| Lowering the Drinking Age The minimum drinking age in the United States should be lowered to 18 years old. It may keep people under 21 out of bars and clubs, but it certainly does not prevent those people from drinking. Technically each state has the right to set its own minimum drinking age. However, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 virtually “blackmails” the state into setting the drinking age at 21. The Act calls for each state to raise the drinking age to 21 within two years or lose a large portion of their federal highway funds (Koroknay). Because of this every state, with the exception of Louisiana, raised its minimum drinking age to 21. In Louisiana, the Supreme Court viewed the law as unconstitutional age discrimination (Drinking Age). Perhaps the strongest argument supporting the lowered drinking age is the argument that an 18 year old is an adult in almost all other areas. For example, if an 18 year old is old enough to take a bullet in the heart for his country, shouldn’t he be legally old enough to drink a beer? Starting at the age of 18, people can enlist in the military, vote, sign a binding contract, get married without a parent’s consent, live alone, serve on a jury, smoke, drive, buy weapons, and go to an adult prison (Chan). If an 18 year old is able to do all of these things he should also be able to drink responsibly. Many people see the minimum drinking age as another attempt at prohibition. Their argument is if prohibition didn’t work in the 1920s, how will it work today? Dr. Ruth Engs, a professor at Indiana University, insists that we are repeating history. She says: 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 These laws were finally repealed because they were unenforceable and because the backlash towards them caused other social problems.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 (Engs). Another reason to lower the drinking age is to provide an opportunity to educate drinkers about responsible drinking habits. Let’s consider other cultures. Groups such as Italians, Greeks, Chinese and Jews have very few drinking problems. “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” (Engs). The most sufficient argument that the minimum drinking age should remain at 21 is that of the MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) organization. Led by founder Candy Lightner, MADD implied that, in car crashes, the majority of fatally injured teenagers were found to have alcohol in their blood. However, it is implied that these statistics are false (Koroknay). In response to these ideas, there is research that shows a continuous decrease in drinking and driving related incidents and alcohol consumption in college students, starting in 1980. In other words, the decrease in alcohol related car accidents had already started to decline before the minimum drinking age was set (Engs). The decrease is a result of many factors, not just the higher purchasing age. Some speculated reasons for the decrease are: 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 (Engs). Sadly, some researchers have linked the increased drinking age to “binge” drinking on campus. Others have noted that when two similar jurisdictions have different drinking ages, such as Wisconsin and Illinois in the early 80s, Vermont and other New England states in the early 80s, and New York and Quebec in the mid-80s, the one with the lower age usually has a lower rate of alcohol-related fatalities (Drinking Age). RALLY (Realistic Alcohol Laws for Legal Youth) is an organization dedicated to supporting alcohol education in high schools and colleges around the country. They say, “Educate young adults in how to drink responsibly, then let them drink responsibly” (Education). Personally, I agree with them. The key to responsible drinking is education. The National Minimum Drinking Age was a key defeat, both for state’s rights and youth rights. It stands out as an important example of age discrimination. The National Minimum Drinking Age should be lowered to 18. Works Cited Chan, Alex. “Drinking Age Discriminates Against Teenagers.” www.thelowell.org/~lowell/may3-96/page3/drinking-age.html February 5, 2001. “Education.” www.rallyusa.org/education.html February 5, 2001. Engs, Dr. Ruth C. “Why the Drinking Age Should be Lowered: An Opinion Based Upon Research.” www.indiana.edu/~engs/articles/cqoped.html February 5, 2001. Koroknay, Alex. “Legislative Analysis for the National Minimum Drinking Age Act.” http://www.alcade.net/essays/leg-an.htm February 5, 2001. “The Drinking Age.” http://www.asfar.org/declaration/da.html February 5, 2001. |