Minimum legal drinking age

Lowering Legal Drinking Age The minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) has been an ongoing debate over the years. Many states in the past have continuously lowered their MLDA to 18, 19, or 20. However, The National Minimum Legal Drinking Age Act of 1984 required that every states MLDA must be set to 21 years of age. Max Nelson stated that "Beer is the third most popular drink in the world, after water and tea" (“The Barbarians Beverage” 1), the minimum legal drinking age is a very popular discussion because of the importance and popularity that alcohol has in the united states. Although, in the past each state would fluctuate their MLDA, they would always revert back to the age of 21 after statistics proved it was the safer choice between 18 to 21. The Minimum legal drinking age is for the prevention of underage drinking and exposing teens and young adults to the dangers of alcohol. Alcohol is the most popular drug that is used world wide. Because alcohol is so commonly consumed, the minimum legal drinking age has been fluctuating over time. In 1971, the 26th amendment had passed which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 years of age. Following the 26th amendment, 29 states lowered the MLDA from 21 to 18, 19, or 20. During the years of younger minimum legal drinking age it seemingly fell into association of the increase with alcohol related traffic accidents. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 required all states MLDA be set to the age of 21 or risk losing money from the federal highway funds. By 1988 every state in America had rose their minimum legal drinking age to 21. In the state of California it is legal to drink under the age of 21 if: on private non-alcohol selling premises with parental consent, on private non-alcohol selling premises without the need of parental consent, for religious, medical, and/or educational purposes. The United states has set the ages 18, 19, 20 and 21 for the legal drinking age in the past, but seems to revert back to 21 years of age each time. Alcohol has seemingly caught the interest of teenagers everywhere. SAMHSA has discovered that during the past month, 26.4% of underage persons (ages 12-20) used alcohol, and binge drinking among the same age group was 17.4%. Alcohol is a very commonly abused drug among teens in the United States. Alcohol causes many health risks in teens who experiment with it. “Although drinking by persons under the age of 21 is illegal, people aged 12 to 20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States” (Drinking in America). Alcohol is a drug that directly affects the brain by decreasing electrical activity. This stimulant drug effects judgement, balance, and reaction. The legal drinking age exists for the safety of teens from this harmful toxin. Since 1988 each one of the 50 states in America has kept their minimum legal drinking age at 21 years of age. Although the drinking age is set at 21, the legal age of an adult is 18. As an adult it is accustomed to receive the rights to wed, to serve our country, to smoke cigarettes, to vote, and to be prosecuted as an adult, however, drinking alcohol is out of the question. If, in fact, joining the army and risking one's life is more dangerous than drinking alcohol then why is the legal age to enlist 18? Adding on, the ages 18 to 21 truly have no differences in mental processing. When someone who is new to drinking regardless of their age, they tend to binge until they develop an immunity to low doses of alcohol. There is no difference between 18 year olds and 21 year olds in a mental sense, so having the MLDA lowered to 18 will not cause a major effect to society.

On the other hand, in the human brain the prefrontal cortex controls reasoning and impulses. This section of the brain does not fully mature until the age of 25 causing a lack of consequential thinking until then. An adult of 18 years of age is should not be able to have countless responsibilities and risk their lives by choice without having a complete matured brain. At the age of 18 the incomplete development of the frontal cortex of the brain can be harshly affected by the use of alcohol. Alcohol can have greater effects on the brain if used at a young age. Drinking alcohol regularly before the age of 21 can affect the thought processing mechanism and cause poor judgment, memory loss, and the lack of ability to make a sensible decision. Although there may not be a dramatic significance in the brain between the ages of 18 and 21, there is a lot more damage that can be done when drinking at an earlier age.
Lowering the drinking age allows more people to get intoxicated in public places. Drinking in public places and getting behind the wheel happen all too casually. If the MLDA was lowered there would be a spike in traffic accidents involving a drunk driver. “Teen alcohol use kills about 4,700 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined” (Centers for Disease Control). It is important to keep the minimum legal drinking age at 21 to prevent alcohol related deaths in teenagers. Having a higher MLDA is associated with fewer traffic accidents. Also, a higher MLDA results in less alcohol consumption which results in a safer community. There has not been much information about raising the MLDA above 21, but it would only be beneficial to keep young adults alcohol free as long as possible. Having the minimum legal drinking age law has lowered alcohol use by many teens. Those who drink before the age of 21 seemingly drink less because it is harder to access the alcohol. Teens who choose to drink well before the age of 21 has been majorly associated with peer pressure. Teenagers make it a point to do what it takes to become socially acceptable. Under the age of 21, young adults rely on other people to take care of them while they are in an intoxicated state, which can have a dangerous outcome. Binge drinking is very common in underaged drinkers and if the MLDA is lowered, more teens, younger and younger will be diagnosed with alcoholism. Keeping alcohol away from teens who thrive to fit in and are easily pressured by peers would be majorly beneficial. The legal drinking age of 21 is appropriate and beneficial to the safety of others. The minimum legal drinking age is for the protection of teens everywhere from the toxins of alcohol and the dangers that can lead. Keeping alcohol away from teens can help lessen the amount of young adults struggling with alcoholism. The development of the brain is critical in teen years and should be protected from drugs that may harm the brain in any way. It is important that teens are given information about the dangers of alcohol and how it is important to abide by the law of consuming alcohol after the age of 21. Maintaining the legal drinking age is important for every community. The minimum legal drinking age of 21 has prevented many fatalities and continues to make the United States a safer place to be.