The question on whether the Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) should be lowered has elicited much debate in the recent years. The proponents to the proposal of lowering the MLDA argue that setting it at 21 years has not resulted in the control of underage drinking, but has instead led to cases of binge drinking which leads to health and life-threatening behavior among the teens. The opponents, on the other hand, argue that at 18 years, the teens have not attained an age where they can responsibly handle drinking, and as a result they have a higher tendency to harm or kill themselves or others by drinking. The opponents also cite the fact that traffic fatalities and accidents have drastically reduced with a higher MLDA. The MLDA should not be lowered since it would lead would lead to more problems for the teens and society in general.
MLDA 21 has seen a drastic drop in the numbers of traffic fatalities and traffic accidents. Many studies carried out on the effect of a higher drinking age on the rates of traffic accidents have found out that there has been a significant drop in numbers. A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found out that the increased MLDA age significantly reduced the number of fatal traffic accidents among the 18 and 20 year olds by approximately 13% (NHTSA, 6). Similarly, a total of close to 27, 502 lives were saved between the years 1975 and 2008. Hence, lowering the MLDA to 18 would only mean more traffic accidents and fatalities among the teens.
Underage drinking is mainly associated with many health and social problems among the youths (Bellenir, 4). Problems such as physical fighting, irresponsible sexual behavior, poor performance in schools, smoking and drug abuse and other crimes all stem from the engagement in underage drinking. Teens engaging in early drinking stand the risk of engaging in risky behaviors that may pose dangers to both their health and social well-being. The high number of crime rates in the country can mainly be attributed to underage drinking and the subsequent drug and substance abuse. It has been found out that underage alcohol consumption results in the damage to brain development among the teens. The brain functionality on issues such as emotion regulation, planning and organization is usually damaged with regards to underage drinking. A study carried out by the neuroscientist Susan Tapert found damaged brain tissues among teens that drank (Trudeau, 1). The interference with brain development could lead to potentially chronic problems such as alcohol addiction, memory loss, risky behaviors and worse still suicide.
Another reason for not lowering the MLDA to 18 years is the fact that it reduces alcohol consumption and the number of teenage drinkers (Lang, 2). Studies carried out on the effect increasing the legal drinking age have found out that alcohol consumption reduced greatly as compared with when it was lower. Also, the MLDA has significantly reduced the number of teenage drinkers. Since it came into effect in the year 1984, MLDA 21 has played a key role in ensuring that the percentage of underage drinkers comes down. A vast number of studies have shown that with a higher MLDA, those below age 21 years drink less and would continue drinking less even when they attain age 21. The teens also tend to drink less when they are full grown adults.
Although the proponents to the lowering of the MLDA to 18 years may have valid points, their points do not hold water as compared to the various negative effects lowering the MLDA would bring to the teens and the country as a whole. It is evidently clear that lowering the MLDA would bring more harm than benefits to the country. In no given case should the MLDA be lowered to 18 years.
Works Cited
Bellenir, Karen. Alcohol Information for Teens: Health Tips About Alcohol Use, Abuse, and Dependence Including Facts About Alcohol's Effects on Mental and Physical Health, the Consequences of Underage Drinking, and Understanding Alcoholic Family Members. , 2013. Print.
Lang, Alan R. Alcohol, Teenage Drinking. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1985. Print.
Trudeau, Michelle. "Teen Drinking May Cause Irreversible Brain Damage." N.p., 25 Jan. 2010. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.
Promising Approaches in the Prevention of Underage Drinking: Case Studies of State Activities : a Report. Washington, D.C: National Association of Governors' Highway Safety Representatives, 2008. Print.
