Why should the drinking age be 18 instead of 21?!


Question: Why should the drinking age be 18 instead of 21!?
I need to make sure I have addressed all the counter-arguments in a paper about why the drinking age should be 21, so I'd like to hear all your best arguments!.Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Im torn on this question!. On one hand, at 18, you are old enough to vote, go to war and fight for your country, and are legallyconsidered an adult, you can get married, buy tobacco products, etc!. So one would think, you should be allowed to legally drink at 18 years old!.
However, there are thousands and thousands of people killed from drunk driving!. And that number would just rise if we lowered the drinking age to 18!. I think the drinking age should stay at 21 because people are more mature at 21 years old and will make better decisions about drinking and driving!. It is estimated that there are 5,000 people each year who die from drinking under the age of 21!. It has also been studied, the earlier that a person starts drinking, that the more alcohol dependent they will become and to drive while drunk!.
This is a tough question for me, studies show that keeping the drinking age at 21 saves thousands of lives!. However, i also believe that if you can go to war and fight for your country and risk your life everyday, that you are resposible enough to vote that could change the country we live in, make a decision to get married, and so much more, that you should be allowed to have a drink!.
When someone turns 18, they are given alot more freedom and are able to make alot more decisions for themselves!. But there are a lot of 18 year olds who are still immature and would make a bad decision to drink and drive and kill someone else!. Some 18 year olds aren't ready to be given the responsilbity to be able to drink, because they could make a bad decision to drink and drive!. However a 21 year old could make the same decision!.
I think that someday the drinking age could be lowered to 18, but i think we would need to educate teenagers more about drinking and driving and the consequences that it could have!. I think that teenagers in general woudl need to be educated on drinking more, not just about drinking and driving, but about things associated with drinking, like alcohol poisoning, etc!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

well of course 18 year olds are going to still be drinking alcohol but the higher the legal drinking age is, the higher the UNDERAGE drinking age is!. So back when the drinking age was 18, more middle schoolers were drinking because 18 is closer to their age!. but when it's raised to 21, it's more of the high schoolers are doing it because 21 is closer to their age and not as much with the middle schooler!. not saying that young kids don't drink cos trust me i know some do but at least it kinda brings it out of the middle schools more if ya know what i mean!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think children should be able to drink "at home" from about 10 or 11, by allowing them to have a drink while they are young might prevent them from abusing it at a later age!.
Stopping them from drinking until a set date "18 or 21 birthday" throws drink at them full in the face!.
Allowing them to sensibly drink with meals and special occasions with the family would tell them there is nothing special about it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

1) If an 18 year old is old enough to enter the military & go to war -- or be drafted (and possibly be killed or wounded), he or she should be able to take a drink legally!. And yes, I'm aware that we allow our under 21 military personnel to drink on base!. It smells of hypocrisy!.

2) If an 18 year old is old enough to enter enter into a legal binding contract (and be bound -- for better or worse-- by the terms of a legal document), he or she should be able to take a drink legally!.

3) If an 18 year old is considered an adult in the eyes of the law -- such that he or she can be tried as an adult (up to -- and including-- capital punishment), he or she should be able to take a drink legally!.

4) If an 18 year old is considered old enough to enter into marriage ( and have children), he or she should be able to take a drink legally!.

5) Finally, take a look at European countries that have lower drinking ages and allow teenagers to learn to drink responsibly!. Google the alcoholism rates!. You'll find that those countries don't have all the binge drinking issues that are rampant in the U!.S!. also, their alcoholism rates are much lower!.

I realize that you have probably been asked to write this paper for some school class!. Always ask questions!. Always challenge information!.

Www@FoodAQ@Com

If you can vote at 18, why not drink!? The drinking age is 18 in many, if not most, countries around the world!. It is an unrealistic law, because the fact is that young people do drink at the age of 18, and what's more, everyone knows it!. It isn't rigorously enforced, which means some people get away with it and others don't - there is huge potential for police to apply the law unfairly to people!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

I live where it is already 18!. And i am telling you its not going to make any difference if the age is raised!. You are still going to have just as many bar fights!. Only there will be more kids walking around town drunk, more house parties, more vandalism (possibly, rowdy teenagers can be violent) and more drunk driving!.
If they are going to drink (which they will, you cant get around that) at least have them in one place, where its easy to hail a cab, and where the police usually have cops driving round on the weekend!. Its unlikely that anyone will get drugged without it being noticeable, and its less likely for someone to be taken advantage off versus a house party!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

-I could go on for ages because of the simple things!.

Number one, this law treats all minors like they are the same, which they are not!. I was 17 when i joined the USMC, i was ready to die for my country but i couldn't have a drink!.

When i turned 18 i was legally an adult, i could gamble, buy porn, get married, buy smokes or chew, go to a strip club and sign my self into debt!. BUT i couldn't have a drink, why!?

Because the government figures that i am not responsible enough to do so, even given the previous examples!.

At the age of 19 i was medically discharged from the Corps (Honorable, i am allergic to pain killers), after that i came home and within two months time i was in college working, and working full time to pay ALL of MY bills, phone, insurance, car, computer, gas, food, and now i pay my own rent!.

I turned 20 and i have done more with my life than some adults i know!.!.!. i still can't legally have a drink

i have been drinking since i was 15!.!.!.!. heavily and not so!. I have two minors, and i can out drink almost anyone i know!.!.!. i still work full time and go to school full time!.

The truth is that I am more mature than some of the people that are 25 or 26 and id prove it to you !.

They say that the body doesn't fully mature until your 21, but i am the same Hard working individual that i was when i was 18!.

Should it be 18!.!. NO!.!.!. it should be 19 with a requirement of being out of school, and a kind of program as to regulate how much you can drink until 21!. This law is absurd and stops nothing!.!.!. hell the only reason i did start drinking was because my parents told me not to!. Look at other countries who don't have this issue, because alcohol isn't treated as such a burden, nobody cares cause almost everyone can do it!.

There is no reason for this arrogant rule that assumes how mature i am, and what i am going to do with my life cause i drink!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

I was raised in a country where the drinking age is 18!.!.!.and I think it makes more sense to have it that!.!.!.as many people have said, you're old enough and responsible enough to fight for your country and vote for the next president at the age of 18!.!.!.but you can't throw back a beer or 2!?!Www@FoodAQ@Com

i really think it should be 18 i mean all the people saying that 18 year olds are stupid then wow our country must be allowing stupid people to do too many important things that are stated in many of the answers above mine!. i mean you would learn your limit before college where you probably will start drinking if you havent already in highschool!. so yea if you learn your limit here and know how to handle your self you won't be going to college parties with people you don't know and then getting totally wasted because you would know when to stopWww@FoodAQ@Com

Examine the link between drunk driving and age!. It's a counter argument to your own but if you can address it and then manipulate it to suit your claim that the legal drinking age should indeed be lowered, you could end up with a very good paper!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think the drinking age should be 21 and that may even be too low!.
Kids of 18 can't handle alcohol, they do not have the cognitive ability to stop drinking and their brains won't be fully functioning!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Because idiot teenagers will be drinking anyways, regardless of the drinking age !.!.!.!.!.also, if you're old enough to go to war and die for your country (and vote), you should be old enough to drinkWww@FoodAQ@Com

I would actually say that 21 is the best age because when you are 18 that's when you just "legally" became ad adult!.

Thats also when people's brains aren't fully developed so they won't choose the right thing to do!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Hell Yeah!

They Should make it legal for 13 year old kids too, well not really, but 18 seems to be a good age to die for your country, vote and drive I'm sure they should let you all drink!.

:)Www@FoodAQ@Com

young people cant control themself so i agree i think it should be like 21 mabey even older until people in USA can prove that they can handle drinking mabey it will changeWww@FoodAQ@Com

honestly, it doesnt matter what age they make the drinking age, people are going to drink at a young age anyway!. no matter what!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Most 18 years old are not mature enough to make adult decisions yet!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

i will be 18 next year and i dont think i will be mature enough next year!.!.!. so its like 18 year olds are stupid!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Because At 18 You Are A Legal Adult!. So It Should Be Your Choice!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

IN CANADA it is 19!!! :D it's awesome!Www@FoodAQ@Com

cause im tired of getting arrested/ asking older pwople to buy me alchol thats why!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think it should be 31Www@FoodAQ@Com

Drink at 18 16 whenever you want to!.
It's your lifeWww@FoodAQ@Com

because teens haven't reached full maturity by 18
theyre still in school
and!.!.!.idkWww@FoodAQ@Com

If we can fight for our country and freedom at 18, why do we have to wait until 21 to have a drinkWww@FoodAQ@Com





The consumer Foods information on foodaq.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007 FoodAQ - Terms of Use - Contact us - Privacy Policy

Food's Q&A Resources