Even though this may be coming from a person who is still underage to drink, I think the drinking age should be lowered to 18. Is it right for you to be able to join the military, put your life on the line to surve your country and still not to be able to have a right to drink? 18 should be the age where people are old enough to be accountable for their actions. At 18 you are old enough to vote, get married, make your own economic decisions, and even be prosecuted as an adult. This alone should be reason enough that Texas age of majority should be lowered. More reason is that enforcing this law is not helping to stop underage drinking. I am a college student and I know that underage drinking has become more concealed over the years. People tend to work around the Texas law anyway they can. I don't think it is right to hand every underage drinker a ticket. What is needed to be enforced is the abuse of drinking alcohol. At 18 you are considered to be an adult but yet still treated as a minor. I believe nomatter how old you are, you still should be responsisble for your actions. There is no mistake that drinking and driving kills, but people who drink and drive at the age 18 should be prosecuted the same way as if the person was 21. Texas drinking laws should be more focused on the abuse of alcohol rather than punishing underage drinkers.
I agree with Mr. Lee Mitchell’s commentary on the legal age for consumption of alcohol. Why is it that a person can sign his life away to government but he can’t drink? I’ve heard that military bases allow underage people to drink, but that’s not something that I can confirm. Just like Mr. Lee I am a firm believer that a young adult of the age of 18 would have a cognitive mind to make his or her own decision.
ReplyDeleteIf tomorrow I became the person in charge of the making the decision to legalize alcohol to 18 year olds; I would say yes, but under one condition. I will only allow young adults the age of 18 in college to consume alcohol and not high school seniors. Why? Because I feel that high school senior are too irresponsible to have the privilege to buy alcohol. There is definitely a maturity gap between a high school 18 year old and a college one. I also feel that if a high school student can buy alcohol, he/she could provide a bridge for underclassmen to get their hands on alcohol. In the end could possibility lead to more social problems that teens already have. The reason why I would agree to lower the drinking age is because it could provide a source of income for our economy. Let’s be honest here, underage college student drink alcohol. They are going to get their hands on it just by going to parties and what not. So there is no point in limiting them from buying and consuming alcohol. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I agree with Mr. Mitchell’s argument that a young adult at the age of 18 can make his/her own decision.
Lee Mitchell’s stance on lowering the drinking age in America is 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.
ReplyDeleteAs 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.
After reading my collegues, Lee Mitchell's article "Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered?" I have strongly agree with the argument about lowering the drinking age to age 18. I have agreed and I am of age to drink. If an 18 year old male or female has the consent to vote, to enlist in the army, obtain an driver license, and the rights to marriage. All of those things can be very life changing and at the same time very dangerous. Oh and lets not forget that the smoking age is 18 and older, is smoking not considered dangerous, influential to us and others around us? In his argument he talks about all the things that an 18 year can do and some are risky, while others require a choice that could possibly change this nation. Many see drinking as an instant killer but don't consider that smoking can be an instant killer, that fighting for our country can be an instant killer, and getting behind the wheel of a motorize vehicle can be an instant killer. But in the end these are all considered privileges we are given when we once turn 18 years old.
ReplyDeleteMr. Mitchell's argument did become clearer that the drinking age should be lowered. 18 is the age you graduate(adveragly), 18 is the age that you realize you can work and strive in this world as a young adult. Drinking will not harm an 18 year old. The drinking age should be 18 because they wouldn't have to sneak and drink it; or rush to finish it(because we all know bottoms up really means bottoms up). But in all seriousness age 18 should be treated more seriously, when I was 18 i felt like an adult, I said I was an adult but many would tell me if you can't drink legally your not. Funny thing though at age 18 I was carrying myself more mature, working a lot of hours, bought a car, going to school full time, and helping my family maintain. . .doing a lot better and more than adult twice that age.
So age 18 to me should be considered an legalized 21, it should be the new 21. Each generation mature quicker and can hold their own. But if the Government continues to hold them back at this rate some may not make to that "legalized age". 18 SHOULD BE THE NEW 21