The Drinking Age Must not Be Lowered Essay - 1755 Words

Lawmakers should not consider lowering the drinking age from twenty-one to eighteen. Despite the deep value this country places on freedom, personal liberties, and personal responsibilities, the data shows that public safety is greatly at risk if the drinking age were to be lowered to twenty-one. A variety of groups believe that the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen deeming that the twenty-one law is unconstitutional. On the opposing side, people agree that the law helps to protect our young people and the communities where they live. Before World War II, the age of majority in America was twenty-one. At this age, men entered into their full rights and obligations, such as the expectation to fight for their country, the†¦show more content†¦With the new draft in place, the voting age argument was brought up once again. In 1954, President Eisenhower called for a constitutional amendment to allow eighteen through twenty-one year old men to vote, but it failed to move forward (Poe, 3). Though congress failed to pass the amendment, three states went ahead and lowered the voting age on their own: Kentucky in 1955 (to eighteen) and Alaska and Hawaii in 1959 (to nineteen and twenty respectively) (Poe, 3). Then, the Vietnam War turned the tide. By the late 1960’s, thousands of youth were fighting an extremely unpopular war, which had all Americans on edge. Vandenberg’s new argument, â€Å"old enough to fight, old enough to vote,† had everybody talking (Poe, 3). In June 1970, President Nixon signed a bill giving eighteen year olds the right to vote (Poe, 3). Though eighteen year olds now had the right to vote, they still could not drink. After The Prohibition ended in 1933, most states set the drinking age to twenty-one. The states that didn’t lower the age put limits on when, where, and what minors could drink (Poe, 3). During the 1950’s and 1960’s the drinking age was not of major concern to the majority of the country, except for the Northeastern states (Poe, 3). In New York, the drinking age was eighteen, but in the surrounding states it was 21 (Poe, 3). This created the problem of teenagers traveling to New York to drink legally, and then getting into sometimes fatal car accidents onShow MoreRelatedThe Minimum Drinking Age Act1700 Words   |  7 PagesNational Minimum Drinking Age Act made all 50 states raise the legal drinking age to 21(Dejong). The debate is on whether the age should be lowered or not. Statistically, having the age at 21 has been very helpful in keeping the nation safe. If there is not a n issue with age now, would it make sense to lower the age and create unnecessary problems? In this case, the negative effects outweigh the positive. Simply because there is no good in lowering the age. The legal drinking age has been set atRead MoreFor Years, The Debate About Deciding A Minimum Legal Drinking1638 Words   |  7 Pagesyears, the debate about deciding a minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) has plagued the United States. The arguments can include that intoxicated driving accidents will increase if the MLDA was lowered or that the current MLDA is not decreasing drinking among young adults at all. The torn arguments between ages eighteen and twenty-one have not proven one age to be the right answer to the problem of deciding a drinking age, but if the MLDA was lowered to age eighteen, it would be the most beneficial choiceRead MoreLowering The Alcohol Drinking Age1602 Words   |  7 Pages Lowering The Alcohol Drinking Age Now a day’s teens that are under the age of twenty-one are out in trouble and drinking. They know that they are not old enough to drink and that is what makes them want to drink even more. Teens drink when they are not suppose to, but they know that when they drink, they must stay out of trouble. Lowering the alcohol drinking age will keep a bunch of teens out of trouble. If teens can stay safe while drinking then they should allow eighteen year olds to drinkRead MoreEssay about Debate Over the Legal Drinking Age1735 Words   |  7 Pagesthe Legal Drinking Age College life is filled with changes. It is filled with many new experiences. As college students, we are on our own, adults. As adults we are responsible for keeping up to date on information that affects us. One issue that affects college students nation wide is drinking. The current legal drinking age in the United States is twenty-one years of age. The Federal government raised the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 in 1984. Even with the current drinking age at twenty-oneRead MoreLowering The Minimum Drinking Age1380 Words   |  6 PagesOnce a person reaches the age of 18, they are allowed to tattoo their bodies, smoke tobacco, gamble and even enlist if they wanted to! As an adult, they want to be treated as one but how can they feel like an adult if hanging around with their friends and drinking beer while watching TV is illegal? Of course, that does not stop them, though. The United States is one of the few countries in which still have such a high minimum drinking age. Althoug h most people think young adults (18-year olds) areRead MoreEighteen is too Dangerous886 Words   |  4 PagesHas anyone been harmed from underage drinking that you may know of, whether it’s from over dosing or a severe car accident? The topic of lowering the drinking age to eighteen in the United States is very debatable subject because many people have a difficult time deciding which side to support. Many of the negative issues for the low drinking age would have of an effect on the future, which is why the reform should not be put into action. Reasons include health issues, irresponsibility, and deathsRead MoreLowering The Legal Drinking Age1387 Words   |  6 PagesThe concerns about safety involving alcohol, including alcohol-related fatalities, â€Å"binge drinking†, and long-term health effects, will not be compromised by lowering the legal drinking age to nineteen in the United States. Activists who wish to raise the legal minimum age frequently discuss the w ays that driving while intoxicated endangers countless lives every day in the United States, and is an increasing problem in model Europe as well. However, drunk driving increases will secrecy, not withRead MoreProhibition Of The National Minimum Drinking Age Act1376 Words   |  6 Pagesregulations instituted by the government were suggestions. After the Prohibition laws were lifted in 1993, the drinking age was set at twenty one but was later lowered to eighteen because of the passage of the 26th amendment which lowered the voting age to eighteen. In order to combat drunk driving, The National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed and stated that states must raise their drinking age to twenty one or lose 10% of their funds to pay for their highways. The organization MADD (Mother’s AgainstRead MoreWhy Lower the Legal Drinking Age?801 Words   |  3 Pageslower the drinking age below 21 lose 10% of their annual federal highway appropriations (Haevens). This is the main reason the legal drinking age has not been lower below 21 years of age.a large number of the general population desires a lower drinking age. In the 25 years since the legal drinking age was set at 21, seven states have tried to lower it. (Wechsier ).It is unfair for the federal government to withhold money from states if they exercise their rights to set the legal drinking age to whatRead More The Drinking Age Should NOT Be Lowered Essay1006 Words   |  5 Pagesminimum legal drinking age. Choose Responsibility, a group founded by John McCardell, proposes that upon completion of a 40 hour course to educate young people about alcohol, 18, 19, and 20 year old people should be licensed to drink. The Amethyst Initiative, part of Choose Responsibility, is a petition to Congress to rethink the minimum legal drinking age. Several college leaders have signed this petition in the belief that lowering the minimum legal drinking age will reduce bing e drinking on college