The legal age of drinking, 21, seems as if it was arbitrarily picked rather than thought out as a good age to drink. If you look through this countrys past there has been quite a few changes in the minimum legal drinking age mlda, with different reasons as to why it is that age. The incident has reignited the drinking age limit in india. Twenty of twentynine studies conducted between 1981. Lowering us drinking age from 21 to 18 debatepedia. Lesley stahl examines the controversial idea of lowering the drinking age in the u.
A growing number of people across the country are questioning the wisdom of the 21 legal drinking age lda. The drinking age on alcohol is a controversial social and cultural issue in todays society. In countries like turkey, croatia and bulgaria the legal drinking age is as low as 12 years. The drinking reality now for young people between 18 and 20 is very different. While you need to be at least 25yearold in the national capital to be served a drink, the same figure stands at 18 years for australia, just 16 years for france and germany, 18 years for the united kingdom and 21 years. Read this miscellaneous research paper and over 89,000 other research documents. Use my list to save your favorite shows and videos for. It saves lives by preventing alcoholrelated traffic fatalities for 1820 year olds and the rest of the. Alex koroknaypalicz, nyras executive director, participated in the first national debate on lowering the drinking age on november, providing a powerful voice for youth. Jenna bushs two arrests in less than a month, for consuming alcohol and trying to purchase alcohol with a fake identification card, placed the drinking age debate in the national media, with the old argument that if an 18yearold is old enough to vote, sign contracts, join the armed forces, and get married, he or she should be old enough to drink a beer. Draws on eyewitness accounts, governmental views, scientific analysis, newspaper accounts, and other resources to present opposing viewpoints about the debate over whether or not the drinking age in. The majority of college students are below the age of twentyone and about 87. Time to go from 21 to 18, but its not an easy call yes, we should probably come down from 21 to 18, but there are larger issues. College presidents seek drinking age debate us news life.
Robert huber coached debate at uvm for over 40 years and this tournament remembers him. You can also state the fact that the legal age to be drafted is 18, which means they can send you to war before you can touch a drink of alcohol. The legal age for drinking in the united states was established by the national minimum drinking act of 1984. Pete coors made statements to that effect in his senatorial campaign in 2004, and was roundly denounced as being selfserving. Europeans are initiating the debate on the most appropriate age for legal access to alcohol. Minimum legal drinking age presentation by jason lee on prezi. Here are some of the many arguments in favor of lowering the minimum legal drinking age. Drinking age debate clarke forum for contemporary issues. By robert schlesinger, thomas jefferson street blog 60 minutes had an interesting piece last night looking at the debate over whether or not to. For madd, the legal drinking age is not up for debate by eric hoover statistics can tell you a lot, but statistics do not grieve.
November 23, 2003 the national highway traffic safety administration estimates that raising the drink age to 21 has reduced traffic fatalities involving 18 to 20yearold drivers by percent and has saved an estimated 19,121 lives since 1975. The legal drinking age should be 18 essay 677 words. Drinking at 18 legal or not changing the drinking age from 21 to 18 has been a controversial argument for many years now, even though every states legal drinking age is 21 there is some states that make certain exceptions in some situations. Feb 10, 2015 raising the drinking age to 21 hasnt reduced drinking its merely driven it underground, to the riskiest of settings. The debate is over higher drinking age saves lives us. Lately, there had been talk about whether or not the drinking age in america should be lowered from 21 to 18. Nov 14, 2016 many in support of raising the drinking age, say it should be raised to 25 based on a persons lack of physical maturity, brain and nervous system continued development, and the impact drugs and alcohol has on the body prior to the age of 25.
According to the 20 national survey on drug use and health 3, approximately 35 percent of 15yearolds state that they have had at least one alcoholic beverage in their lives. The drinking age should remain at twentyone to provide protection and promote safety. When president ronald just say no reagan signed the act, he issued a blanket requirement for all states to raise their drinking age, or risk losing highway funding from the government. College presidents spark new debate on legal drinking age to the editor recently, i was in attendance at the 10th anniversary of the enforcing underage drinking laws national conference. Should the legal drinking age be lowered stefan kiesbye. No matter which side of the drinking age debate you agree with, it must be recognized that young adults will drink alcohol, no matter what the legal drinking age. Proponents of keeping the mlda at 21 believe that teens are more likely to harm or even kill themselves and others by drinking prior to 21.
It was a magical time weve heard about from our parents college stories, like fairytales. The minimum legal drinking age debate since 2008, 6 college chancellors and presidents have signed the amethyst initiative, asking that the united states reconsider the minimum legal drinking age21 mlda21 laws that have been in place in all 50 states since 1984. Why women drink raising the drinking age to 21 hasnt reduced drinking its merely driven it. That was the power of a group of activists who emerged in the early 1980s.
Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age. Many adults point to underage drinking deaths and accidents as proof of our need to not drink before the age of 21. As hard as it may be to believe, educators from colleges across the country actually support dropping the drinking age they claim that doing so would curb the desire for binge drinking among their students. The proposition does not have to argue that drinking alcohol is harmless, as to win the debate they only need to show that the way to encourage limited and responsible alcohol use is to have lower minimum age limits. They claim that doing so would curb the desire for binge drinking among their students. Aug 14, 2007 a quiet movement to lower the legal drinking age to 18 is taking root as advocates argue that teenagers who are allowed to vote and fight for their country should also be able to enjoy a beer or two. Jenna bushs two arrests in less than a month, for consuming alcohol and trying to purchase alcohol with a fake identification card, placed the drinking age debate in the national media, with the old argument that if an 18yearold is old enough to vote, sign contracts, join the armed forces, and get married, he or she should be old enough to. Causing dangerous binge drinking sessions in young adults. Drinking age debate lesley stahl examines the controversial idea of lowering the drinking age in the u.
N2 minimum legal drinking age mlda laws provide an example of how. Bringing a connect between the legal drinking age and adolescent use of drugs, you will see that when a boy or a girl below 18 begins to take alcohol in pubs and at home, he or she automatically feels that why cant i take drugs. In the us, an adult is considered anyone who is 18 or older. The minimum legal drinking age debate since 2008, 6 college chancellors and presidents have signed the amethyst initiative, asking that the united states reconsider the minimum legal drinking age 21 mlda21 laws that have been in place in all 50 states since 1984. Jan 29, 2016 from 1970 through 1975, nearly all states lowered their legal ages of adulthood, thirty of which included their legal drinking ages, typically from 21 to 18. Lesley stahl examines the debate over lowering the drinking age to 18, a controversial idea embraced by some people and roundly criticized by groups like mothers against drunk driving. Nov 19, 2008 alex koroknaypalicz, nyras executive director, participated in the first national debate on lowering the drinking age on november, providing a powerful voice for youth. Drinking age debate should the drinking age be lowered to 18 years old, when one is considered an adult, and. The lawrence debate union at the university of vermont was founded in 1899. The drinking age issue has caused debate for decades. Drinking is a known reality in college, just as it was 30 years ago when the legal drinking age was raised, only now it is a reality that feeds on fear of punishment.
By studying a specific issue, for example the ethics of embryonic stem cell research, rather than the entire stem cell research debate, students gain a more solid and focused understanding of a topic as a whole. May 05, 2017 the drinking age should remain at twentyone to provide protection and promote safety. What are the arguments for the 21 yearold drinking age. In 1982 i accepted appointment to the presidential commission on drunk driving and agreed to chair its education and prevention committee. The legal drinking age should be lowered from the age of 21 to 18 allowing young adults to be granted the right to drink in restaurants, bars, at social events, in the comfort of their own home, and. A discussion of the recent proposal by over 100 university presidents to rethink the drinking age in america, the amethyst project. However any generalizations of the behavior of european youth. From 1970 through 1975, nearly all states lowered their legal ages of adulthood, thirty of which included their legal drinking ages, typically from 21 to 18. Three schools girls in lucknow were expelled after they were caught consuming alcohol within the school premises.
The legal drinking age should be 18 essay 677 words bartleby. Underage drinking is most common on college campuses. Aug 19, 2008 college presidents from about 100 of the bestknown u. The drinking age in the us has been 21 for more than 20 years.
The amethyst initiative is designed to bring the debate over lowering the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 to the forefront in 2009. Underage drinking policy not up for debate holloman air. When the age was raised to 21 in the mid1980s, the goal was to reduce highway fatalities. College presidents from about 100 of the bestknown u. As hard as it may be to believe, educators from colleges across the country actually support dropping the drinking age.
Feb 23, 2009 lesley stahl examines the debate over lowering the drinking age to 18, a controversial idea embraced by some people and roundly criticized by groups like mothers against drunk driving. A quiet movement to lower the legal drinking age to 18 is taking root as advocates argue that teenagers who are allowed to vote and fight for their country should also be able to enjoy a. Nov 21, 2009 read this miscellaneous research paper and over 89,000 other research documents. The debate, sponsored by the amethyst initiative, which has gained so much traction over the past few months in the fight to lower the drinking age, was moderated by richard. Participate in the debate on the current legal drinking age and whether it should be lowered to the age of 18. The debate is over higher drinking age saves lives in countries with lower drinking ages, rates of heavy alcohol use are higher, research says. Those who support lowering the minimum drinking age argue that. Enjoy the latest content from your local pbs station. The legal age for drinking has become a topic of ongoing debate between most u. For madd, the legal drinking age is not up for debate. The mlda minimum legal drinking age at age 21 reduces alcohol consumption 72. The legal drinking age in the united states has been 21 since the national minimum drinking age act in 1984. You should find statistics on drinkingrelated accidents in the united states vs other parts of the world where the drinking age is lower. This is a classic debate about the limits the state should place on a something which could harm people.
Alcohol use by underage youth is detrimental national household survey of drug abuse 3. While its true that less people are drinking alcohol, the people that choose to drink are drinking more. College presidents seek drinking age debate us news. Katz talked about the involvement of the brewing company in national politics and other issues facing alcoholic beverage companies, including drinking age and. In countries with lower drinking ages, rates of heavy alcohol use are higher, research says. The lawrence debate union is hosting the robert huber debate tournament, kicking off with a debate on lowering the drinking age. It is currently one of the leading debating programs. Feb 19, 2009 lesley stahl examines the controversial idea of lowering the drinking age in the u. Discussion lower usa drinking age to 18 flashpoint 376 drinking age from alfred snider on vimeo. Recently 129 college and university presidents and administrators signed a petition to support a debate over whether the drinking age should be changed from 21 to 18. The proposition does not have to argue that drinking alcohol is harmless, as to win the debate they only need to show that the way to encourage limited and responsible alcohol use is. Yes, i believe that the us should lower the drinking age to 18. The debate is over higher drinking age saves lives. Read this psychology essay and over 89,000 other research documents.
They called themselves mothers against drunk driving, and they described what numbers alone could not. The in controversy series examines the complex, controversial issues of the day by breaking them into smaller pieces. This act establishes that the legal age for consumption of alcohol is 21 in all fifty states. Results from ballots passed out at the drinking age debate program. Lesley stahl examines the debate over lowering the drinking age to 18, a controversial idea embraced by some people and roundly criticized.
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