Why Should the Drinking Age Stay at 21 Essay

The legal drinking age has been a hot topic in the United States for many years. On one hand, some people call for its reduction while others say that it should remain set at 21. This essay looks into why it is essential to keep the legal drinking age at 21, focusing mainly on protecting young people and society.

When exploring this issue, we must consider the harmful effects of alcohol on youth, the role of the brain in decision-making, how lowering the drinking age would influence society, ways to delay alcohol consumption, and why it is essential to enforce this law effectively. Through a comprehensive analysis of all these factors, we can understand why maintaining the legal drinking age is so important.

The Impact of Alcohol on Young People

Alcohol can have a significant impact on the physical and mental health of young people. Studies have shown that drinking at a young age can lead to a higher risk of addiction, brain damage, and other health problems. 

Additionally, underage drinking can lead to risky behavior, such as driving under the influence, that can have serious consequences for both the individual and society as a whole. Young people who drink alcohol are also more likely to engage in sexual activity and experience sexual assault. 

Early alcohol consumption can interfere with developing crucial life skills, such as socializing, decision-making, and impulse control, which can impact a person’s ability to succeed later in life. It is crucial that we prioritize the health and well-being of young people by delaying alcohol consumption and preventing underage drinking.

The Role of the Brain in Decision-Making

The prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, judgment, and impulse control, is not fully developed until the mid-20s. This means that young people who consume alcohol are more likely to engage in risky behavior and make poor decisions that can lead to serious consequences. 

Alcohol consumption can also interfere with the development of the brain, which can have long-term effects on an individual’s cognitive and emotional functioning. By maintaining the legal drinking age at 21, we can help protect young people from the negative consequences of alcohol on their developing brains and prevent them from making dangerous choices that can impact their future. Delaying alcohol consumption allows young people to mature and develop the necessary skills to make responsible decisions and contribute to society in a positive way. 

The Impact on Society

Lowering the legal drinking age can have serious consequences on society. It can lead to an increase in alcohol-related accidents, injuries, and fatalities. 

In addition, younger individuals who consume alcohol are more likely to engage in risky behavior, such as driving under the influence, which can harm not only themselves but also innocent bystanders. Lowering the drinking age can also lead to an increase in crime, violence, and other forms of reckless behavior. 

By the way, alcohol-related health problems and addiction can have a significant impact on society as a whole, including increased healthcare costs, lost productivity, and strain on social services. By maintaining the legal drinking age at 21, we can help reduce the negative impact of alcohol on society and keep our communities safe. This can be achieved by preventing underage drinking and ensuring that those who do consume alcohol are doing so safely and responsibly. 

The Importance of Enforcing The Law

Enforcing the legal drinking age is crucial in preventing underage drinking and reducing the negative impact of alcohol on young people and society. Parents, schools, law enforcement, and the community all have a role to play in enforcing the law and promoting responsible alcohol consumption. Parents can talk to their children about the dangers of alcohol and set clear expectations and consequences for breaking the law. Schools can educate students about the risks of alcohol and provide support for those struggling with addiction. 

Law enforcement can enforce the law and hold individuals accountable for breaking it, including imposing fines, license suspensions, and other penalties. The community can work together to create safe and supportive environments that discourage underage drinking and promote healthy behaviors. 

By enforcing the legal drinking age, we can send a message that underage drinking is not acceptable and that the law will be upheld. This can help prevent young people from engaging in risky behavior and protect them from the negative consequences of alcohol consumption. In summary, enforcing the legal drinking age is crucial in promoting responsible alcohol consumption and ensuring the safety and well-being of young people and society as a whole.

Conclusion

The well-being of young people and society should be our highest priority. To ensure a secure and healthy environment for everyone, it is essential that we maintain the legal drinking age at 21. By doing so, we will protect individuals from alcohol-related harm and safeguard our communities from the detrimental impacts of alcohol consumption.

Social Culture and Alcohol Drinking: Challenges of Raising Legal Drinking Age to 21 Years

More passings and mishaps because of a more youthful and less capable psyche – whose cerebrums are as yet defenseless against the poisonousness of liquor at 18. Liquor causes almost 6,000 Australian passings in a single year, a third from malignant growth. Drink driving stays a significant supporter of fatalities and wounds on Australian streets, despite the fact that an Unlawful Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit has been set up for more than 25 years. In 2015, the Queensland Police Service directed around 3.65 million breath tests and identified more than 22,000 beverage driving offenses – speaking to an offense pace of roughly 0.6%. A high extent of rehash drink drivers has clinical liquor reliance issues. Loss crash chance duplicates when driving with a liquor level just in an abundance of 0.05 BAC and the danger of association in lethal accident increments significantly more forcefully.

Cerebrum harm is more uncertain in light of the fact that your mind is more evolved at 21 than 18 years – you can kick the bucket or get cerebrum harm (vegetable) by having an excessive amount of liquor is your framework. For what reason do individuals drink – upgrade friendliness, to build power, to get away from issues, to become inebriated, for pleasure, or for ceremonial reasons? Auto collisions, wounds from savagery, and a few people have ended it all while inebriated. Bringing down the base legitimate buy age was related to an expansion in street auto collisions, and different damages, among youngsters.

Liquor like lager and wine contains a substance that causes loss of awareness, which can harm the mind. Liquor abuse is probably the most concerning issue confronting Australian culture. Some portion of the danger of liquor 3200 individuals bite the dust and very nearly 81000 individuals are hospitalized each year. The legislature is attempting to limit the dangers that influence their well-being and their economic well-being since it affects society and particularly on youngsters. Subsequently, the administration thinks about its kin and particularly kids, and accepts that drinking liquor presents numerous dangers to kids that can prompt fewer issues and dangers that will bring about the loss of their lives and therefore unfavorable impacts on the well-being, mental, and conduct of youngsters. In this way, the administration is attempting to raise sessions to 21. This article will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of expanding the drinking age to 21.

Numerous births increment the drinking age to 21. In the first place, liquor can hinder their well-being. For instance, liquor contains ethyl liquor, a substance that influences the psyche, feelings, and feelings. Additionally, the human cerebrum develops and develops from 15 to 24 years. Consequently, liquor can have a poisonous mind of a youngster. Second, decrease mortality. For instance, Increasing the measure of liquor can cause demise in light of the fact that their bodies and little cerebrums don’t convey it. Measurements show that the piece of the male and female matured somewhere in the range of 14 and 24 passed on every year because of drinking liquor. Also, numerous deadly mishaps, for example, street mishaps while going across the street just as fender benders because of loss of fixation and mindfulness brought about by liquor. What’s more, truly influence an individual’s well-being that can prompt an expansion in occurrences of the self-destruction of minors. Third, raising the legitimate drinking age to 21 positively affects their conduct. A case of influencing one’s life is the expansion in savagery. The Government accepts that expanding sessions to 21 is a generally excellent arrangement with the issue of viciousness brought about by liquor. Likewise, liquor misuse influences kids’ working, for example, outrage, outrage, and melancholy because of family and social issues. Liquor hurts the lives of those under the legitimate age.

Carrying long periods of toasting 21 there are a few basic reasons. To begin with, raising the period of toasting 21 years denies them of their privileges as grown-ups. A few people accept that when an individual turns 20 years old, they reserve the option to cast a ballot, live in lofts from guardians, and enter the military. For instance, in the fight Vietnam has diminished drinking by 18 years in view of the passing of numerous adolescents in the fight to ensure their property. In this way, they are viewed as grown-ups and can act naturally dependent. Likewise, expanding the drinking age to 21 to keep them from getting a charge out of life and acting like grown-ups. In numerous nations at the official drinking age of 18. Second, raising the lawful time of drinking shields the youngster from drinking. For instance, a youngster may discover somebody to bring them liquor, numerous younger than 17 savor liquor; any case denied to drink. Likewise, raising the legitimate drinking age disallows them from drinking liquor and can prompt lesser liquor utilization. Also, raising the legitimate drinking age doesn’t tackle the issues brought about by liquor misuse. For instance, the United States for the official drinking age at 21 years yet they have a similar global legitimate drinking age 18 years. Surely, expanding the legitimate drinking age will make increasingly social issues as opposed to taking care of issues.

More deaths and accidents due to a younger and less responsible mind – whose brains are still vulnerable to the toxicity of alcohol at 18. Alcohol causes nearly 6,000 Australian deaths in one year, a third from cancer. Drink driving remains a major contributor to fatalities and injuries on Australian roads, even though an illegal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit has been in place for over 25 years.

In 2015, the Queensland Police Service conducted approximately 3.65 million breath tests and detected over 22,000 drink driving offenses – representing an offense rate of approximately 0.6%. A high proportion of repeat drink drivers have clinical alcohol dependence problems. Casualty crash risk doubles when driving with an alcohol level just in excess of 0.05 BAC and the risk of involvement in fatal crash increases even more sharply. Brain damage is less likely because your brain is more developed at 21 than 18 years – you can die or get brain damage (vegetable) by having too much alcohol is your system.

Why do people drink – enhance sociability, to increase power, to escape problems, to get drunk, for enjoyment, or for ritualistic reasons? Traffic accidents, injuries from violence, and some people have committed suicide while intoxicated. Lowering the minimum legal purchase age was associated with an increase in road traffic accidents, and other harms, among young people.

Alcohol like beer and wine contains a substance that causes loss of consciousness, which can damage the brain. Alcoholism is one of the biggest problems facing Australian society. Part of the risk of alcohol 3200 people die and almost 81000 people are hospitalized every year. The government is trying to minimize the risks that affect their health and their social status because it has an impact on society and especially on children. As a result, the government cares for its people and especially children, and believes that drinking alcohol poses many threats to children that can lead to fewer problems and risks that will result in the loss of their lives and consequently adverse effects on the health, mental and behavior of children. Therefore, the government is trying to raise bouts to 21. This article will discuss the pros and cons of increasing the drinking age to 21.

Many births increase the drinking age to 21. First, alcohol can impair their health. For example, alcohol contains ethyl alcohol, a substance that affects the mind, emotions, and emotions. Also, the human brain grows and grows from 15 to 24 years. Therefore, alcohol can have a toxic brain of a child. Second, reduce mortality. For example, Increasing the amount of alcohol can cause death because their bodies and small brains do not carry it. Statistics show that the part of the male and female aged between 14 and 24 died each year as a result of drinking alcohol. Besides, many fatal accidents; such as road accidents while crossing the road as well as car accidents due to loss of concentration and awareness caused by alcohol. And, seriously affect a person’s health that can lead to an increase in incidents of the suicide of minors. Third, raising the legal drinking age to 21 has a positive effect on their behavior. An example of affecting one’s life is the increase in violence. The Government believes that increasing bouts to 21 are a very good deal with the problem of violence caused by alcohol. Also, alcohol abuse affects children’s functioning, such as anger, anger, and depression as a result of family and social problems. Alcohol harms the lives of those under the legal age.

Bringing years of drinking to 21 there are several critical reasons. First, raising the age of drinking to 21 years robs them of their rights as adults. Some people believe that when a person turns 20 years of age, they have the right to vote, live in apartments away from parents, and enter the military. For example, in the battle Vietnam has reduced drinking age by 18 years because of the death of many youths in the battle to protect their land. Therefore, they are considered to be adults and can be self-reliant. Also, increasing the drinking age to 21 to prevent them from enjoying life and acting like adults. In many countries at the official drinking age of 18. Second, raising the legal age of drinking protects the young person from drinking. For example, a young person may find someone to bring them alcohol, many under the age of 17 drink alcohol; in any case, prohibited to drink. Also, raising the legal drinking age prohibits them from drinking alcohol and can lead to lesser alcohol consumption. Besides, raising the legal drinking age does not solve the problems caused by alcohol abuse. For example, the United States for the official drinking age at 21 years but they have the same international legal drinking age 18 years. Indeed, extending the legal drinking age will create more social problems instead of solving problems.

The Fight for Keeping The Drinking Age: Alcohol Law

As we address the public health and safety concerns two subjects are spoken about in this paper. The two concerns are the sobriety checkpoints that focus on the drinking age and the random drug testing for public employees and high school students. Many states have examined factors of the drinking age for young adults and factors that for doing random drug testing for public employees. Due to some circumstances, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was created. This act started in 1984 and stated that it required all states to raise their minimum purchase and public possession of alcohol age to 21. Random drug testing has been around since the Vietnam War and when Richard Nixon was President. For employees, it began in the mid-1980s. With increased awareness of drug testing, the government initiated several acts that focused on drug and alcohol-related accidents. The acts is the DrugFree Workplace Act and Anti-Drug Abuse Act.

To analyze the effects of these policies it is a form of positive enforcement with young adults and employees. The policy of raising the drinking age to 21 was due to circumstances and situations that involved young adults. Statistics have proven that there were more younger people who were involved with alcohol-related fatalities. Sobriety checkpoints are not permissible in every state depending on the state’s law. Most checkpoints are set up on the weekends and major holidays which are peak times for drinking and driving. Some people object to this process because they believe that it violates the law of safety from unreasonable searches as part of the Fourth Amendment in the Constitution and may violate the person’s medical privacy. Even though these sobriety checkpoints are not legal in some areas a person still would need to obtain an attorney if a person is facing a DUI or DWI due to this process. Once again, the government has found that drug use is not only happening in the military but in workplaces as well and this is when the acts of Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 went into full force. The effect of this policy proved the workplace is a safer workforce and a reduction on their bills.

It cannot be for certain what approach can be taken because the public health and safety concerns have benefited from the laws and acts that have been put in place. The information that would need to be used is through a statistical factor to determine the course of action and figuring what policies or acts would better fit the situation. If there were none of these policies been put in place political groups and other interest groups would have a difficult time with situations. A due process point of view that pertains to underage drinking is that minors can sell alcohol without adults being present for example like grocery stores. Another scenario is where alcohol is sold in a restaurant and families dine there, the restaurant should prohibit minors from entering a drinking establishment. The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 would cover any questionable situations. The national law specifically requires states to prohibit the purchase and public possession of alcoholic beverages. It does not require the prohibition of persons under 21 (also called youth or minors) from drinking alcoholic beverages. The term “public possession” is strictly defined and does not apply to possession for the following. Random drug testing provides equal protection because alcohol and drug use creates safety and health hazards and decreases employee productivity. The acts of the Drug-Free Workplace Act and AntiDrug Abuse Act deter employees from using drugs and alcohol.

The Supreme Court’s three-tiered test of equal protection or due process has the potential of violation when it comes to the sobriety checkpoints but not with the raising of the drinking age. But if an individual believes that they have been violated, they will need to prove that the governing body has discriminated against them or prove that the actions have resulted in harm to the individual. According to the U.S. Constitution, the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process clause requires the United States government to practice equal protection and the Fourth Amendment’s Equal Protection clause requires states to practice equal protection as well. There will be a challenge to prove any violation has been done.

In conclusion, the public’s health and safety concerns have been the mission for many policies, laws, and acts that have been put in place for all. The fight for keeping the drinking age at 21 continues and there is statistical evidence that by keeping this age for drinking has decreased underage drinking situations. Sobriety checkpoints will not be legal any time soon but will continue to happen because the government agencies want to ensure the public is safe. However, if an individual gets stopped at one of the sobriety checkpoints, they will procure some legal issues resulting in attaining an attorney. Random drug testing for employees will be a big part of the future because the government and employers want to make sure that safety in the workplace. Understanding why these acts, policies, and laws are set is because the public’s health and safety concerns come first.