The document discusses arguments for and against lowering the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 in the United States. Key points made include that lowering the age may reduce binge drinking among teens by allowing moderate alcohol use in supervised settings, but could also increase alcohol-related crashes among 18-20 year olds as seen when some states previously lowered their drinking ages. The document also notes personal opinions on both sides and considers related issues like cognitive development and legal adulthood.

1. D5: Lowering The Drinking Age to 18 By: Ludmila Koltunova

2. My Point of View For my claim, I am actually for and against lowering the drinking age. My reason for this is that regardless of there being an actual drinking age, it doesn’t stop many high school teenagers from drinking illegally in the first place. Mainly because, these teenagers don't really know what they're getting themselves into

3. Reasons for lowering the Drinking Age When adolescents are taught to drink in moderation, it will lower the cause of binge drinking. 2. Traffic fatalities decreased less in the 1980's as opposed to European countries whose drinking ages were under the age of 21. 3. Turning 18 entails receiving the rights and responsibilities of adulthood to vote, serve on juries, get married, sign contracts, join the military – which includes taking on the responsibilities of life and death – and be prosecuted as adults. Adults from the age of 18 should therefore also be trusted to make decisions about alcohol consumption 4. Prohibiting teens from drinking in bars, restaurants, and public locations has the effect of forcing them to drink in unsupervised places such as fraternity houses or house parties. Lowering the drinking age will allow teens to drink alcohol in regulated environments with supervision.

4. Reasons for Not Changing the Drinking Age States that previously lowered the drinking age to 18, such as Massachusetts, Michigan, and Maine, experienced an increase in alcohol-related crashes among the 18 to 20 age group. 2. Raising the drinking age back to 21 has decreased the percentage of fatal traffic accidents for those between 18 to 20 by 13 percent and has saved approximately 21,887 lives from 1975-2002. 3. The earlier a person begins alcohol use, the greater the chances are of that person becoming an alcoholic later in life. 4. Since teens who drink alcohol have a higher chance of academic failure, allowing teens to drink will negatively affect more students' academic performance. 5. Lower drinking ages to 16, 17, or 18 like the drinking age in some European countries is inappropriate for U.S. standards because American teens generally tart driving at earlier ages and drive more often than heir European counterparts. American teens are thus much more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol if the drinking age were lowered in the U.S.

5. Others Personal Opinions “ Lowering the drinking age is absurd. Adolescents aren’t mature enough to handle the dangers of alcohol consumption.” -Mike Warzhapetian “ An 18 year old is considered as an adult. Which means, they are no longer minors and are able to handle responsibilities such as being an adult, voting, and joining the Military, so they should be trusted with Drinking as well.” -Justin Chamber “ You can vote, adopt children, sign up for Iraq or become a commercial pilot at 18. Treating alcohol differently helps turns it into a holy grail of adulthood.” - TIME Magazine

6. Positive Effects of Lowering The Drinking Age *If we legalize it, at least they'll be drinking in a controlled supervised settings, such as a bar or nightclub, rather than in cars or at unsupervised parties.“ *Binge" drinking events and "pre- gaming" would occur less *The disrespect for law and ethical compromise would diminish. *Drinking in moderation is good for one's health, including people aged 18 to 20, which will make one healthier.

7. Negative Effects of Lowering the Drinking Age * Nineteen- and twenty-year-olds are drinking anyway. If we legalize it, at least they'll be drinking in a controlled supervised settings, such as a bar or nightclub, rather than in cars or at unsupervised parties.“ *Lower rates of alcohol-related crashes among 19- to 20-year olds aren't related to the age-21 policy, but rather they're related to increased drinking-driving education efforts, tougher enforcement and tougher drunk-driving penalties *Making it illegal to drink until 21 just increases the desire for the 'forbidden fruit.' Then, when teens turn 21, they'll drink even more *Lowering the drinking age might also influence 18 year olds to buy alcohol for younger teenagers, ranging from the ages of 15 to 17

8. Effects of NOT Lowering the Drinking Age *If teens can't get alcohol, they'll just switch to other, perhaps even more dangerous, drugs *Adolescents are more likely to be involved in car crashes resulting from drunk-driving. *Teenagers are more likely to become alcohol addicts while drinking incognito.

9. Important Observations *People under the age of 21 tend to drink more when they get hold of alcohol because of the uncertainty as to when they might be able to drink again. *A lot of adolescents are negatively influenced by their elders (parents or siblings) to drink. *If you are legal to get married at the age of 18 and end up getting married, you are not allowed to drink in your own wedding? *Countries such as Italy, China, Greece are some of the countries where the legal drinking age is lower and they seem to have fewer alcohol related problems. Current law in terms of legal drinking age has caused more alcohol related deaths than there has ever been.

10. Conclusion In conclusion, this debate has been going on for centuries, and each argument has it’s own valid point. What do you think we should do about this drinking age issue? Will it be better or worse for the environment? Will adolescents cease to understand the true meaning behind alcohol? Or will they disregard all of the rules in order to have a drink as malignant as an object can possibly be?

11. Bibliography http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/supportingresearch/journal/wagenaar.aspx http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1812397,00.html http://poststar.com/article_8334b636-0e12-11df-8d80-001cc4c002e0.html http://cognac.com/15-reasons-why-drinking-age-should-be-18/