Why fix what isnt broken? Why the Drinking age should be lowered to 18

I think that the points used in this essay are quite strange. Fighting for your country is very different than using alcohol. Alcohol is a privilege for people 21 and over for a reason. Most teenagers at the age of 18 don't use alcohol in a right manner and drink way too much of it, often leading to death from doing things such as driving, swimming, or using a firearm while under the influence. There was a scientific study done not too long ago showing that up to the age of 24, consuming alcohol can harm the brains memory. Alcohol is also a very addictive drug, it can sometimes even ruin lives and put people on the streets with nowhere to go and no money. Alcoholism is a very serious problem in the world and lowering the drinking age to 18 would only make it worse. At 18, generally the correct decision about alcohol will be incorrect.

I agree with the fact that drinking should be lowered to 18 for adults for some points. Having served in the military, I can empathize with the 18 year olds that are called upon to serve their country, yet are denied the right to drink. However, having said that, I don't agree with the arguments that are used to persuade the audience to lower the drinking age. The points that are raised are generalized, emotionally charged, and, in some cases, full of fallacies that take away from the argument as a whole. Additionally, the initial statements about the government making "the wrong choice along with capitalism" starts the essay with a highly charged and slanted view, which may turn off readers and prevent the purpose of the essay, persuading others to lower the drinking age.

Hmm. Well first off I have pondered over the idea of the drinking age being lowered or kept at 21.


Of course there are advantages and disadvantages as there are in many ideas. Although at first I would have agreed to the age being lowered to 18 because of the fact that it is the "legal adult age," I am now leaning more towards disagreeing and keeping it at 21. My reason: whether or not the law is changed there are numerous teens out there who will drink regardless the legal age of 18 or 21. It's only a matter of that person getting caught and how that person will handle it. Those who are under 21 now who are charged with a MIP would, of course, favor to lower the drinking age. But if you think about it, there are teens out there UNDER the age of 18 who consume alcohol! So even if it was lowered, there would still be complaints. (Of course maybe a little less.) The fact is that people are going to decide whether they want to consume or possess alcohol on their own. They make these choices even when they know the legal consequences. I don't think the age would make a difference to people's choices.


There will still be accidents, injuries, and deaths whether or not the legal drinking age is 21 or 18. Come to think about it, there may be even more of these if it IS lowered to 18 because of the high possibility that 18 year olds will take advantage of the freedom.