This document discusses whether the legal drinking age in the United States should be lowered from 21 to a younger age. It presents statistics showing that teens who drink before age 15 are more likely to develop alcohol dependence. Additionally, states with stricter alcohol control policies tend to have lower binge drinking rates among adults and college students. The document also outlines the history of raising the drinking age to 21 nationally in the 1980s and presents potential pros and cons of lowering the age. In the end, it argues that the drinking age should remain at 21 given that most teens are not mature enough to handle alcohol and lowering it could lead to more traffic accidents, unplanned sex, violence and other issues.

1. DRINKING AGE
Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered from 21
to a Younger Age?
Kayla Stinson
INTDSP 101 J
December 3, 2015

2. MY OPINION
• Nationwide issue.
• Short and long terms effects of Alcohol consumption.
• Adolescents compared to the adult brain.

3. SURPRISING FACTS
• The average age teen boys first try alcohol is age 11, for teen girls it’s 13.
• Teens who start drinking before age 15 years are 5 times more likely to develop
alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after
the legal age of 21.
• States with more stringent alcohol control policies tend to have lower adult and
college binge drinking rates.

4. SOURCES
1. ProCon.org
2. Madd.org
3. CDC.gov
4. chooseresponsibility.org

5. HISTORY
• Confronted by the failure of the 18 minimum drinking age, the Drinking Age was
raised to 21 in the mid-1980s, the goal was to reduce highway fatalities.
• President Reagan signed into law the Uniform Drinking Age Act mandating all states
to adopt 21 as the legal drinking age within five years.
• 1988, all states had set 21 as the minimum drinking age.

6. PROS & CONS
Pros
1. 18 is the age of adulthood in the
United States, and adults should have
the right to make their own decisions
about alcohol consumption.
2. Lowering MLDA from 21 to 18 would
diminish the thrill of breaking the law
to get a drink.
3. Drinking alcohol is an enjoyable
activity.
Cons
1. Lowering the drinking age will invite
more use of illicit drugs among 18-21
year olds.
2. Teens more likely to binge drink than
people above the age of 21.
3. Allowing teens to drink will negatively
affect more students’ academic
performance.

7. DRINKING AGE
The Drinking Age should not be lowered:
• Most teens are not mature enough to handle liquor.
• More traffic accidents will occur.
• Unplanned and unprotected sex, depression, violence, and other social ills.
• Excessive Alcohol consomption at a young age can cause many to become
alcholoics in the near future.

8. QUOTES
• “I don't really like to drink. I don't like the way alcohol feels or tastes. On occasion I'll
do it as a social thing, just to kind of go, 'Hey! I did something with you guys!‘” –
Reggie Watts (Con)
• “I don't even drink! I can't stand the taste of alcohol. Every New Year's Eve I try one
drink and every time it makes me feel sick. So I don't touch booze - I'm always the
designated driver.” – Kim Kardashian (Con)
• “The sway of alcohol over mankind is unquestionably due to its power to stimulate
the mystical faculties of human nature, usually crushed to earth by the cold facts
and dry criticisms of the sober hour.” –William James (Pro)