Lowering_Drinking_Age

Paige Key P. Homer English 0099 9 November 2010 Lowering the Drinking Age to Eighteen Many people think the legal drinking age should remain at twenty one. Upon reaching the age eighteen a person can join any branch of the United States Army. A teenager is able to join the war and die for his or her country, but yet he or she still cannot purchase or consume an alcoholic beverage. Not only joining the United States Army is a privilege at eighteen, but voting, marrying, and buying tobacco products are also privileges. Amendment twenty-six section eight states “The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any states on account of age.” Although many people think the drinking age should remain at twenty one, it should be lowered to eighteen. First, the legal age to drink should be lowered to eighteen because eighteen to twenty year olds are more responsible as twenty one year olds. Many eighteen to twenty year olds show as much responsibility as a twenty one year old because they go out and join the Armed Forces. While a twenty one year old is out procrastinating about joining a branch of service the eighteen year old is enlisting in some kind of branch. The eighteen year old is gaining responsibility and learning leadership. So when the younger person goes out for a drink or two, he or she knows how much to consume. Second, lowering the drinking age is the fact that a person’s body does not stop developing at the age of eighteen and he or she definitely do not reach their maturity level at twenty one. According to the National Youth Rights Association, a twenty one year old is different than an eighteen year old. Maturity is something a person gains throughout their whole life. Maturity is not something a person gains when he or she turns twenty one. While gaining maturity a person’s mind is developing mentally and physically. Since the government can determine a twelve year old has developed enough to take a dose of medication, then an eighteen year old has developed enough to drink beer. Finally, if the drinking age is lowered then college students will not go sneaking around at parties to get a drink. Not just at parties college students are doing this, but they are having connections with twenty one year olds to go into a store to buy his or her alcohol. For an example, recently in New Jersey police were called to a house party where there were illegal dangerous energy drinks. These drinks were known as “Four Lokos”, which contained twelve percent alcohol content. Nine students were sent to the Emergency Room because of the alcohol poisoning level. All of those students were under the age of twenty one. With all of this being said, if the drinking age is not lowered students are still going to drink anyway. In conclusion majority of students are in favor of lowering the drinking age to eighteen. People say eighteen year olds make mistakes while drinking, but twenty one year olds make the same mistakes while consuming an alcoholic beverage. Eighteen to twenty year old miss out on a lot. Students are not looking for a way to get drunk, but they are looking for a way to call his or her shots and live fulfilling lives. The drinking age will always be a debate and it will always be opposed to eighteen year olds. If the drinking age becomes lowered it will help eighteen to twenty year olds realize how important alcohol is and how mature he or she must become while under the influence of alcohol.