Dear President Bush:I am Victor Grigorov, and am a sophmore at Dulney High School. I have been studying the use of alcohol in teens as my advocasy issue. Because the the 21 year old drinking age law is not working, and is counterproductive, it behooves us as a nation to change our current prohibition law, and to teach responsible drinking techniques for those who chose to consume alcoholic beverages.
The United States Citizen is allowed to vote when they are 18 years of age; 18 year old males are forced to join the Selective Service, for possible drafting. This means that 18-year old males can go to war. At age 18, a citizen is also inclined to jury duty. So, an 18-year old is given the responsibilities of voting, being selected for jury duty, and possibly being drafted for war. If an 18-year old citizen is to be given these responsibilities, why is the legal drinking age 21? By letting teens wait till they are 21, the problem is becoming worse.
A Kranz (wreath) of Kölsch beer.
A sign posted on the door of a convenience store t...
Map of the world showing the legal age for purchas...Since those that haven not been exposed to drinking eventually start and some and up becoming alcoholics. Those under the age of 21 are more likely to be heavy -- sometimes called "binge" -- drinkers (consuming over 5 drinks at least once a week). For example, 22% of all students under 21 compared to 18% over 21 years of age are heavy drinkers. Among drinkers only, 32% of under age compared to 24% of legal age are heavy drinkers. This is a very important thing to keep in mind. Due to the increase of drinkgin age, significant increases were also found for other variables: "cutting class after drinking" jumped from 9% to almost 12%; "missing class because of hangover" went from 26% to 28%; "getting lower grade because of...
First Sip of Freedom?
"ask your twins, Jenna and Barbara, if they waited till the age of 21 to have their first sip of freedom."
This essayist is apparently unaware that Mr. Bush need not ask the twins this question. Several years ago, when the twins were caught drinking well before they reached age 21, their escapades became the headline of the week for tabloids, and the President had to face questions from the press about his parenting ability. Far from encouraging him to lower the drinking age, this incident probably steeled his determination to keep it where it is.
Further, Mr. Bush need not look to the twins for an example of the problems that drink can cause. He is an example himself. Laura Bush's line "It's Jim Beam or me" has been quoted ad infinitum.
Finally, the logic of the argument that this writer makes completely escapes me. People who lack maturity indulge in excessive binge drinking. How will opening the law to drinking by even younger people encourage the maturity of drinkers? Somehow, that does NOT add up.
This essay is, overall, singularly unpersuasive.
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