No
by Michael Stevens Teen Panelist
A classic debate topic among teens is whether they should have a right to drink when they become legal adults at the age of 18. In 1984, a law was passed that tied federal funding to having the drinking age be 21. As a result, all 50 states have passed legislation to make it illegal for people younger than 21 to purchase or consume alcohol. Recently, there have been efforts by some legislators to lower the drinking age to 18. In my opinion, this is bad public policy.
Proponents of a lower drinking age view this as an issue of civil rights and age discrimination. They argue that if an 18-year-old is old enough to go to war and vote, he or she should have the right to consume alcohol, which is a legal substance. However, there is a flaw in this argument. Drinking alcohol is a public health issue, not a human rights issue. It is the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens and establish laws that are designed to keep people healthy and safe. Recent studies show that the human brain does not fully develop until age 21. If states pass laws to lower the drinking age, they are promoting unhealthy and dangerous behavior for young adults.
Another negative effect of lowering the drinking age would be an increase in the numbers of accidents caused by drunk drivers. Higher drinking age laws have saved thousands of lives and have reduced the number of alcohol-related deaths among drunk drivers younger than 21, according to statistics provided by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Last year, more than 13,000 people died in alcohol-related accidents, according to the administration. This number has steadily decreased in recent years. We should not pass any laws that threaten to reverse this trend.
In the United States, alcohol abuse is a serious public health problem. The government has an obligation to what it can to reduce the ill effects of irresponsible alcohol consumption. The drinking-age law should not be lowered.
Yes
By Michael Lucarelli teen panelist
If the government lowers the drinking age from 21 to 18, many of the negative consequences associated with under-age drinking could be reduced. During the past decade, teen drinking has skyrocketed.
In countries such as Germany, the legal drinking age is 16, and studies show that teen alcohol abuse is less common than in countries where the legal drinking age is higher. The rush they get from drinking illegally just doesn’t go along with the legality of being able to drink. Some American teens drink simply due to fact that they legally cannot.
At the age of 18, every man and woman in America is considered a legal adult: They can gamble, vote and be drafted into the armed forces. Ironically, the United States allows our young adults to sacrifice their lives for our country but will not allow them to indulge in an alcoholic beverage. Why is a person mature enough to enlist in the military, but not mature enough to order a glass of beer?
