Table of Contents
Why should the drinking age be lowered to 18?
Statistically, fewer drunk driving accidents and deaths occur in countries with a minimum legal drinking age of 18. In the United States, 31% of car accidents result from driving under the influence, or DUI, the third-highest rate in the world.
What is the main reason someone under the age of 21 should not drink?
Changes in brain development. School performance problems, such as higher absenteeism and poor or failing grades. Alcohol dependence later in life. Other risk behaviors such as smoking, drug misuse, and risky sexual behaviors.
Why drinking age should not be lowered?
Evidence also suggests that a lower drinking age leads to higher levels of binge drinking later in life among men. Any move toward increasing alcohol availability to young adults must consider its adverse effects, including traffic fatalities, unplanned pregnancy and crime.
Would lowering the drinking age help the economy?
Revenue from taxes on the alcohol industry would increase. About 10% ($7 billion) of the combined total comes from under-21 drinking. If lowering the drinking age increased social costs by 5%, as we guessed above, it would also probably increase consumption by at least 5%. 5% of $7 billion is $350 million.
Would lowering the drinking age cause more accidents?
Raising the minimum drinking age to 21 has been associated with a reduced rate of drunk driving crashes among young Americans, according to a new review of studies.
What is the biggest problem with underage drinking?
Underage Drinking is Dangerous. School problems, such as higher rates of absences or lower grades. Social problems, such as fighting or lack of participation in youth activities. Legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk.
What does alcohol do to a teenage brain?
Alcohol can damage or even destroy the cells that make up the hippocampus, which is why some people experience fuzzy memories or ‘blackouts’ after drinking. Because an adolescent brain is still developing, this damage can be particularly dangerous.
Can a sip of beer hurt a toddler?
The Bottom Line. Alcohol can be a dangerous poison for children. Alcohol depresses the central nervous system and causes low blood glucose (sugar). Children who drink alcohol can have seizures and coma; they could even die.
How lowering the drinking age is safer?
Lowering the federal drinking age to 18 would have had the same effect of eliminating the reason to travel to legally drink. Two years prior to the drinking age change, there was already a trending decrease in the number of drinking fatalities, according to the National Institute of Health.
Should the drinking age be reduced from 21 to 18?
Return the drinking age to 18 — and then enforce the law. The current system, which forbids alcohol to Americans under 21, is widely flouted, with disastrous consequences. Teaching people to drink responsibly before they turn 21 would enormously enhance public health.
Who would support lowering the drinking age to 18?
They say lowering the drinking age could reduce the allure of alcohol for those not allowed to drink it. The poll found that among people who describe themselves as liberal, 34 percent would support lowering the drinking age, compared with 18 percent of those who call themselves conservative.
Why should the drinking age be 18 instead of 21?
“Minimum legal drinking age laws have proven to be a very effective and important countermeasure for reducing drunk driving when younger drivers are involved,” said the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration in a statement.
Why do some countries allow drinking at age 18?
Despite the regulations, many minors enjoy alcoholic drinks, especially in the company of their parents and during social events. Most Russians believe that the minimum drinking age in the country is 18 years. However, there are no laws or regulations prohibiting minors from taking alcoholic drinks.