It is legal for eighteen year-olds to die for their country, it is legal for eighteen year-olds to marry, and it is legal fore eighteen year-olds to vote. Why then isn't it legal for eighteen year-olds to drink? Throughout history, people have always wanted what they couldnt get. Since the 1970s, this is the approach most lawmakers in America have taken with respect to underage drinking. It was at this time that many states changed the legal drinking age from 18 to 21. This needs to change.If young adults are old enough to smoke, vote, join the army, marry, or even die for your country, the right to drink should be also included in that list. The United States is one of the o ...view middle of the document...
But in countries where it is legal for teens to drink, that element of mischief does not exist. While I firmly believe that people, who can vote, go to war, or buy cigarettes (which are just as lethal as alcohol) should be able to enjoy a drink responsibly. Along those lines, lowering the drinking age to 18 would allow younger students to socialize more with older students and adults, allowing older students to model responsible, more mature social drinking behavior. Over time, this would help to change the culture surrounding drinking among our young people. From 1982 to 1987 there were some major changes in school related issues involving alcohol. Children vomiting after drinking went from 46% to over 50%. Cutting class after a drinking night went from 9% to 12%. (Missing class because of a hangover went from 26% to 28%). Lower grades from drinking went up from 5% to 7%. Children in fights also went up from 12% to 17%. These statistic prove that the raising of the drinking age didnt solve any problems related to schools, but only made them worseIf the drinking age is lowered to 18, many opposing groups will argue firmly against that decision. One good reason to keep the drinking age at 21, the opposition might say, is the physical effect that appears by the use of alcohol. Alcohol starts to play a big role in the early st...
