Abstract

United States of America forms the highest majority of drinking rates in the world Since 20 year America has minimum drinking age of 21. This policy was keyed up in the beginning decades of 1980, when a non -profitable organization namely MADD rose against the drunk drivers and to provide a hand to the accused victims. By 1984, they won over a mainstream of Congress, and National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 was passed, that quotes that all states should raise The Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) to 21 or they will lose the 10% of their total highway funds. This paper is an effort in the debate of lowering the minimum legal drinking age limit to 18.

Table of contents

Abstract1

Table of contents2

Thesis Question3

Introduction3

Discussion3

Medical and health issues4

Community degradation4

Conflict of fundamental rights4

Increasing MLDA 21 save lives4

Prevent Binge Drinking5

Amendments in the law fabricating MLDA6

A comparison with Europe6

Conclusion6

Works Cited8

Appendices10

Should the U.S. lower the drinking age to 18?

Thesis Question

Should the U.S. lower the drinking age to 18?

Introduction

The debate has been a centre of discussion since last 20 year to lower MLDA since it is believed that lower age limit was not helpful a in prohibiting the underage youth from alcohol drinking. Governing bodies in seven states have recently introduced bills that would lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18. Keen, (2008-03-20) Alcohol can be easily marketed, is inexpensive. Along with all these factors, it is believed by a certain age group that alcohol is a benevolent drug, a part of fun, and defines the social status of an individual, and it has become persistent in youth culture. Though alcoholism and drug abuse is one of the flaws of the society, therefore, higher MDLA is one of the successful approaches. Apart from the social and health issues, there are some more complex issues related like driving when drunk, higher rates of consumptions and drinking heavily or binge drinking.

Discussion

Wide spreading researches have concluded that all the foremost organizations agreed to the fact that there was appreciateable decline in harms following National Minimum Drinking Age Act that follows the maximum legal drinking age (MLDA) should be 21 (Varone et.al,1997).

Medical and health issues

At 2, human mind is under the phase of growth when the age of the individual. The part of the brain that is responsible for the development, planning and organizational setup, is still under the process of development before 21. Using alcohol in this age will add in malfunctioning causing chronic diseases. Consumption of alcohol in such age will obstruct the decision making ability, memory loss, hopelessness and aggression (DHHS, 2007) (Fell, 2008).

Community degradation

Lowering the MLDA will affect the neighborhood of these areas consequently increasing the rate of crime, violence and other social and environmental issues (Hingson, 1993). 76% of the bars are found selling alcohol in the intoxicating consumers (Wagenaar & Toomey, 2004). A huge mass will threat the areas, where the density of pubs, casinos, bars and other nightclubs is higher.

Conflict of fundamental rights

People debate that most ...