The Policy Of The National Minimum Drinking Age - 1503 Words

One of the most controversial problems within the United States is the policy of the national minimum drinking age of 21. I believe that the raising of the drinking age to 21 years old has created more problems than solving them. America has had past experiences with a similar situation when they enforced prohibition. As we know, prohibition was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages, which was a huge failure. America have tried prohibition legislation twice in the past for controlling irresponsible drinking problems. The first National Prohibition was during the 1920’s, and the state prohibition was in the 1850’s. These two laws were decisively repealed because they†¦show more content†¦As a result, alcohol use has become more, not less, dangerous† (New York Times, Nugent). In other words, having 21 as the minimum age of drinking has driven younger people towards to drink illegally and underage, which eventually causes more trouble and danger. David J. Hanson, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York at Potsdam, stated, â€Å"When we raise the drinking age to 21, which incidentally is the highest in the world, it makes drinking more attractive to young people† (ABC News, David Hanson). What Dr. Hanson claims is that because the drinking age is 21, which is one the highest in the world, it makes it that more attractive or valuable to young adults to drink because they are not at the legal age. The legal drinking age should be lowered to about 18 years old and young adults should be allowed to drink in controlled and safe environments such as restaurants, taverns, pubs and official school and university functions. Drinking at a younger age can influence people to be more responsible drinkers and experienced than just waiting until 21 and have zero clue at all. Ruth Engs, a Professor at Indiana University for over 30 years in the department of public health science stated, â€Å"In these situations responsible drinking could be taught through role modeling and educational programs. Mature and sensible drinkingShow MoreRelatedEssay on Federal Highway Policy714 Words   |  3 PagesFederal Highway Policy: Minimum Legal Drinking Age Ashley Miller American National Government Mark Ladd February 17, 2014 The Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws were created in the US after the Prohibition in 1933. AT this time, many states set the MLDA at 21. When the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971, many states also lowered their drinking age to 18 or 19 (Fell, 2009). After the lowering, the amount of alcohol related accidents involving young adults age 18 to 20 hadRead MoreDrinking Age1012 Words   |  5 PagesDrinking Age The drinking age was moved from 18 to 21 for a reason. The higher drinking age of 21 has saved many lives, helped reduce the amount of underage drinking, and therefore should not be lowered. Many studies from a large variety of sources have proven higher drinking ages have a positive effect on society. Alcohol is harmful to the development of younger people. Research has shown that an adult is less likely to bingeRead MoreThe Minimum Drinking Age Act1211 Words   |  5 Pages Some people find it hard to understand that at the age of eighteen you can fight and die for your country, but you cannot legally drink or purchase alcoholic beverages. Others find it hard to believe that there are people who want people under the age of twenty-one drinking. The important question is: should the drinking age be lowered to eighteen instead of remaining at twenty-one? The legal drinking age is the age at which a person can consume or purchase alcohol. These laws cover a wide rangeRead MoreShould the Minimum Drinking Age Be Lowered1128 Words   |  5 PagesTayrin O’Rand 14 March 2012 Should the Minimum Drinking Age be Lowered? The minimum drinking age became a hot topic ever since it was set to twenty one years old. It is a law not everyone welcomes with open arms, one that has the most impact in the lives of adolescents and if violated, one that can put a state at risk of forfeiting ten percent of its annual federal highway appropriation. John M. McCardell Jr., president of Middlebury College; founder and president of Choose Responsibility,Read MoreThe Effects Of Lowering The Drinking Age1426 Words   |  6 Pages underage drinking is perhaps one of the most controversial topics of our generation. Why do our young people disobey this law? Are they lost? Who will answer the call of the lost? Having the age to drink legally at the age of 21 may seem like it would never be disobeyed; however, over time, underage drinking has become more and more prevalent. In today’s society, a few choice young people have grown to control the desire to break the law to consume alcohol while at the appropriate age. However,Read MoreBinge Drinking On College Campuses1459 Words   |  6 PagesPaul October 28, 2014 Binge Drinking On College Campuses Over the past few years, there has been this big debate about whether the drinking age should be lowered to 18 or if it should stay at 21. Those in favor of lowering the drinking age to 18 argue that someone who is old enough to serve their country should be allowed to have a drink. Those who are in favor of keeping the minimum legal drinking age at 21 because of consequences regarding psychological developmentRead MoreThe Drinking Age Should Remain 18 in Australia1563 Words   |  7 PagesThe Drinking Age Should Remain 18 Years Old in Australia The Drinking Age Should Remain 18 Years Old in Australia These days there are a number of social issues in the community, such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is rampant in today’s society, Australian Drug Foundation states that, â€Å"Alcohol is the most widely used psychoactive, or mood-changing, recreational drug in Australia.†(Healey, 2002, p. 11). Underage drinking and binge drinking are some of the problemsRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Of America977 Words   |  4 PagesAfter taking both parents drink orders, I ask their son what he would like to drink. Like the true Irish man he is, he asks me for a Guinness. He looked a little young to be drinking so I asked him for some id. He hands me the id and it reads that he is only nineteen years old. I had to explain to them that the legal drinking age in the United States was twenty one years old and I could see the look of confusion in their face. The father tried quarreling with me that the law was stupid and since theyRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered1732 Words   |  7 PagesThe definition of the word adult is: â€Å"a person who has attained the age of maturity as specified by law†(Dictionary.com). If this is so, then why is it that in the United States 18 year olds are legally considered adults in our society, but they can’t legally buy or consume alcohol? Yet at this age they are able to vote in an election, get married, serve on a jury, live on their own, purchase cigarettes, adopt a child, and defend our country. These are not easy tasks for one to take on, yet our governmentRead MoreMinimum Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered1253 Words   |  6 Pages2017 Minimum Legal Drinking Age Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age? Ever since the end of prohibition in 1933 the United States government has placed the issue of minimum legal drinking age sensitively in the hands of the states, letting each decide for itself what the minimum age should be. At that time all agreed that the minimum legal drinking age should be 21, where it remained for all