Lowering the Drinking Age:
Should the alcohol drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18? Yes or no? Why?
A) has to be 3 – 4 pages long
B) It has to be double space and one-inch margins on all sides
C) It has to be typed in Times New Roman Font (12)
D) Written in MLA format and it must contain a separate Works Cited page. Needs to have at least 4 citations from 4 different reputable sources.
E) No Wikipedia is allowed.
F) You must provide statistical and/or specific current or historical events or facts to augment your thesis.
Lowering the Drinking Age:
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Should the legal drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18?,
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What are the supporting arguments for your position?,
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What statistical or historical evidence supports your stance?,
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What are the legal and social implications of changing the law?,
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What credible sources support your claim?
Comprehensive General Answer:
Should the Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered from 21 to 18?
Position: No
Introduction
The debate over the legal drinking age in the United States continues to evoke passionate arguments from both sides. While some argue that 18-year-olds are adults and should therefore be allowed to drink, there is substantial evidence suggesting that maintaining the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) at 21 is vital for public health and safety. This essay argues against lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, citing statistical evidence, historical outcomes from similar changes, brain development research, and legal precedent to support the position.
Public Health and Safety: Lives Saved by the 21 Law
One of the most compelling reasons to maintain the MLDA at 21 is the impact it has had on reducing alcohol-related traffic fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the current drinking age law has saved more than 31,000 lives since it was implemented in 1984 (NHTSA, 2020). Younger drivers, particularly those aged 18–20, are disproportionately involved in alcohol-related crashes. Lowering the drinking age could reverse these gains and increase the risk of deaths on the road.
In addition to traffic fatalities, underage drinking is associated with risky behaviors including unsafe sex, violence, and long-term substance abuse. A 2019 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that underage drinkers are more likely to binge drink than those of legal age, increasing the potential for alcohol poisoning, injury, and criminal behavior (CDC, 2019).
Brain Development and Long-Term Impact
Scientific research has shown that the human brain continues to develop well into the mid-20s. The prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and reasoning—is one of the last regions to fully mature. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol use before age 21 can interfere with brain development, potentially leading to cognitive impairment, reduced academic performance, and increased risk of alcohol dependency in adulthood (NIAAA, 2021).
Permitting 18-year-olds to drink legally may expose more young adults to alcohol during this critical period of brain development, leading to long-term negative consequences for individuals and public health systems.
Lowering the Drinking AgeHistorical Evidence: Lessons from the Past
In the 1970s, several U.S. states lowered the drinking age from 21 to 18 following the ratification of the 26th Amendment, which reduced the voting age. The result was a sharp increase in alcohol-related accidents and fatalities. The backlash led to a national movement to raise the age back to 21, culminating in the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. This federal law withheld highway funding from states that did not comply, encouraging uniformity across the country.
This historical precedent demonstrates that a lower drinking age leads to higher rates of alcohol misuse and fatalities. The U.S. learned this lesson the hard way, and returning to an 18-year-old drinking age would be a step backward.
Legal Adulthood vs. Responsible Adulthood
A common argument for lowering the drinking age is that 18-year-olds can vo