Comments on: The Debate On Lowering The Drinking Age
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- We all know that very few people wait until they're 21 before they consume their first alcoholic beverage. So why do we have a law that prohibits people from drinking alcohol until they're 21? As it says in the article , "The greatest number of deaths occurs at age 21, followed by 22 and 23." That statistic is referring to alcohol-related fatalities. Another astonishing static I found was about the percentage of people who drink before turning 21 and who drink after turning 21..."For example, 22% of all students under 21 compared to 18% over 21 years of age are heavy drinkers. Among drinkers only, 32% of under age compared to 24% of legal age are heavy drinkers." (http://www.indiana.edu/~engs/articles/cqoped.html). Students under the age of 21 often think it's cool to "break the law" and to go against authority. So, if we lowering the drinking age to 18 then college students won't be so inclined to heavy drinking or even drinking at all. Professor Ruth C. Enges from the University of Indiana couldn't have said it better, "Because the the 21 year old drinking age law is not working, and is counterproductive, it behooves us as a nation to change our current prohibition law and to teach responsible drinking techniques for those who chose to consume alcoholic beverages." (http://www.indiana.edu/~engs/articles/cqoped.html). So what is holding us back? Well, many people will say that studies show kids who drink when they're 18 for the first time will more likely become alcoholics....Wheres the proof? When I went to research that I most commonly came across this statistic, "The key finding of the NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) research was that people who started drinking before age 15 were 50% more likely to become alcohol dependent as adults." (http://alcoholism.about.com/od/tipsforparents/a/early_age.htm).
This article which is agaist underaged drinking even says it themselves, " For some teens, thrill-seeking might include experimenting with alcohol." (http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA67/AA67.htm) Some students drink just to test the law and for the thrill of doing something illegal, so why not legalize it?
As Mr. McCardell says, "A drinking age minimum of 21 has not changed the reality. It's time to try something different. It's not 1984 anymore." - Reply to this comment
- The 21 drinking age is just lovely, one more tool (among many others) to sedate American youth so they are too busy trying so hard to get alcohol and party to realize how the adults around them are ruining their country and give half a damn enough to do something about it.
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- Hahahaha.... everyone with the brain of an ameoba should think this is a great idea!
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- A parent is legally responsible for their child until the age of 18 for the most part. Ultimately they want is best for their child, yet sometimes, what is best for them is not always as clear as it could be. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is an organization whose goal is to help reduce drunk driving fatalities. In order to accomplish this goal, they are adamant about maintaining the minimum legal drinking age at 21.
In response to MADD and their supporters mainly consisting of mothers, I would like to address the fact that as a supporter of lowering the drinking age, I do not condone any illegal behavior such as driving under the influence. As mother's the children's safety is a priority. Lowering the minimum legal drinking age will save lives because it will allow a big percentage of adolescent binge drinkers to ask for help when they need it. Sometimes underage binge drinkers fear calling their parents for help. To avoid punishment for their behavior, instead of calling their parents to provide a ride for them when they needed the most they hold back. Holding back can only lead them to rely driving themselves home, having other "buzz" drivers drive them, or spend the night at someone else's home. The act of the adolescents not calling their parents for help is what pushes people to drive under the influence and cause accidents. - Reply to this comment
- This is a tragedy. Obviously, the parent involved didn't know their child or his foolish 21- yr.old friends and connections very well. They didn't call 911 because they knew he was dead or dying. This is the main reason behind why these "friends" didn't call. Something more should be done to crack down on college binges and high school parties. I blame the parents and our society. Alcohol abuse is a tragedy and excessive drinking shouldn't be acceptable at any age, even 21. They should raise the drinking age to 25 and crack down on any idiot who shares with clueless teenagers. Just because you turn 18 doesn't mean you are an adult.
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- If people are Adults at 18 and can vote and serve their country in the military at the risk of their lives, why do we make Odd little laws to show how righteous we are and move around the Adult age? If people are adults at 18, then give them the Rights of Adults. For me, that includes alcohol, tobacco, marijuana (which causes fewer problems than the other two, and I would say make prostitution lega, but restrict it to private enclosed places such as clubs, massage parlors, strip joints, and enforce Health rules and Taxes. We are so Silly in this country always trying to control people's lives and thoughts. I'm a Christian and I think that our Civil Laws should not constrict people to Christian rules. If people are bent on ruining their health, that is their problem. If they cause danger to others by getting high on alcohol or marijuana, then they will be handled by the Law. 18 is ADULT with All the Rights of Adults..!
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- I know this is really late, but two interesting thoughts.
First, I would think highway deaths are multiple fatalities caused by one per, compared to underage drinking where the individual is typically affecting only themselves (note, I realize peer pressure can be involved, but at least there is the choice). The current law (almost entirely) prevents individuals from ruining lives of others.
Second, why not try the licensing with the current age limit and see where it goes. Start it as a college requirement. I realize that restricting drinking that NOONE could drink without a license might be a little "prohibition-like", but perhaps someone with better "society-as-a-whole skils" might have an idea.
I definitely still disagree with lowering the age so easily without further restrictions of some type. Only in establishments with sobriety check before leaving? Install breath-a-lyzer ignition systems? Who knows.... - Reply to this comment
- Great Article! I really agree with lowering the age to 18 because of all the arguments made, such as.. If you are under 21 you can choose who runs this country, you can drive a automobile, you can smoke cigarettes/chew tobacco, and you can go over seas and get killed for this country, but you can not have a drink of alcohol? However, I think that the license stated at the end of this article is actually a great idea. When an 18 year old gets this license I feel that they would be more responsible with their drinking, (I would anyway), and that they know they will lose it if they violate the rules of the license. Who knows what will happen, but this was a very good article and will certainly help me with my upcoming research paper on lowering the drinking age!
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- Kids, find ways to get around the 21 year old limit I must agree. But what difference does it make anymore, there are people over the age limit driving drunk so either way, we still come out a loser.
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- The Gordie Bailey-Lanahan family can do the most good for college kids and their families by not supporting underaged drinking. In this article as well as the one in the Denver Post, they speak of Gordie being allowed to drink at home and at parties - a teenaged boy! I don't know the dynamics of the family, but they knew he was developing a pattern of alcohol usage and did nothing about it!! I think this is the biggest message that they can send... I regret their loss but if they had not created a supportive culture of underaged drinking, it is likely that Gordie would be around today.
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