Lowering Drinking Age Is Not A Solution

According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of drunk drivers who are 16 to 20 years old and died in car and motorcycle accidents in 2006 increased 3.9 percent from 2005 (Insurance Information Institute, 2008). This is a high increase in drunken driving. Some 18 to 20 year olds claim their right to drink alcohol. Should they have this right? Everyone knows the answer from the number is shown above. It is very obvious that people who are under 21 should not have the right to drink alcohol.

There are many reasons to support this idea. Reduction the age of drinking is a bad thing for teenagers. It will increase the number of drinkers in our community. In addition, it can cause a chaotic society.

The primary reason that the lawmakers should not change drinking age from 21 to 18 is it may encourage teenagers who never drank to start drinking. If the law changes, it will increase the amount of drinkers. All of them are students. They should take time for their studying, not drinking. It may harm their education and future. It also affects the country, which needs potential workers for its development. Moreover, they are students. Some people work, some do not. Some of them get allowance from their parents. Most bars have entrance fees. When they go to a bar, they have to pay both entrance fee and for beverage. It wastes money for them. In addition, it also can cause family problems. They may hang out with friends too much and not pay attention to their family. Talking with members in the family is the best method to share each other’s feeling.

Moreover, an important reason lawmakers should not change the drinking age from 21 to 18 is it may make more hooligans. They do not know themselves when they are drunk. If some places are full of them, they usually fight such as shooting and stabbing for totally stupid reasons. It is very dangerous for their life. They may commit crimes because they are drunk. For example, they may steal other people’s cars, they may destroy public assets and they can have sexual abuse. According to article in “why21,” “The fact is alcohol is the No.1 youth drug problem in America and more young people die from alcohol” (Addressing underage drinking, n.d., para.3). Because they are drunk, it is very dangerous when they drive a car. They can have an accident. It can cause them to be injured, crippled or dead. The big problem is not only they die, they also take other people’s lives with them.

A lot of people who are under 21 want to change the drinking age from 21 to 18. They wonder if they are old enough to drive, vote, go to war, and die for their country, they should be old enough to drink, right? From the article in “Progressiveu.org,” the writer answered, “Because you might die without going off to war, better to die for your country than to die drunk” (Changing the drinking age back to 18, 2006, para.1). These people are wrong, because 18–year-olds can be drivers, but they can not control their limit of drinking. When they are drunk, they have to drive back home. It is very harmful for their life. Moreover, 18-year-olds can be soldiers to protect their country, but it is their duty. It is for their country, not for an individual reason like drinking. Everybody should do it. Soldiers fight invaders to protect the country in the war. It should be good if they hold the gun in the battlefield, not in the bar. This law does not mean they do not have the right to drink, but they will get this right in the next three years. Why do they really want to drink when they are not mature? The answer is they want to be cool people. They can be a cool person without drinking. They can pay attention to other things such as studying, sport, recreation, art, etc. These activities are better for your health and future than drinking.

It is very clear that the lawmakers should not change the drinking age from 21 to 18. It would urge teenagers to start drinking earlier than they should be. It will increase the drunkenness in our society. Moreover, when they are drunk, they are not scared of anything. They can do something illegal. The most harmful thing is an accident. They may die and kill innocent people. Therefore, the government should keep this law. 21 years old is still an appropriate age for drinking in the U.S. 18 years old is suitable for voting and going to war that is a good responsibility for the country, but not drinking. Three years for waiting to drink is not too long a duration. They should use their time for good activities in order to have a good future, not drinking.

Addressing underage drinking. (n.d.). why21.org. Retrieved on February 5, 2008, from http://www.why21.org/under21/

Changing the Drinking Age Back to 18. (2006, October, 14). Progressiveu.org. From Overused Prototype. Retrieved on February 5, 2008, from http://www.progressiveu.org/151450-changing-the-drinking-age-back-to-18

Insurance Information Institute . (2008, February). Drunk Driving. Retrieved on February 5, 2008, from http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/drunk/

Mulcahey, S. (2002, January 30). Lowering drinking age is not a solution. Retrieved on February 1, 2008, from http://media.www.westerncourier.com/media/storage/paper650/news/2002/01/30/Opinion/Lowering.Drinking.Age.Is.Not.A.Solution-443723.shtml