Blog 8 Assignment

Lee Mitchell’s stance on lowering the drinking age in America to 18 is an idea I thoroughly support. I feel young adults should be allowed to drink in controlled environments such as restaurants, bars, schools, and university functions. Responsible drinking could be taught through role modeling and educational programs similar to the ones we take about practicing safe sex.

As a citizen of the United States, you can drive cars, fly planes, marry, vote, pay taxes, and risk your life as a member of the armed forces; all of which are privilege or requirements given to adults. Why is there a need to postpone consuming alcohol for three more years? Unlike other countries, the U.S. treats our emerging adults as infants and gets infantile behavior as a result. If we change our attitudes towards young adults, more maturity and social responsibility would be expected of them.

Lowering the age to 18 would reduce the abuse of alcohol among young people. Studies have proven that the U.S. has the strictest youth drinking laws and yet we have the most drinking-related problems among our teenagers and young adults. Other countries around the world allow young adults to drink and scientific evidence supports those countries rarely abuse alcohol. If lowering the drinking age can improve the quality of life by reducing alcohol addiction and abuse, I hope one day our country will take the necessary steps to make 18 be the age at which you may legally consume an alcoholic beverage.