The legal drinking age in the United States has been 21 since 1984, when Ronald Regan signed a law requiring that all states set it as the drinking age. Some people think that the drinking age should be lowered to 18. Supporters of lowering the drinking age chose 18 because that is the age the American youth become legal adults. At 18, Americans can legally vote, live on their own, and buy cigarettes. The only thing the can’t do is drink. The drinking age should be lowered to 18 because 18-year-olds are adults and can make drinking decisions on their own.
Lowering the drinking age isn’t necessarily a popular cause. According to Carroll (2007) 77% of Americans oppose lowering the drinking age to 18 (p 1). Some opponents look at other countries with lowered drinking ages and see problems; “According to the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, a majority of these countries have higher percentages of youth who report heavy alcohol use and drinking to intoxication than the United States,” (Hanson, 2008).
Supporters of lowering drinking age have a number of reasons why America should set the drinking age to 18. Lowering the ability to consume alcohol to an age where teenagers still live with their parents gives the parents the ability to teach their children how to deal with alcohol so that they will be more responsible when they consume alcohol after they leave home (Hanson, 2008). This could lead to a reduction in drunk driving and other alcohol-related arrests.
Works Cited
Carroll, Joseph. "Most Americans Oppose Lowering Legal Drinking Age To 18 Nationwide: Six In 10 Americans Support Stricter Penalties For Underage Drinking." Gallup Poll Briefing (2007): 4-7. Business Source Complete. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
Cary, Mary Kate. "Time To Lower The Drinking Age." U.S. News Digital Weekly 6.18 (2014): 15. Business Source Complete. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
Hanson, David J. "Should The Drinking Age Be Lowered To 18? Yes." American Teacher 93.3 (2008): 3. Education Source. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
