why the government should maintain the current age limit in permitting the people to drink alcohol. She said that there might be more negative effects than positive effects if the government will push through with lowering the age limit. Few of the reasons were similar to the previous stated reasons and arguments. During the 70’s and 80’s when some states tried to lower the minimum age of drinking to 18 years old, there have been an increased in alcohol-related vehicle accidents after several years up until 1988 where the numbers declined primarily because those states brought back the minimum drinking age to 21 years old. To add up to this argument, the lowering of the drinking age limit to 18 would make it even easier for those younger people aging from 17 years old and below who are normally highschool students to have access to alcohol from their friends or peers who are 18 years old.
Camille Paigla (no page) however said that the 21 age limit for people to be allowed to drink alcohols is absurd. She finds it unjust because Americans are allowed to get married, enter contracts and even serve the military at the age of 18 but they will not be allowed to drink alcohol if they are not yet 21 years of age. She finds it illogical because this 21-year age limit of the United States because according to her this might set them apart from all the advanced Western nations like China and lumps them into smaller, less advanced, and repressive countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. She also believes that since the use of marijuana has been legalized in Colorado, the law regarding the minimum age limit which she sees as a form of dictatorial law must also be banished or revised. The decreased rate of drunk driving through the past years could not be only because of setting the minimum drinking age limit at 21. There are also other factors that can be connected to the decreased rates of accidents caused by drunk-driving like the more uniform use of seat-belts as well as being more strict in implementing penalties regarding drunk driving. Consequently, the increased rates of road accidents should not take alcohol as a big reason for these things to happen. The careless use of some gadgets like cell phones and mp3 players as well as the use of some prescription drugs like Ambien can also be one of the reasons for the accidents.
Paigla (no page) also added that this cruel law that has been passed in 1984 deprived people of the younger age safe places for these younger ones to happily drink, socialize with other people, or even flirt out a little with people that you like. She wants to say that all of us should learn on how to control ourselves when we are in the influence of the alcohol. The statement drink moderately is not just a cliché phrase but something that we should always remember to avoid future disputes. She said that by drinking in moderation, we can relax, facilitate socialization or interaction, we can inspire ideas and we can promote humor and hilarity. People should also know another thing rather than just drinking moderately. All of use should also drink responsibly. Paigla want the younger individuals to experience the said things because she does not see any negative thing about those things. The government according to her should focus more on other more serious things like drugs, murders, our economic status etc. It is much better to drink alcoholic drinks rather than using illegal drugs. Just always remember to drink moderately and responsibly.
Going back again to the bad effects of lowering the age limit, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (no page) argued that there would be public health problems if the minimum for some young people to be allowed to drink alcohol. Younger people will most likely take advantage of the program and will abuse the use of alcohol. Figures regarding the deaths among underage people who are of 20 years old or younger show that there has been 4,300 deaths happen among the younger ones end. In addition to that, underage alcoholic drinking is now being associated with different social and health problems like drunk-driving, physical fighting, low grades because of the poor school performance, frequent sexual activities, and smoking.
After analyzing the reasons why should we lower the age limit in the United States or just retain the current limit, we should take a side now. For me, both of them gave substantial reasoning. But in my position, it is just right for the government to maintain the minimum age limit of the people to be still at 21. Younger ones should focus more o other things rather than drinking beers. Just always keep in mind the importance of drinking moderately and responsibly because it will help us a lot in the future.
Works Cited
Alcohol and Public Health. 24 March 2014. 2014 November 2014 <http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/mlda.htm>.
Bidwell, Allie. "Study: The Debate Is Over - Higher Drinking Age Saves Lives." U.S. News and World Report 2014 February 2014.
CBS News. The Debate On Lowering The Drinking Age. 19 February 2009 . 21 November 2014 <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-debate-on-lowering-the-drinking-age/>.
Doraiswamy, Sheela. Should the US Lower the Minimum Drinking Age? 21 November 2102. 21 November 2014 <http://www.mindthesciencegap.org/2012/11/05/should-the-us-lower-the-minimum-drinking-age/>.
Paglia, Camille. TIME. 23 April 2014. 23 November 2014 <http://time.com/72546/drinking-age-alcohol-repeal/>.
