OPPapers.com

The Drinking Age

Drinking Age

The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 proposed a raise in the drinking age to twenty-one years old. Although each individual state could choose whether or not to enforce the act, the federal government said it would cut aid if the states didn’t. Because of this states had to enforce the act even though there was much controversy surrounding it. The main argument presented by supporters of this act was that raising the age would decrease the amount of alcohol related car accidents, as well as simply keeping alcohol out of the hands of people viewed as to immature to handle it responsibly. Despite the best efforts of law enforcement this act has largely failed to do what it was intended to due, and in certain circumstances had an adverse affect. The national minimum drinking age in the United States needs to be lowered to eighteen because an eighteen year old is considered legally responsible by the government, the current laws are fulfilling their original intentions, the currents laws are creating more problems, and alcohol consumption can have a positive impact on the health of an individual.
At the time an American citizen turns eighteen they are viewed as an adult in the eyes of the government and society as a whole. What this means is that a person is then allowed the right to do things such as vote in elections, hold public office, serve on juries, buy tobacco products, sign legal contracts, and also join or be drafted into the military. When you assess the above you come to the conclusion that when a person turns eighteen they are obviously mature enough to make important and sometimes life altering decisions. But this poses a simple question; why are these “adults” not allowed to drink an alcoholic drink until the age of twenty-one? The answer is found in the belief that raising the drinking age would save lives and stop people under the age of 21 from drinking. This means that the only logical way to assess...