Drinking Age

Why Drinking Age Should Stay at 21

• When drinking age was lowered to 18 in 1972, there was a 17% increase in fatal crashes for 18-20 year-olds, and 16% increase among 15-17 year-olds.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that minimum drinking age laws have saved 18,220 lives (of all ages) since 1975. In 1998 alone these laws saved 861 lives (Fact Sheet Minimum Drinking Age Laws).

• People who drink before legally warranted are much more likely to become alcoholics, and mistreat alcohol in dangerous ways.

• During 2004, about 202,902 alcohol related visits to the emergency room were by patients ages 12 to 20.

• 45% of drug-related ER visits among patients aged 12 to 20 involved alcohol. (http://dawninfo.samhsa.gov/files/tndr/2006-02r/tndr02underagedrinking.htm)

• Raising the MLDA (drinking age) back to 21 in the late 1970’s has decreased the percentage of fatal traffic accidents for those between ages 18-20 by 13% and has saved approximately 21,887 lives up until 2002 (http://drinkingage.procon.org).

Ride in the back seat of a taxi or a cop car, it’s your choice.

Billions of dollars spent on alcohol and drugs

Why drinking age should change to 18

• Turning 18 gives many opportunities and responsibilities, but does not include the consumption of alcohol.

• Current drinking age causes under-aged people to drink in private, more dangerous environments.

• “The legal drinking age should be lowered to about 18 or 19 and young adults allowed to drink in controlled environments such as restaurants, taverns, pubs and official school and university functions. In these situations responsible drinking could be taught through role modeling and educational programs. Mature and sensible drinking behavior would be expected” (Engs).

• “When adolescents are not taught to drink in moderation, they end up binge drinking when they do consume alcohol. It is better to teach youth to learn how to drink responsibly and hold them accountable for their actions as we do with driving” (drinkingage.procon.org).

• Smoking is allowed at 18, and it is proven that smoking is dangerous and kills people as well.

• 18 year-olds are allowed to serve in the military and risk their lives protecting this country, but can’t make their own decisions on drinking alcohol.

A happy medium

• Why not try to satisfy both sides of the debate?

• Both sides should discuss the pros and cons of both sides, and then attempt to make an ideal law.

• For example, people that are eighteen years of age or older should be able to purchase alcoholic beverages in monitored and safe locations like restaurants and bars, but shouldn’t be allowed at liquor stores.

• This is not an attempt to convince anybody of a specific side, it is just to offer information so that people can base their opinions off of facts.

Picture Links• http://www.google.com/imgres?

q=21+or+18+drinking&um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=614&tbm=isch&tbnid=TLbLWIjuuB62HM:&imgrefurl=http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/2011/04/19/should-we-consider-lowering-the-drinking-age/&docid=fDDXXaN8ValcuM&imgurl=http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/drinking-age-18.jpg&w=320&h=240&ei=MJ3KTqj_DKfn0QGUkv30Dw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=96&vpy=146&dur=368&hovh=192&hovw=256&tx=105&ty=67&sig=117853214108575694936&page=1&tbnh=125&tbnw=167&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

• http://www.google.com/imgres?q=21+or+18+drinking&um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=614&tbm=isch&tbnid=Kcf40pOV156UHM:&imgrefurl=http://theamusebouche.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/legal-drinking/&docid=zml-BVgjr8hGhM&imgurl=http://theamusebouche.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/no-drinking-sign11.jpg&w=620&h=828&ei=MJ3KTqj_DKfn0QGUkv30Dw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=600&sig=117853214108575694936&page=1&tbnh=125&tbnw=102&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&tx=35&ty=71

• http://www.google.com/imgres?q=choose+your+ride+drink+or+drive&um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=614&tbm=isch&tbnid=yeZDxb1xwIr22M:&imgrefurl=http://www.ideasden.com/rl/dont-drink-and-drive/&docid=Fmldy74QXWGp0M&imgurl=http://www.ideasden.com/upload/2010/04/choose-your-ride-drink-drive-jail.jpg&w=495&h=287&ei=bp_KTpXBH4bb0QGEr-0l&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=377&sig=117853214108575694936&page=1&tbnh=99&tbnw=170&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&tx=110&ty=62

• http://www.google.com/imgres?q=under-age+drinking&um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=614&tbm=isch&tbnid=iiYIEy9_3yxzZM:&imgrefurl=http://www.knowabouthealth.com/escalation-of-underage-drinking-on-july-4-weekend/3855/&docid=WUakSgix0FUk6M&imgurl=http://www.knowabouthealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/underage-drinking.jpg&w=852&h=518&ei=mp_KTvGpO6bL0QGtsJgE&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=712&vpy=178&dur=205&hovh=175&hovw=288&tx=258&ty=83&sig=117853214108575694936&page=1&tbnh=89&tbnw=146&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0

• http://www.google.com/imgres?q=alcohol+related+drug+usage&um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=614&tbm=isch&tbnid=VEuG7ysviKpwIM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ncjrs.gov/ondcppubs/publications/policy/99ndcs/ii-b.html&docid=UA_70MWUfgMRSM&imgurl=https://www.ncjrs.gov/ondcppubs/publications/policy/99ndcs/images/image-13.gif&w=431&h=323&ei=66DKToTUBur00gG0pdQe&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=741&vpy=289&dur=758&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=156&ty=156&sig=117853214108575694936&page=2&tbnh=115&tbnw=153&start=16&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:16

• Bailey, Jonathan. "Drinking Age, Lowering Of: Debatabase - Debate Topics and Debate Motions." IDEA: International Debate Education Association - Debate Resources & Debate Tools. IDEA Inc., 3 Nov. 2006. Web. 21 Oct. 2011. <http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=551>.This has a more in depth view of the pros and cons of the legal drinking age issue. It is also a nice source because it is in the eyes of Jonathan Bailey who is from the United Kingdom, where almost all of the drinking ages around him are eighteen.

• Engs, Ruth C. "Why Drinking Age Should Be Lowered: An Opinion Based on Research." Indiana University. 20 Mar. 1998. Web. 21 Oct. 2011. <http://www.indiana.edu/~engs/articles/cqoped.html>.This is a more in depth look at the debate from a college professor's point of view, and not some kid who is under twenty-one, but wishing that they could drink legally.

• "Fact Sheet Minimum Drinking Age Laws." Home | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). U.S. Department of Transportation, Dec. 1999. Web. 21 Oct. 2011. <http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/alcohol/Community%20Guides%20HTML/PDFs/Public_App7.pdf>.This document will be used simply to outline the general argument and reasons behind this debate. It is easy to read and has bullet points for the issues of the drinking age.

• Kinzie, Susan, and James Hohmann. "Lower Drinking Age Is Criticized." The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - The Washington Post. The Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2008. Web. 21 Oct. 2011. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/08/20/ST2008082003248.html>.This article in the Washington Post offers a more public view on the topic, and what the press thinks about the situation. This will be a very key article to use when arguing my point.

• ProCon.org. "Drinking Age ProCon.org." DrinkingAge.ProCon.org. ProCon.org, 28 Oct. 2011. Web. 31 Oct. 2011.• Great source with a debate layout, listing very interesting pros and cons about this subject, and gives information

that is very easy and accessible.