Thursday, April 16, 2009
Has The Increase In The Drinking Age Saved Lives?
In 1984, the federal government forced states with a sub-21 drinking age to uniformly increase the age of consent to 21. The argument was that it would save young people from alcohol related accidents. With little exception (South Dakota sued the federal government) most states accepted the change because Washington threatened to withhold highway funds with non-compliance. A new set of research has been released questioning the benefits of the 21 limit. Click on the title above to view the research and the renewed call for a debate over federal mandatory guidelines.
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I personally do believe that the drinking age restriction at 21 is a little much. As we notice, almost all other countries are set at 18 and have no problems at all. In fact, it seems that in these countries the rate of alcohol related incidents and arrests are down. This is because they are taught responsibility earlier and they do not need to go by other means to buy it. The longstanding debate can be used here in that if a person of 18 years is allowed to vote and to fight for our country...why can't they enjoy a beer as well?
ReplyDeleteHonestly the drinking age doesn't affect me all that much because I don't drink but the fact remains that it does enrage and anger many others. I can understand why the legislation was started but it was started on something that turned out to be false. The age limit does not warrant less deaths but in fact leads to more binge drinking. In the beginning prospects seemed good but now there's a different story. It happens all the time though even in everyday life. You try something and hope the outcome turns out better than the current situation. If it does then great you continue doing what you're doing. If it doesn't then you try something else. At the moment what the US is doing with the drinking age doesn't fit either of those answers and I don't know why it hasn't changed.
ReplyDeleteI think that the drinking age should be 18. Making it 21 has done nothing but cause people to be sneakier about where they are drinking. When someone underage is drinking and puts themself into harms way...they are more likely to be secretive about everything instead of going to a hospital or to an adult for help. WHy should you be able to fight for your country or vote for the next president yet your not allowed to drink alcohol?
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