Legal Drinking Age (Zack)

3/8/2024

Mandatory age limits have integrated themselves into our society for years. It's a factor of life that we've become accustomed to being 13 for social media, 15 or 16 for driving a car and fighting for our country at the young age of 18. However, there's an age limit that's always been confusing to me: the legal age to drink is 21. The question I'm asking is, should the legal drinking age be changed? And if it should, what age should it be changed to?

I personally think the legal age to drink should be changed down to 18. It has never made sense to me that if I wanted to, I could join the military and fight for the USA, grab a gun, and do what I’m told. But I’m not allowed to take a sip of alcohol legally, and that’s just pure ridiculous. I think 18 is a solid age to lock alcohol behind, as we’re adults by law. The age for tobacco in most states is also 18, and it’s shocking that I can ingest one type of poison but not the other. Just overall, I think 18 should be the standard age limit, and alcohol should follow the other liberties we’re given when turning into an adult.

9 Comments

Shaylee

3/10/2024 07:33:56 pm

I think age limits are there for a reason. By the time one is thirteen, one knows the dangers of social media but of course it's up to the parents or guarantees to expose their children to the world. Now to trust freshly turned fifteen-year-olds to a death machine. In these lessons they learn not to drink and drive and the dangers or death that comes with making that decision. Having the drinking age at 21 seemed to be a good idea, but now everyone knows just what drinking does to you. From a report in 2022, about 20% of youth ages 14-15 have had a few sips of alcohol. So, youth are not waiting until they are 21 to drink. If we moved the rustication law to 18, I think it'll get rid of that desire to try it. If one is considered an adult, then they can make that decision. I hope though that I would get rid of that idea of breaking the law and waiting until one comes of age because I don't think that teenagers need to drink to release stress or have a good time.

Halle

3/10/2024 07:52:43 pm

I agree that kids are going to drink anyway, but I feel like it is less than if they had less access to it before their brains fully develop. Which is why I feel that the legal drinking age should stay the same. I propose that parents let their teens drink, under supervision, because that would be safe and also destigmatize drinking for teens and young adults.

Zackeryah

3/11/2024 06:52:42 am

I like the way thought about it I'm such detail. I actually agree that teens don't have to drink but I think lowering the age would lower the appeal alcohol has on kids. If it's not forbidden people are going to want it less.

Halle Peets

3/10/2024 07:49:32 pm

While I personally would not lower the drinking age for kids, it is not something that I specifically dislike. One benefit of having the legal drinking age be 21 is that young adults (under 21) are less likely to drink in public spaces, at least not in large amounts. When one is under the age of 21 they have fewer spaces and opportunities to drink, which means that they will have less time to overdrink. I feel that the drinking age should stay the same for the health of fresh adults, however I feel that-in public spaces or not-parents should be able to let their kids drink. If there is a parent present to monitor their children, it would be a safe space for teenagers to experiment with alcohol. Moreover, if parents were not opposed to their teens drinking, it would not be something that they are avidly fighting to experience.

Shaylee

3/10/2024 08:10:56 pm

I see what you mean by the public space because if the legal consumption age changed it means that the bars would now be filled with the younger adults who are fresh out of high school. Another thing is that we think if parents supervise then there won't be problems, but there are still consequences. I believe that parents should teach the dangers but one should wait until one comes to age. If we were to change the age, I think it would bring down the desire to drink and become so intoxicated. They are already considered an adult and can partake in certain drugs or smoking; they can own a gun or sign up for the army. Allowing them to make these adult decisions should make them really think about their choices and actions. And then decrease the consumption of teen drinking.

Zackeryah

3/11/2024 06:55:07 am

I'm liking the way you think, instead of changing the laws having parents be more inclusive. As many teens only drink as an act of rebellion. However, if the parents allowed it in their home then the teen would both acclimate themselves to alcohol and a tighter bond could be made.

Sidney

3/10/2024 08:15:29 pm

I do not disagree with the age limit for drinking. However, kids are going to find a way to have alcohol if they really want it. So, moving the age limit down to 18 would not make a huge difference, other than there would be a larger amount of obnoxious drunk kids in public places. Also, most kids are still in high school when they are 18, and this may disrupt their education. I do find it odd that other countries have it at 18 and we still do not, and that we are referred to as an adult before the age of 21 as well. Personally I do not think there would be a significant change in the amount of people drinking if the laws changed

Shaylee

3/11/2024 11:24:49 am

You make a very good point about the teenagers still being in high school when they do turn 18. I do think that it will affect their schooling and learning environment. And also, the point of teenagers will always search for things they shouldn't have.

Krissy

3/11/2024 12:03:45 am

I do and don’t disagree with this topic. At a young age, you see kids start drinking at 13. With laws in place, kids are still finding alcohol. If the drinking age were to be lowered to 18, it would give access to high schoolers to be suppliers for high school parties which would lead to more drunk drivers and potentially more accidents. Although thigh schoolers have people to get alcohol from, the amount they get and if they get it typically depends on what’s in the cupboard at home, or when their dealer is available. Also, if the legal drinking age was 18, any high schooler that turns 18 before graduation could go into a bar, which could also lead to more issues. I don’t think lowering the drinking age would do anything to the younger generation besides cause more issues. But I also see how 21 is a definitely a random age, although it probably is the smarter choice.

Legal Drinking Age (Zack)

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