the drinking age should be higher essay

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Should the Legal Drinking Age be Increased to 25

As of right now, the legal drinking age in the United States is 21 and is 18 in some other countries. Should this number be increased? That’s a question that is hotly debated among various populations. There is evidence that supports the proposition, but is it something that anyone will see happening soon? You’ll have to decide what side of the issue you’re on and take a stand to change the age or not.

Why Increase the Age?

According to research, a person doesn’t reach physical maturity until the age of 25. That means that the brain and nervous system aren’t fully developed until that age. Because the body is still growing and changing, the effects of alcohol can be more pronounced and more dangerous than in a fully mature person. Of course, changing the legal drinking age to 25 probably won’t stop all young people from drinking, but it would make them aware of the risk they are taking by doing so.

In addition, research also shows that a higher drinking age saves lives. This is because there are fewer alcohol related traffic accidents resulting in death among young people. According to U.S. News and World Report, when New Zealand lowered its drinking age from 20 to 18, the number of fatalities due to drinking and driving went up dramatically.

Why Not Increase the Age?

Of course, the biggest drawback of raising the drinking age is that it could encourage underage drinking, especially for people who are 21 and are currently allowed to drink legally. Though some experts refute this, college kids are a prime example of populations who acquire alcohol illegally. Should one state raise their drinking age and another not, people would likely cross state lines to drink, which could lead to the risk of drunk driving and other crime.

There are also those who argue that drinking age has nothing to do with responsibility. People can vote, serve in the military, buy a house, get married and change their citizenship at the age of 18 so it seems ludicrous to tell those same people that they can’t legally buy or drink alcohol. Others say that better control of alcohol in the United States would help solve some of the problems that could arise in response to the drinking age.

What’s the Answer

Clearly, there is no good answer for the question of whether the drinking age should be increased to 25. There are strong arguments on both sides of the issue and both arguments make sense in many ways. More research is needed to link drinking age with physical maturity and how it relates to the rate of drunk driving deaths. However, one thing the experts do agree on is that people should be educated about the risks of drinking alcohol as they near the drinking age, whatever that happens to be. By helping young people understand the responsibility that goes with legal drinking and the dangers of abusing alcohol, they are better prepared to make the right choices regarding alcohol, whether legal or not.

There is no way to ensure that people under the legal drinking age are not going to drink, but there are many ways that governments, both state and federal, can help educate its citizens so that the most people possible will make the right choices and use alcohol responsibly, no matter what is finally decided about whether or not the drinking age should be increased to 25. Now it’s up to you to pick a side and help make the changes required to uphold your stance on the issue.

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Raising the Drinking Age to 25: What Are the Pros and Cons?

• Medically Reviewed by David Szarka, MA, LCADC

There’s been an ongoing debate about the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) in the U.S. since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed in 1984. The federal law requires people be 21 years old to buy or possess alcohol . Some people feel that requiring people to be 21 to drink just makes underage drinking more of a problem and doesn’t align with other minimum age restrictions like joining the military or owning a gun. On the other side of the debate, people argue that young adults are less likely to drink responsibly, and that alcohol can damage the still-developing human brain. Some proponents of drinking age limits feel that the U.S. should raise the drinking age even higher — to 25.

Pros of Raising the Drinking Age to 25

Some people believe raising the legal drinking age to 25 is imperative because of considerations like emotional and physical maturity. They also say the minimum drinking age saves lives by reducing the risk of danger to oneself and others. Here are a few reasons why they believe the legal drinking age should be raised to 25:

Protects Brain Development

Much research has shown the damaging effects of alcohol on brain development in teens and young adults. The brain is still undergoing crucial developments until age 25, and some scientists have found evidence that it keeps developing until as late as age 30. Young adult and teen drinking can interfere with brain development, causing long-term consequences like :

• Damage to the hippocampus resulting in issues with memory and learning.
• Damage the prefrontal cortex, which can impair judgement and impulsivity in adulthood.
• Damage to the brain’s white matter, negatively impacting brain cells’ communication with each other.
• Greater risk for conditions like mood disorders, ADHD, PTSD, and other mental health challenges.

Prevents Drunk Driving Fatalities

There is a strong correlation between drunk driving and youth. Data shows that since the drinking age was raised to 21, there has been a significant decrease in alcohol-related car accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that raising the drinking age to 21 saved 31,959 lives between 1975 and 2017. Furthermore, some research has shown that people aged 21-25 are the most likely age group to drive after drinking alcohol.

Decreases Underage Drinking

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), after the drinking age was raised to 21, alcohol consumption in people aged 18 to 20 decreased from 59% to 40% in the six years following the change. Drinking also decreased from 70% to 56% during the same period in people aged 21 to 25.

Lowers Addiction Risk

Some research suggests that around 90% of adults with substance use disorders drank as teens or young adults. Proponents argue that raising the drinking age can help stem the addiction epidemic in the U.S.

Cons of Raising the Drinking Age to 25

People who don’t think the drinking age should be raised and should potentially be lowered feel this way for a number of reasons. Some believe it’s a form of ageism, actually encourages underage drinking, and may put lives at risk because underage drinkers may be worried about reporting emergencies.

Raises the Thrill of Underage Drinking

Having a rebellious streak is part of the teenage years and sometimes continues into young adulthood. Youth are trying to develop their sense of self, and this often means pulling away from parents and questioning other authority figures. It’s a normal part of growing up. The parts of the brain responsible for impulsivity and decision-making are still under construction. This combination can fuel underage drinking. Critics of raising the drinking age argue that this change will just extend that “thrill” of asserting your independence against authority for a longer period given that we know that the brain continues developing well into the 20s.

Discourages People to Get Help in Emergencies

Some people believe lowering the drinking age can prevent medical emergencies and dangerous situations from becoming worse or deadly. They maintain that people who are drinking illegally may not call 911 if a friend is in trouble or an accident has happened because of drinking for fear of getting in trouble with the law or with their families. Many may not know that most states have laws in place that protect them from legal ramifications if they report an emergency.

Doesn’t Align With Other Age Restrictions

The United States is one of a handful of countries with a drinking age of 21. Proponents of keeping the drinking age at 21 or lowering the drinking age even more argue that European countries don’t have the same underage drinking problems as the U.S. They say that because people can drink legally at a younger age, it takes the allure of “breaking the rules” through alcohol consumption and so less youth drink. However, recent data shows that this is simply not the case. Around 50% of European countries have higher intoxication rates among teens and young adults, and also have similar binge drinking patterns.

Proponents of keeping drinking age limits at 21 or lowering the drinking age say that the law is counterintuitive to other minimum age laws. They point to the fact that people can own a gun, join the military, vote, and be convicted of a crime as an adult at age 18, so not allowing people to drink until age 21 is a form of ageism.

The Truth About Alcohol

Whatever side you’re on in the debate about minimum drinking age, the truth is that alcohol can be dangerous and deadly at any age. When alcohol use progresses to alcohol addiction it takes over your life. If you’re worried about your drinking or that of a loved one, reach out to Footprints to Recovery. We provided evidence-based substance abuse treatment that will help you take back your life.

• https://alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/the-1984-national-minimum-drinking-age-act
• https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00298/full
• https://www.menshealth.com/health/a26868313/when-does-your-brain-fully-mature/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7183385/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24565317/
• https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812753
• https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_2688/ShortReport-2688.html
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22525104/
• https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/minimum-legal-drinking-age.htm
• https://www.mdt.mt.gov/visionzero/docs/taskforces/ojjdp_feb01.pdf

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Why the drinking age should be lowered

• Drinking Patterns and Problems of a National Sample of College Students
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Alcohol Research and Health History

Why the drinking age should be lowered: an opinion based upon research.

Engs, Ruth C. (1997, 2014). “Why the drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based upon research. Indiana University: Bloomington, IN. Adapted from: IUScholarWorks Repository:  http://hdl.handle.net/2022/17594

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. This opinion is based upon research that I have been involved in for over thirty years concerning college age youth and the history of drinking in the United States and other cultures.

Although the legal purchase age is 21 years of age, a majority of college students under this age consume alcohol but in an irresponsible manner. This is because drinking by these youth is seen as an enticing "forbidden fruit," a "badge of rebellion against authority" and a symbol of "adulthood." As a nation we have tried prohibition legislation twice in the past for controlling irresponsible drinking problems. This was during National Prohibition in the 1920s and state prohibition during the 1850s. These laws were finally repealed because they were unenforceable and because the backlash towards them caused other social problems. Today we are repeating history and making the same mistakes that occurred in the past. Prohibition did not work then and prohibition for young people under the age of 21 is not working now.

The flaunting of the current laws is readily seen among university students. Those under the age of 21 are more likely to be heavy -- sometimes called "binge" -- drinkers (consuming over 5 drinks at least once a week). For example, 22% of all students under 21 compared to 18% over 21 years of age are heavy drinkers. Among drinkers only, 32% of under-age compared to 24% of legal age are heavy drinkers.

Research from the early 1980s until the present has shown a continuous decrease, and then leveling off, in drinking and driving related variables which has parallel the nation's, and also university students, decrease in per capita consumption. However, these declines started in 1980 before the national 1987 law which mandated states to have 21 year old alcohol purchase laws.

The decrease in drinking and driving problems are the result of many factors and not just the rise in purchase age or the decreased per capita consumption. These include: education concerning drunk driving, designated driver programs, increased seat belt and air bag usage, safer automobiles, lower speed limits, free taxi services from drinking establishments, etc.

While there has been a decrease in per capita consumption and motor vehicle crashes, unfortunately, during this same time period there was an INCREASE in other problems related to heavy and irresponsible drinking among college age youth. Most of these reported behaviors showed little change until AFTER the 21 year old law in 1987. For example from 1982 until 1987 about 46% of students reported "vomiting after drinking." This jumped to over 50% after the law change. Significant increase were also found for other variables: "cutting class after drinking" jumped from 9% to almost 12%; "missing class because of hangover" went from 26% to 28%; "getting lower grade because of drinking" rose from 5% to 7%; and "been in a fight after drinking" increased from 12% to 17%. All of these behaviors are indices of irresponsible drinking. This increase in abusive drinking behavior is due to "underground drinking" outside of adult supervision in student rooms, houses, and apartments where same age individuals congregate. The irresponsible behavior is exhibited because of lack of knowledge of responsible drinking behaviors, reactance motivation (rebellion against the law), or student sub-culture norms.

Beginning in the first decade of the 21st century, distilled spirits [hard liquor] began to be the beverage of choice rather than beer among collegians. Previously beer had been the beverage of choice among students. A 2013 study of nursing students, for example, revealed that they consumed an average of 4.3 shots of liquor compared to 2.6 glasses of beer on a weekly basis.

This change in beverage choice along with irresponsible drinking patterns among young collegians has led to increased incidences of alcohol toxicity - in some cases leading to death from alcohol poisoning. However, the percent of students who consume alcohol or are heavy or binge drinkers has been relatively stable for the past 30 years.

Based upon the fact that our current prohibition laws are not working, the need for alternative approaches from the experience of other, and more ancient cultures, who do not have these problems need to be tried. Groups such as Italians, Greeks, Chinese and Jews, who have few drinking related problems, tend to share some common characteristics. Alcohol is neither seen as a poison or a magic potent, there is little or no social pressure to drink, irresponsible behavior is never tolerated, young people learn at home from their parents and from other adults how to handle alcohol in a responsible manner, there is societal consensus on what constitutes responsible drinking. Because the 21 year old drinking age law is not working, and is counterproductive, it behooves us as a nation to change our current prohibition law and to teach responsible drinking techniques for those who chose to consume alcoholic beverages.

Research articles that support this opinion are found in the Indiana University Repository at: https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/handle/2022/17133/browse?type=title

and https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/handle/2022/17130/browse?type=title

Some material here also used in: Engs, Ruth C. "Should the drinking age be lowered to 18 or 19." In Karen Scrivo, "Drinking on Campus," CQ Researcher 8 (March 20,1998):257.

Alcohol Research and Health History resources

(c) Copyright, 1975-2024. Ruth C. Engs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405

Debate on the Legal Drinking Age Essay

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Introduction

Regulatory authorities should raise the legal drinking age, alternative perspective on legal drinking age, works cited.

Legal drinking age is the age at which the law allows a person to buy or consume alcoholic drinks. The minimum age that a person is allowed to consume alcohol ranges between 17 an 21 years across the word. However, it is almost unanimous that the average drinking age should be 18 years. While it is apparent that young people should stay away from alcohol until they reach 18 years, reality tells us otherwise.

The reason is that minimum drinking laws apply in public places only. According to Plant and Plant, the authorities rarely regulate alcohol consumption at home (891). The legal drinking age has elicited unprecedented arguments across the world. While some people argue that the legal drinking age should be lowered, others highlight the apparent negative effects on the health of young people.

As such, there have been no conclusive decisions across the world on the matter. This paper explores the concept of legal drinking age in light of these arguments. Particularly, the paper will review various articles that support the argument that the legal age ought to increase. Also, the paper will provide counter-arguments as a way of highlighting alternative views and perspectives.

Hanson asserts that the problem of alcohol has increased in an unprecedented way for the last decade (28). According to him, about 78 percent of Americans have consumed alcohol more than twice in their lifetime (87). While these numbers are staggering, the levels of alcoholism have increased rapidly within the same period. Hence, it is critical to highlight the effects of low legal drinking age on young people.

At the outset, lower drinking age predisposes young people to early alcohol consumption. This does not only increase their risk of adverse effects but also renders them unable to participate in their activities fully (Lunsford 24). By lowering the legal drinking age, the authorities will have given the young people leeway to many other drugs.

The rationale is that young people experience peer influence implying that some student s will be able to influence the rest to consume alcohol (Plant and Plant 888). According to Miron, peers are the most important agents of socialization and help an individual to acquire beliefs, attitudes, and values (7).

In other words, teenagers will consume alcohol at a young age since their peers are doing it. This entrenches the belief that alcohol is appropriate in the minds of the young people increasing the likelihood of repeated behavior (Fujioka and Pinkleton 577).

It is important to underscore the number of revenues that go to curing and treating preventable diseases such as alcoholism. According to Miron, the government directs around $28 billion to facilitate the treatment of preventable illnesses and diseases (19). Alcohol intake leads to long-term effects and diseases such as liver cirrhosis, addiction, and gout.

By lowering the legal drinking age, the government will not only increase its spending towards such preventable illnesses but also grapple with sustaining such programs. On the other hand, the government will stand to save huge amounts of revenues that it currently budgets for preventable diseases. Also, the number of resources will be directed towards other sectors and programs that can stimulate the economy (Plant and Plant 890).

For instance, the US government can save hugely on preventable illnesses and increase its funding towards fighting unemployment. As such, it is important for the law to allow an increment of the years that an individual is legally allowed to consume alcohol.

Empirical studies have shown that alcohol consumption is more dangerous for young people than for grownups. Miron establishes that people who indulge in alcohol at a low age are likely to develop alcohol-related disorders at their adulthood (29).

This is unlike people who begin to consume alcohol at an advanced age. Also, it is important to underscore the significance of individual characteristics vis a vis their likelihood of developing alcoholism and alcohol-related disorders (Rosen and Behrens 70).

For instance, Hanson postulates that a child with a psychiatric background of attention deficit disorder as well as hyperactivity is more vulnerable to alcohol-related problems at adulthood (45). Also, Hanson argues that alcoholism is hereditary and there are biological genes that parents may pass to their children.

This implies that they are vulnerable to dangerous drinking habits. By lowering the legal drinking age, the vulnerable young people will be at risk of drinking at an early age leading to high chances of early alcoholism (Plant and Plant 895). By increasing the legal drinking age; therefore, the vulnerable young people will be protected from the adverse effects of alcohol.

It is apparent that low legal drinking age will also lead to loss of productivity among the future generations (Plant and Plant 890). After passing through the education system, it is expected that the young will join the workforce. In other words, they join the labor market and sell their learned skills in exchange for wages through employment.

To the contrary, Plant and Plant say that people who began drinking at an early age are not likely to produce optimally (892). This is in consideration of the fact that some young people will begin experiencing the effects of alcohol including addiction, poor health and may be unable to join the workforce. This is not only a major concern for our aging population but also for the government, that expects increased production (Hanson 67).

Miron articulates that early drinking is a major concern for the economy since it tends to deprive the economy some of the most youthful, innovative and creative laborers (44). To this end, the regulatory authorities should be unmoved in a resolute decision to increase the age at which an individual can consume, buy and sell alcohol.

This ensures that the productive young people will join the labor markets and ultimately, assist in expanding the economy. As such, the legal drinking age ought to be reviewed upwardly.

By increasing the legal drinking age, authorities will be in a position to counter the negative effects that pop culture and ads have on young people (Fujioka and Pinkerton 573). Currently, media is a major agent of providing information to a majority of the world’s population. While this unarguable, Miron articulates that media is an instrument through which the young people acquire knowledge about alcohol (49).

He says that the media inculcates positive attitudes and beliefs among young people regarding alcohol consumption (9). Also, popular culture has had its fair share of entrenching positive beliefs about alcohol. Low legal drinking age allows young people to attend various concerts held by pop artists (Plant and Plant 891).

The concerts do not only predispose young people to alcohol but also other hard drugs. By increasing the legal drinking age, the pub owners will neither allow young people to enter their premises nor allow the pop artists to perform for the underage population (Hanson 45).

Plant and Plant posit that a high legal drinking age allows people to make informed choices and decisions about alcohol (889). Most young people are not aware of the dangers of alcohol consumption (Miron 8). Besides, most young people are unable to make their own decisions without influences from their peers (Fujioka and Pinkleton 582). Therefore, they are unable to understand the effects of alcohol on their future lives.

For instance, various studies have revealed that there is a positive correlation between making the right decisions and age. Plant and Plant elucidate that over 59% of high school students consume alcohol as a means of socializing and identifying with their peers (889). Hanson says that peer pressure is most influential amongst young people when compared to other age categories of the population (79).

This is contrary to a prevalent notion that people (whether young or old) can make independent choices and decisions. As such, the authorities will ensure that young people will not suffer from undue influences when making decisions about alcohol consumption if they increase the legal drinking age. For instance, at the age of twenty-one years, people can make more rational decisions than at the age of 17 years.

Besides, the age at which the young people ought to consume alcohol should rely on empirical evidence that highlight the correlation between age and decision-making (Fujioka and Pinkleton 582). Fujioka and Pinkleton assert that young people can make major decisions at the age of twenty years (582).

This is due to their cognitive makeup that is dependent on experience and prior knowledge. It is therefore important to increase the age at which young people can purchase and consume alcohol freely.

While proponents argue that legal drinking age ought to be increased, opponents hold opposite opinion regarding the debate. At the outset, empirical studies do not provide conclusive decisions about the relationship between age and alcoholism. Miron points out that such deficiency in research may lead to the assumption that alcohol consumption is healthy even for young people (34).

Besides, the available scientific research does not reveal the exact age when the human body can digest alcohol without experiencing negative effects. These gaps in the field of research have been unable to explain the reason behind high legal drinking age except for moral reasons. To that end, opponents argue that alcohol consumption is a matter that relates more to individual moral standpoints as opposed to age.

In particular, Hanson says that low drinking age in Cyprus (currently standing at 17) does not lead to more consumption of alcohol than in countries like Uganda whose legal drinking age is 21 (67). According to Rosen and Behrens, it defeats logic to presuppose that reduction of alcohol intake will come about due to the highly regulated system (73).

As elucidated by Plant and Plant, opponents argue that the alcohol industry contributes significantly to the government’s revenues (891). Increasing the legal drinking age will, therefore, drive some alcohol businesses out of the market (Plant and Plant 892). This discriminative approach will not only lead to layoffs but also unemployment.

Fujioka and Pinkleton assert that young people even at the age of 16 can make decisions about alcohol consumption (574). In other words, he argues that countless messages that inform young people on the dangers of excessive consumption of alcohol are enough to caution young people. By increasing the legal drinking age, the government will create an environment that is unfavorable for the alcohol business.

This might also scare investors who are willing to invest in the sector. As such, alcohol consumption is about the moral grounds that people hold rather than an issue of age (Miron 56). It is, therefore, irrational to increase the legally acceptable drinking age owing to moral subjectivity.

While it is true that alcohol has negative effects on the health and life of a person, it is misleading to suggest that alcohol consumption ought to be regulated for specific and (probably) higher age category. The reason is that the authorities can regulate alcohol consumption without necessarily increasing the legal drinking age. For instance, Fujioka and Pinkelton pinpoint that alcohol should be highly taxed by the authorities (574).

This is an alternative approach towards ensuring that the sale of alcohol is only possible for people who can afford it. According to Miron, high-priced alcohol is a major strategy that can lead to the reduction of alcohol consumption without affecting the economy (54). Therefore, the authorities ought to explore various ways of regulating alcohol consumption among young people without affecting the economy.

Miron supports his arguments with an illustration of Cyprus where the legal drinking age is 17 years (54). He points out that alcohol is very expensive in Cyprus to the extent that even the 20 years old people are unable to afford (Miron 56). This does not only serve to entrench the notion that alcohol is regulations is more effective when using high taxations than when increasing the legal drinking age.

Fujioka and Pinkleton articulate that all persons can make their own decisions about alcohol consumption (576). This implies that young people can make independent decisions without depending on their peers for opinions. In other words, Hanson points out that decision making among people is dependent on experience, self-awareness, confidence and other non-cognitive attributes like age and peer pressure (23).

To him, a young person can distinguish various options and as such, drinks only because he or she has made the decision. Since they too have individual rights, young people ought to enjoy such freedoms in equal measure as the adults. As such, alcohol consumption is an individual decision and a choice that ought to be left to young people.

Besides, research has also shown that increasing the legal drinking age has failed to control people who consume alcohol at homes. The reason is that despite the efforts to curtail the rampant drinking habits by young people, they are exposed to instances of drinking on numerous occasions (Miron 87).

As such, it is not about the ability of the authorities to increase the drinking age but about the level of discipline instilled in a person. To that end, addressing the problem of alcohol by increasing the legal; drinking is an act of ‘addressing the symptom’ without addressing the cause in an amicable way.

In essence, the legal drinking age is the age at which an individual is allowed to consume, buy or sell alcohol (Lunsford 24). It ranges between 17 and 21 years across the world. While some people argue in favor of high drinking age in the country, others argue for reduced age of alcohol consumption. On the one hand, the proponents say that a low drinking age leads to high rates of alcohol-related disorders in adulthood.

It also leads to loss of productivity, revenues for the government and it supports pop culture. On the other hand, opponents make a different argument that no study has so far established the relationship between early drinking and decision-making processes (Miron 45). Besides, they argue that an increase in legal drinking age will reduce the market for the alcohol industry leading to diminished earnings.

It is important to articulate that the opponents also claim that there are other ways through which the authorities can regulate alcohol consumption among the young people.

Particularly, Plant and Plant say that the government could increase the tax rates charged on alcoholic drinks to make them expensive for both old and young members of the society (893). Finally, yet importantly, they make an argument that young people can make informed decisions on whether or not to consume alcohol without making inquiries from their parents and adults (Plant and Plant, 892).

Fujioka, Austin, and Bernard Pinkleton. “The Relationship of Perceived Beer Ad and PSA Quality to High School Students’ Alcohol-Related Beliefs and Behaviors.” Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 45.1 (2001): 575-584. Print.

Hanson, David. “Alcohol Education What We Must Do.” Journal of Health Sciences 5.8 (2009): 28-97. Print.

Lunsford, Andrea. The St. Martin’s Handbook for Eastern Kentucky University, New York: McGraw Hill Publishers, 2009. Print.

Miron, Jeffery. “Rethinking Minimum Legal Drinking Age.” Harvard Business Review 2.3 (March 2009): 13-140. Print.

Plant, Martin and Moira Plant.“Young People and Alcohol.” Journal of Research in Nursing 6.6 (2001): 887-897. Print.

Rosen, Leonard, and Laurence Behrens. Writing and Reading across the Curriculum. New Jersey: Pearson Publishers, 2011. Print.

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Sorry, college students, but the drinking age should stay at 21

by German Lopez

It seems like conventional wisdom: The drinking age should be 18. After all, why should you be able to vote or serve your country in the military, but not legally buy a drink?

But there's a very compelling case for keeping the drinking age at 21: It saves lives. That may be hard to believe, given how many people flout the laws and drink anyway, but it's been consistently found to be true in research.

Saving lives from alcohol has serious public health benefits. About 88,000 Americans died on average each year from alcohol-related causes from 2006 to 2010, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . And that estimate doesn't account for the rise in alcohol-related deaths over the past several years, or the alcohol-linked crimes and millions of emergency room visits each year that don't result in deaths.

It's important to note a minimum drinking age of 21 doesn't prevent all drinking among teenagers and 20-year-olds. But it deters some drinking, and that has public health benefits.

The drinking age saves lives

At its heart, the drinking age is supposed to stop people from drinking until they're responsible adults. And the research shows it works — to some extent.

"The evidence is overwhelming [that] raising the age reduces consumption," said Richard Bonnie, a University of Virginia professor of health and law. "Even though consumption remains significant among the younger population and increases as people get older, it's still lower than it would be if you lowered the age to 18."

A 2014 review of the research published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs bore this out: Although many young people disobey the drinking age, the evidence shows that it has depressed drinking and saved lives.

The review found the drinking age saves at least hundreds of young lives annually just as a result of reduced alcohol-age-related traffic fatalities among underage drivers. The review pointed to one study after the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which raised the legal drinking age from 18 to 21: It found that the number of fatally injured drivers with a positive blood alcohol concentration decreased by 57 percent among ages 16 to 20, compared with a 39 percent decrease for those 21 to 24 and 9 percent for those 25 and older. Other studies had similar positive findings.

Chances are the number of lives saved is higher, potentially in the thousands each year, when accounting for alcohol-related deaths beyond drunk driving, such as liver cirrhosis, other accidents, and violent behavior.

The review also pointed to New Zealand, which reduced its drinking age from 20 to 18 in 1999. The country saw significant increases in drinking among ages 18 to 19, bigger increases among those 16 to 17 years old, and a rise in alcohol-related crashes among 15- to 19-year-olds.

How the drinking age works

Critics of the drinking age commonly argue that it forces youth to drink in secret, which may lead to binge drinking as people stash booze to secretly consume all at once. But the 2014 review of the research found no evidence for this, and instead concluded that the national drinking age law reduced access to alcohol and consumption.

"The basic idea behind these laws is to reduce youth access to these substances," William DeJong, a professor at Boston University School of Health and a co-author of the research review, wrote in an email. "The evidence is clear that, the later a young person takes a first drink, the less likely they are to experience negative alcohol-related consequences as adults."

The law accomplishes this in two big ways. Obviously, it makes it harder to buy alcohol before 21. But it also breaks up social groups in a way that makes alcohol less accessible: If the drinking age were 18, someone who is a freshman or sophomore in high school is much more likely to have access to an 18-year-old senior in high school. But if the drinking age is 21, a freshman or sophomore in high school is not going to have as easy of access to a 21-year-old who's likely working or in college.

The second effect — the breaking up of social groups — also explains why a drinking age beyond 21 might not be very effective. Since 21-year-olds are likely to have access to 25-year-olds through their jobs and college, they could still easily access booze even if the drinking age was raised to, for example, 25. So the negative effects of raising the drinking age to 25 — the economic impact, costs of enforcement, and deterioration of personal freedoms — might not be worth the few lives saved.

These principles apply to other substances, as well. A 2015 report from the Institute of Medicine, which Bonnie of the University of Virginia contributed to, found raising the smoking age to 21 could prevent approximately 223,000 premature deaths among Americans born between 2000 and 2019. Why? Older friends and family "are largely where young people get their tobacco," Bonnie said. "If you raise [the smoking age] to 21, over time we think that's going to have a significant effect on separating these social networks."

So the laws may not be perfect, and they may be disobeyed at times. But the overall evidence is clear: A drinking age of 21 reduces use and saves lives.

Other policies can help reduce alcohol consumption

The drinking age, however, should be just one part of a broader array of policies that help reduce alcohol abuse and deaths.

Many, many studies, for example, have found benefits from a higher alcohol tax. A recent review of the research from David Roodman, senior adviser for the Open Philanthropy Project, made the case:

[H]igher prices do correlate with less drinking and lower incidence of problems such as cirrhosis deaths. And I see little reason to doubt the obvious explanation: higher prices cause less drinking. A rough rule of thumb is that each 1 percent increase in alcohol price reduces drinking by 0.5 percent. Extrapolating from some of the most powerful studies, I estimate an even larger impact on the death rate from alcohol-caused diseases: 1-3 percent within months. By extension, a 10 percent price increase would cut the death rate 9-25 percent. For the US in 2010, this represents 2,000-6,000 averted deaths/year.

This wasn't the first positive finding in favor of raising the alcohol tax, but it was one of the most convincing. Roodman found not just that high-quality research supports a higher alcohol tax, but that the effects seem to grow stronger the higher the tax is.

So for the US, boosting alcohol prices 10 percent could save as many as 6,000 lives each year. To put that in context, paying about 50 cents more for a six-pack of Bud Light could save thousands of lives. And this is a conservative estimate, since it only counts alcohol-related liver cirrhosis deaths — the number of lives saved would be higher if it accounted for deaths due to alcohol-related violence and car crashes.

Aside from raising taxes, a 2014 report from the RAND Drug Policy Research Center suggested state-run shops (like those in Ohio and Virginia) kept prices higher, cut access to youth, and reduced overall levels of use. And a 2013 study from RAND of South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety Program , which briefly jails people whose drinking has repeatedly gotten them in trouble with the law (like a DUI) if they fail a twice-a-day alcohol blood test, attributed a 12 percent reduction in repeat DUI arrests and a 9 percent reduction in domestic violence arrests at the county level to the program.

Like the drinking age, these policies won't eliminate problematic drinking. But coupled with the drinking age, they can help — and potentially save tens of thousands of lives in the process.

Watch: Alcohol is more dangerous than marijuana

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Study: The Debate Is Over - Higher Drinking Age Saves Lives

In countries with lower drinking ages, rates of heavy alcohol use are higher, research says.

Age 21 Drinking Law Saves 900 Lives, Annually

Mark Peterson | Redux

Research supports the claim that a higher drinking age saves lives, according to a new study, but some say stricter enforcement of laws – and a lower drinking age – would work better.

The case is closed in the debate over whether the government should lower the legal drinking age, as research consistently reports the law helps save lives, rather than encourage underage drinking, according to a new study . 

William DeJong, a professor at Boston University's School of Public Health, conducted a literature review of research published since 2006, when the advocacy group Choose Responsibility made the controversial claim that the drinking age of 21 was counterproductive and pushed to lower it.

But DeJong says there is no such evidence to support that claim, and nearly all research conducted on drinking-age laws proves the opposite. According to his study, research has shown the higher drinking age saves an estimated 900 lives annually, due to fewer alcohol-related traffic fatalities among underage drivers.

[ READ : Lower Drinking Age May Raise Chances of Bingeing Later, Study Finds ]

"There is very extensive literature on the drinking motives of young people, and in many respects they’re not all that different from the motives of older drinkers," DeJong says. "It's to bond with a social group, it's to reduce anxiety, to make them more comfortable in a social situation. There are just lots of motives like that that drive the drinking, and sticking it to the man is not really something that shows up."

Choose Responsibility is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007, several years after its founder John McCardell, president emeritus of Middlebury College, penned a bold op-ed in The New York Times, in which he claimed, among other things, that the 21-year-old drinking age "is bad social policy and a terrible law." McCardell later received funding to create Choose Responsibility. 

But DeJong says other countries serve as tales of caution for what would happen if the United States was to reverse its stance on a higher drinking age. New Zealand, DeJong says, lowered the drinking age from 20 to 18 in 1999. 

"Once they did that they saw an immediate uptick in alcohol-related traffic crashes and other alcohol problems," DeJong says. Throughout the country, there were more alcohol-related driving incidents involving individuals aged 16 through 19, DeJong says. 

"In addition to our own national experience with the law at the state level going back and forth between 18 and 21, we have a very recent example of a country doing exactly what this group proposed and there were clear consequences," DeJong says. 

[ MORE : Same Genes May Cause Alcohol Abuse and Eating Disorders ]

Before 1984, the minimum legal drinking age varied from state to state. Many states lowered their drinking ages to 18, 19 or 20 during the Vietnam War era, and subsequently reversed them after they saw increases in alcohol-related traffic incidents. Still, some states had lower drinking ages and underage individuals often would cross state lines to drink legally, the report says. 

With strong support from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the National Parent Teacher Association and other groups, Congress in 1984 passed a law that gave states a financial incentive to adopt a higher drinking age. Otherwise, they risked losing a percentage of highway funds. 

Still, McCardell and more than 100 other college presidents joined together in 2008 urging legislators to reconsider the drinking age.

"It is astonishing that college students have thus far acquiesced in so egregious an abridgment of the age of majority," McCardell wrote in his 2004 opinion piece. "Unfortunately, this acquiescence has taken the form of binge drinking. Campuses have become, depending on the enthusiasm of local law enforcement, either arms of the law or havens from the law." 

Should Congress repeal the 21-year-old drinking age provision, states that chose to lower their drinking ages, under the Choose Responsibility proposal, would have to require fulfillment of an educational course on alcohol that would then allow them to have a license to drink in that state. That provision would prevent individuals from crossing state borders to drink legally in another state, Barrett Seaman, president of Choose Responsibility, tells U.S. News in a statement.

The research reviewed in DeJong's study, he says, is "asking the wrong question, which is, has MLDA21 played a role in reducing drunken driving?"

[ RELATED : Excessive Alcohol Use Costs States Billions, CDC Says ]

"The answer to that is, of course; how could barring an entire cohort of young people from buying or consuming alcohol not work to suppress drunken driving by members of this age group?" Seaman says. 

Research should instead focus on answering the question of whether having a higher drinking age is an effective way to reduce drunken driving deaths and promote "a healthy approach to alcohol consumption."

"In most of the rest of the world, the answer to that question would be 'no;' what works is tougher enforcement of drunken driving laws for all ages of drivers," Seaman says. "It has certainly worked in Europe."

Seaman also points to a 2002 study that shows Canada saw a reduction in drunken driving fatalities similar to that of the United States after the 1984 law was passed, but without lowering drinking age, which is 18 or 19, depending on the province.

But the idea that alcohol is a "forbidden fruit" for underage individuals is not supported in research, DeJong says. He says research shows when college students are asked how more strictly enforced alcohol policies would affect their drinking habits, many more are likely to say they would drink less. 

"Yes, there's always going to be a small number of young people who will do something out of defiance, but there are a lot more who will make the more rational decision to obey the policy, knowing that it's tougher and more strictly enforced," DeJong says. 

[ SEE ALSO : Walking Drunk May Be Just as Dangerous as Driving Drunk ]

If it really were the case that a higher drinking age encourages more binge drinking among underage individuals, countries in Europe should serve as an example, DeJong argues. 

But according to the 2003 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (EPAD), which DeJong cites in his study, most countries have a higher percentage of high school-aged students who report heavy alcohol use than the U.S. Other similar surveys have shown that lifetime prevalence rates are lower in the U.S. In 2011, for example, 36 percent of United States high school sophomores said they had been drunk in their lifetime, compared with 47 percent of European students of the same age.

"The fact is they have worse problems in Europe with a lower drinking age," DeJong says. "You increase the availability of alcohol to younger people through a younger drinking age, and you'll have more drinking. It's really just that simple."

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Legal Drinking Age Of 21 Saves Lives, Even Though It's Flouted

Maanvi Singh

Students drink outside the Rose Bowl during the NCAA BCS national championship game in January. Gregory Bull/AP hide caption

Eighty percent of college students say they drink, despite laws making it illegal for anyone under 21 to drink alcohol. Critics of that drinking age say that lowering it would reduce binge drinking and alcohol-related deaths.

But that might be wishful thinking, a study says. Researchers from Boston University reviewed scientific literature published since 2006 and concluded keeping the legal drinking age at 21 reduces rates of drunk driving and crashes, and reduces rates of underage drinking.

The paper, published Monday in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs , even goes so far as to say "case closed" — the minimum drinking age saves lives.

"If we choose to decrease the legal drinking age, there will be consequences," says William DeJong , the study's lead author and a professor of community health sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health.

People may find it difficult to justify a law that is mostly ignored, DeJong tells Shots, but "The weight of the evidence suggests that even though t the law is widely disobeyed, it does have a protective effect."

The review also looked at drinking habits in other countries, paying special attention to New Zealand, which lowered its drinking age from 20 to 18 in 1999. Several studies found a spike in alcohol-related car crashes and increased drinking there among still-underage 16- and 17-year -olds.

Shots - Health News

15-plus drinks a night: teenagers binge at dangerous heights.

The conclusion of this latest study isn't too surprising, according to Dr. Donald Vereen , director of the University of Michigan's Substance Abuse Research Center. "Magic bullets do not work for any problem or issue involving human beings," he tells Shots. And lowering the drinking age isn't going to stop underage drinking, he says.

The national minimum drinking age was established in 1984, when Congress passed a law penalizing states that allowed anyone younger than 21 to buy alcohol. Several studies included in this review compared binge drinking and drunk driving accidents before and after states increased the drinking age in the 1980s.

French Lessons: Why Letting Kids Drink At Home Isn't 'Tres Bien'

In 2004, a group of over 100 college presidents and chancellors formed an initiative to have the minimum drinking age reduced, saying that if undergraduates could legally drink, colleges would be able to better oversee their drinking and help them rein in the habit.

Many advocates of lowering the drinking age point to the European model of legal drinking at age 18 or below. But Vereen says the comparison is misguided. "In Germany, beer is just a part of the meal," he says. "It's not in the American culture to do that." The Boston University review also points to research that European teens aren't immune to the appeal of binge drinking.

"These kids are not interested in single malt scotches," Vereen adds. Teaching kids how to drink responsibly is a big process, he says, and should start at a young age. But lowering the drinking age won't do much to help.

• binge drinking
• drinking age

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Argumentative Essay- Drinking Age should be increased to 25

The debate about increasing the legal age for drinking is increasingly getting vicious especially in the United States of America. The excessive drinking among young adults especially in college results in negative externalities, and there are legal procedures that can reduce or prevent these problems maybe until a later age when they are mature enough and responsible. Most economies have implemented the requirement of the drinking age as twenty-one instead of the conventional legal age of eighteen or sixteen in some countries (Elements Behavioral Health, 2016). The notion of raised drinking age is greatly gaining traction over the past few years, and the primary purpose is to prevent alcohol-related harm by young people. This paper will support my claim that the drinking age should be raised to twenty-five years because it is the age when the brain and the nervous systems have developed to physical maturity.

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To study the links of family background, child and adolescent social behaviour, and (mal)adaptation with heavy drinking by age 20 and with the frequency of drinking, binge drinking, Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilt, Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire scores and problems due to drinking at ages 27 and 42 years. In the Finnish Jyväskylä Longitudinal Study of Personality and Social Development, data have been collected by interviews, inventories and questionnaires. Behavioural data were gathered at ages 8 and 14; data on alcohol consumption were gathered at ages 14, 20, 27, 36 and 42. A total of 184 males and 163 females; 94% of the original sample of the 8-year-olds. Family adversities, externalizing problem behaviours, low school success, truancy and substance use in adolescence were associated in early middle age with problems due to drinking in both genders, and to binge drinking and CAGE scores in females. The antecedents varied, however, across the indicators of drinking and gender. The frequency of drinking was least predictable by the studied antecedents. Childhood and adolescent antecedents and drinking up to age 20 explained 43% of males' and 31% of females' problem drinking at age 42; 31% and 19%, respectively, at age 27. The early warning signs of drinking problems should be taken seriously in the preventive work for alcohol abuse. Problem drinking in early middle age is preceded by maladjustment to school, early age of onset of drinking and heavy drinking in adolescence even more significantly than problem drinking in early adulthood.

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Sample essay on lowering the american drinking age.

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The American government has had a history of aggressively regulating alcohol consumption. In the 1920s, religious groups spearheaded the Prohibition movement, and even after the Depression, people couldn't get a drink when they needed it most. This sample persuasive essay from Ultius argues that the American drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18 years of age.

Should America lower the drinking age?

The Prohibition era was short-lived and proved futile as a means from which the social behaviors of the American people could be governed, alcohol remained central to many future policymakers' endeavors and decisions. While the legal drinking age has remained stagnant at 21 years of age throughout the United States, many individual states have taken up new legislation to broaden their control over alcoholic beverage sales (Weschler & Nelson, 986). Although actions like these are viable in terms of building a healthier population, they are not conducive to a country that so adamantly preaches liberty and freedom for all its 18 year-old citizens, thus rendering the current drinking age innately flawed. 

Support for the current drinking age

Regardless of social and religious beliefs, there are many solid arguments that support the current legal drinking age in the United States . For one, proponents of the age requirement suggest that the drinking age has helped maintain young people's health and public safety. According to Alexander C. Wagenaar,

“there are a number of health benefits associated with a higher legal minimum drinking age, and it is argued that such information should be considered in discussions concerning the minimum legal age for purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages” (Wagenaar, 219).

Wagenaar and Traci L. Toomey also emphasize that teen binge drinking can be catastrophic for brain development, and that alcoholism and other serious drinking problems which require recovery and support can arise in young Americans (Wagenaar & Toomey 208). While the scholars note these longstanding issues well, the most pervasive argument used by the government to establish a 21-year-old drinking age stemmed from statistical data that seemingly proved that there were too many drunk driving accidents of in young people aged 18 to 21 (Engs & Hanson, 1085).

The inherent dangers of alcohol

These problems, no matter how serious, will continue to be prevalent regardless of the drinking age. As David J. Hanson and Ruth C. Engs would have it:

"regardless of the actual American drinking age, many young people would continue to drink in the United States, binge drinking if necessary, because alcohol is easily findable for people not of age and can be exploited" (Engs & Hanson, 173).

Moreover, statistical evidence now proves the fallacies in the argument that a higher minimum drinking age deters automobile deaths. In their study on the American drinking age, Peter Asch and David T. Levy articulate that,

“the legal drinking age has no perceptible influence on fatalities, but inexperience in drinking is an apparent risk factor independent of age” (Asch & Levy, 180).

The scholars go on to interpret numerous sources and large amounts of data which yields a consistent result; that age itself, or inexperience on the road, is more of a cause for past drunk driving accidents than the drinking age itself (Asch & Levy, 183). Thus, as young people faced with the challenges of the future, we must acknowledge that the drinking age has far less effect on alcohol-related deaths than the way in which these deaths occur themselves.

Change is needed

It is important that young Americans address these issues with their policymakers and legislative bodies. Changing the drinking age is something that will not come easy; a great deal of federal funds rest on state assurance and compliance to maintaining a 21-year-old drinking age. However, it is important that active Americans understand their constitutional rights, and fight for an 18-year-old minimum drinking age. No one should be able to fight in war, vote, and own their own property without having the ability to drink or purchase alcohol legally. Moving forward, it is our job to alter this longstanding trend.

Works Cited

Asch, Peter & Levy, David T. “Does the Minimum Drinking Age Affect Traffic Fatalities.”  Journal of Policy Analysis and Management . 6(2): Winter, 1987. Web. Retrieved May 2, 2012, from <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3324514>.

Wagenaar, Alexander C. “Effects of an Increase in the Minimum Drinking Age.” Journal of Public Health Policy . 2(3): Sept., 1981. Web. Retrieved May 2, 2012, from <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3342367>.

Wagenaar, Alexander C. & Toomey, Traci L. “Effects of the Minimum Drinking Age Laws: Review and Analyses of the Literature from 1960 to 2000. Journal of Studies on Alcohol . 14(1): 2002. Web. Retrieved May 2, 2012, from <http://www.jstor.org>.

McElvaine, Robert S. The Great Depression: America 1929-1941 . New York: Three Rivers Press, 1984.

Engs, Ruth C. & Hanson, David J. “Reactance Theory: A Test with Collegiate Drinking.”  Psychological Reports . 64: 1989. Web. Retrieved May 3, 2012, from <http://www.jstor.org>.

Engs, Ruth C. & Hanson, David J. “Boozing and Brawling on Campus: A National Study of Violent Problems Associated with Drinking over the Past Decade.” Journal of Criminal Justice . 22(2): 1994. Web. Retrieved May 3, 2012, from <http://www.jstor.org>.

Weschler, Henry & Nelson, Toben F. “Will Increasing Alcohol Availability by Lowering the Legal Drinking Age Decrease Drinking and Related Consequences Among Youths?”  American Journal of Public Health . 100(6): June, 2010. Web. Retrieved May 2, 2012, from <http://www.jstor.org>.

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Essay on Drinking Age

Students are often asked to write an essay on Drinking Age in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Drinking Age

What is drinking age.

The drinking age is the minimum age someone must be to legally drink alcohol. This age varies between countries, from as young as 16 to as old as 21. It is a rule set by governments to protect young people from the harms of alcohol.

Reasons for Drinking Age Laws

These laws exist to keep young people safe. Alcohol can harm growing bodies and brains. By setting an age limit, it helps prevent accidents, health problems, and bad decisions that can come from drinking too early.

Arguments for Lowering the Age

Some people argue that if you can vote or join the army at 18, you should be able to drink. They say this could teach responsible drinking under parental guidance.

Arguments for Keeping It High

Others believe a higher drinking age reduces car crashes and drinking problems among the youth. They argue the brain is still developing until the mid-20s, so delaying drinking is safer.

The drinking age is a law meant to protect young people. Whether it should be lower or higher is debated, but the goal is always to reduce harm from alcohol.

250 Words Essay on Drinking Age

The drinking age is the minimum age at which a person is legally allowed to buy and drink alcohol. Different countries have set different ages for this, usually ranging from 18 to 21 years old.

Why Have a Drinking Age?

The main reason for setting a drinking age is to protect young people. Alcohol can harm the growing brain and body of a teenager. It can also lead to bad decisions and dangerous situations like driving under the influence or becoming victims of crimes.

Arguments for Lowering the Drinking Age

Some people argue that if you can vote or join the army at 18, you should be able to drink alcohol too. They say that learning to drink responsibly is part of becoming an adult.

Arguments for Keeping the Drinking Age High

Others believe that keeping the drinking age at 21 helps reduce car accidents caused by drunk driving. It may also prevent young people from starting to drink too early, which can lead to addiction and other health problems.

The drinking age is a topic that brings up strong opinions. It’s about finding the best way to keep young people safe while also respecting their rights as they grow into adults. Each country decides its own laws based on what it thinks is best for its people.

500 Words Essay on Drinking Age

The drinking age is the minimum age at which a person is legally allowed to buy and drink alcohol. Countries around the world have different laws about this. In the United States, the drinking age is 21, while in some European countries, it is 18 or even lower for certain types of drinks.

The main reason to set a drinking age is to protect young people. Alcohol can be harmful to growing bodies and minds. Young people are more likely to make unsafe choices when they drink, like driving a car or doing risky things that can hurt them or others. By having a drinking age, it is hoped that it will keep young people safe and healthy.

Arguments for a Higher Drinking Age

Many people think the drinking age should be high, like 21. They say that this helps reduce car accidents caused by drinking, especially among young drivers. It is also believed that waiting until 21 helps prevent alcohol addiction and other health problems. In places with a higher drinking age, young people might also do better in school because they are less likely to miss classes or have trouble studying because of drinking.

Arguments for a Lower Drinking Age

On the other side, some argue that the drinking age should be lower. They believe that if young people are taught to drink responsibly, they will be safer. For example, in some countries, parents show their children how to drink in small amounts at home, which might help them make better decisions about alcohol later on. People who want a lower drinking age also say that if young people are considered adults for other things, like voting or joining the army, they should be allowed to drink alcohol too.

Drinking Age and Culture

Culture plays a big part in how people think about the drinking age. In some places, drinking alcohol is a normal part of meals and celebrations, even for young people. In other places, drinking is not seen as a good thing, and the laws are very strict. The right drinking age can be different for each country because of these cultural differences.

What Happens When the Drinking Age is Ignored?

Even with laws, some young people will drink before they reach the legal age. This can lead to trouble with the police, problems at school, and health issues. It is important for communities to help young people understand the risks and to make sure there are fun and safe things for them to do that do not involve alcohol.

The drinking age is a law that tries to keep young people safe from the dangers of alcohol. While some people think it should be higher to protect health and safety, others think it should be lower to teach responsible drinking. What is most important is that young people learn about the risks of alcohol and have the support they need to make good choices. Different countries have different rules because of their own cultures and ideas about what is best for their people.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Drinking Alcohol
• Essay on Hispanic Heritage
• Essay on Hispanic Culture

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Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Legal Drinking Age — Drinking Age Should Stay at 21

Drinking Age Should Stay at 21

• Categories: Alcohol Law Legal Drinking Age

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Published: Mar 20, 2024

Words: 517 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

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Effects of alcohol on developing brains, correlation between drinking age and alcohol-related accidents, potential for increased binge drinking.

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The Reasons Why The Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered

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The Legal Drinking Age in England: Regulations and Context

This essay is about the legal drinking age in England and the regulations surrounding it. In England, the minimum age to purchase alcohol is 18, with exceptions for 16 and 17-year-olds who can drink alcohol in a pub or restaurant if bought by an adult and accompanied by a meal. The essay discusses the rationale behind these laws, including public health concerns, cultural traditions, and social considerations. It also touches on enforcement measures like the “Challenge 25” policy and the role of education in promoting responsible drinking. Overall, the essay explains how these regulations aim to balance safety, cultural norms, and social responsibility.

How it works

The legal consumption age of alcoholic beverages in England sparks considerable interest and occasional perplexity, particularly among individuals originating from nations with disparate alcohol statutes. Within England’s legislative landscape, the governance of alcohol exhibits intricacy, reflecting a delicate equilibrium between safeguarding public well-being and acknowledging cultural perspectives on imbibing.

In England, the minimum age for procuring alcohol stands at 18, necessitating individuals to attain this age milestone to acquire alcoholic beverages from various retail venues, including pubs, bars, and supermarkets. While this decree mirrors regulations in numerous other jurisdictions, it is imperative to discern the precise conditions and exemptions that pertain within the English legal domain.

A salient exemption to the age criterion entails the allowance for 16 and 17-year-olds to partake in alcohol consumption at public establishments provided an adult procures the libations, coupled with a meal. This provision seeks to introduce adolescents to alcohol within a controlled milieu, potentially nurturing prudent drinking practices. However, individuals in this demographic are precluded from personally purchasing alcohol; it must be procured by an individual surpassing the age threshold of 18.

Another pivotal facet of England’s alcohol regulations pertains to the absence of a stipulated age for consuming alcohol in private settings. While no statutory prohibition exists for imbibing alcohol in domestic environs, it is generally advised that individuals under the age of 15 refrain from alcohol consumption entirely. The legislation underscores parental accountability and discretion, urging guardians to judiciously oversee their progeny’s interactions with alcohol.

The rationale underpinning these regulations is multifaceted, with public health emerging as a primary concern. Excessive alcohol consumption poses a myriad of health hazards, including hepatic ailments, cardiovascular complications, and psychiatric disorders. By designating the legal drinking age at 18, legislation endeavors to mitigate these risks among adolescents, whose physiological and neurological development is ongoing.

Social dynamics also wield substantial influence in shaping alcohol statutes. England boasts a rich cultural heritage of communal imbibing, with regulations striving to honor these customs while advocating for safe and responsible drinking habits. Permitting minors to partake in alcohol consumption under adult supervision underscores an acknowledgment of these cultural practices while enforcing limitations aimed at shielding adolescents.

Law enforcement and regulatory compliance constitute pivotal pillars of the legislative framework. Retailers and establishments vending alcohol are mandated to rigorously adhere to age restrictions, oftentimes necessitating age verification for individuals appearing below 25—a measure commonly referred to as “Challenge 25.” This approach aims to curb underage sales and ensure the efficacy of legislative enforcement. Breaches in compliance may incur severe penalties, including monetary fines and the potential revocation of alcohol retail licenses, underscoring the gravity attributed to these regulations.

Complementary to legal restrictions are educational initiatives and awareness campaigns targeting adolescents, aiming to elucidate the perils associated with alcohol consumption. These endeavors frequently entail collaboration between educational institutions, communities, and healthcare services to furnish accurate information and support to adolescents navigating their relationship with alcohol.

Consequently, the legal drinking age in England transcends mere numerical categorization, constituting an integral component of a comprehensive strategy to harmonize public health imperatives, cultural mores, and societal obligations. By designating the age threshold at 18, accompanied by delineated exemptions and guidelines, legislation endeavors to safeguard adolescents while acknowledging and venerating the cultural significance of communal drinking practices. Ultimately, a nuanced understanding of England’s legal drinking age necessitates an appreciation of the intricate interplay between legislation, public health imperatives, cultural dynamics, and educational initiatives. These regulations aspire to cultivate an environment conducive to responsible drinking, curbing harm, and integrating the communal customs emblematic of English societal ethos.

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Home / Healthy Aging / Drinking alcohol and getting older — What do I need to know?

Drinking alcohol and getting older — What do I need to know?

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Many things get better with age: Wine, cheese, wisdom. But unfortunately, the liver is not one of them.

As you age and your metabolism decreases, eating like you used to as a teenager or young adult can lead to weight gain.

But drinking like you used to can lead to even bigger problems. Alcohol tolerance can be significantly diminished as people age, and the effects of alcohol can be exacerbated due to an array of factors.

“Alcohol is a toxin,” says Tyler S. Oesterle, M.D., M.P.H., a psychiatrist who specializes in addiction treatment at Mayo Clinic. “When we don’t process that toxin, when we are not able to clear it as quickly as we once could when we were young, we’re more susceptible to the damaging effects of the alcohol in the brain and in the body.”

A chief reason for these more damaging effects is changes in the liver — the primary organ that processes alcohol when it’s consumed. Older people are not able to metabolize alcohol as well as younger people because of a decrease in the activation level of specific liver enzymes.

“You just don’t produce as many enzymes or produce them as efficiently as you once did,” Dr. Oesterle says. “And throughout our lives, the liver has to process everything, all the crud that comes our way. And so we’re just much more statistically likely — from just living — to have a liver that’s just not as good as it was when we were young.”

The total amount of water in one’s body also decreases with age. This means that when alcohol is consumed, more of it ends up in the bloodstream, which amplifies its effects on the body.

Alcohol’s effect on the brain

Chronic alcohol use also can damage the brain and exacerbate the effects of certain diseases. Research has shown that excessive alcohol use can diminish white matter in the brain. White matter lies under the brain’s gray matter and is the network of nerve fibers that transmit information throughout the brain. Alcohol also can reduce brain volume overall.

While the causal relationship between frequent and heavy alcohol consumption in older adults and cognitive decline is not certain, research has shown a correlation between the two, especially in men.

One 2014 study examined alcohol use and conducted cognitive tests in 5,054 men and 2,099 women ages 44 to 69 years over a 10-year period. In men, the results showed that excessive drinking — or between 2 to 3 drinks a day — was associated with faster cognitive decline compared with men who drank only light or moderate amounts. The authors found their results were consistent with similar studies showing that moderate alcohol use in midlife is likely not harmful for cognition — but that heavy alcohol intake in midlife may have serious and harmful consequences for men. Women, however, did not experience the same correlation.

This is especially important as many adults are drinking in high amounts. According to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, administered by the U.S. federal government, about 20% of adults 60 to 64 and about 10% of those 65 and older say they binge drink. Binge drinking is typically defined as consuming four or more drinks within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men.

Alcohol’s effect on medications — and medication’s effect on alcohol

Drinking while taking medications across a host of drug classes also can cause serious side effects in older adults, especially drugs with sedative effects. An array of over-the-counter medications can interact poorly with alcohol. These include aspirin, sleeping pills, heart drugs, acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), allergy medication, pain medication, and anxiety or depression medicine.

Certain medications and excessive alcohol can work in tandem to suppress or amplify the effects of the other. Alcohol can diminish the effectiveness of medications, and medications can amplify the effect of alcohol on the body.

Some interactions between alcohol and medication can be life-threatening. Mixing alcohol with opioids or benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium) is one potentially deadly combination. Diazepam is used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. It depresses the central nervous system by altering how neurotransmitters submit signals to the brain.

Alcohol’s effect on respiratory health, mental health and more

The effect alcohol can have on breathing in older adults taking opioids is stark. In one small 2017 study , when participants were given 20 mg of oxycodone, the amount of air entering their lungs decreased by 28%. When participants also were given an infusion of alcohol, this decreased by another 19%.

Elevated suicide risk is also a concern for those mixing antidepressants with alcohol, because alcohol may diminish the effect of antidepressants and make people more prone to act impulsively.

Other preexisting medical conditions also can get worse with drinking, including diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and osteoporosis.

Finally, falling is a growing problem. From 2011 to 2019 , the number of emergency department visits for falls associated with alcohol use increased in adults 55 and older. And alcohol contributes to 65% of falling deaths.

“The risks of falls in the elderly are quite traumatic for folks,” Dr. Oesterle says. “A fall at the age of 70 could mean a broken bone, broken hip or head trauma. And those are (potentially) life-threatening.”

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