Persuasive Essay

What is alcohol?

Alcohol is many things to many people: To little kids? it is a curiosity. To teenagers? it is cool. To responsible drinkers? it is a relaxant. To bartenders? it is a job? their lives. To restaurant owners? it is a moneymaker. To probation officers? it is a frustration. To actively drinking alcoholics? it is heaven. To wives and husbands of drinking alcoholics? it is a waste. To recovering alcoholics? it is a painful old friend. To us? it is something to be learned about and controlled. (Dolmetsch? p.4) The definition of alcoholism stresses the basic elements of: (Claypool? p.91)

(1) Chronicity;

(2) Compulsive? uncontrollable drinking;

(3) Intoxication; and

(4) Interruption of normal life functions.

Right Age for Alcohol

According to me the right age for alcohol use is above 22 as it is the age when one becomes mature after completing one's knowledge. One in this age has entered in his professional life so now there are very few chances to be spoiled.

Why Not to Use Before Right Age

Young people drink for many reasons; whether it s to escape the daily stress of school or family life? or to fit in with their friends. But sadly enough? many teenagers discover too late that drinking cannot solve any of their problems. Teenage drinking is now one of the most serious problems that young people face.

In 1977? Senator Frank J. Dodd stated: Alcoholism is one of the greatest health problems in the United States and is one that afflicts individuals in virtually all social and economic categories and varying age groups. (Claypool? pp. 90 -91) From the time children reach the age of 13 +? 63 percent of the boys and 54 percent of the girls have at least tried their first alcoholic beverage. (Claypool? p. 14) Alcohol use substantially increases each year throughout junior and senior high school.

By the twelfth grade? 93 percent of the young men and 87 percent of the young women have at least tried one drink. (Landau? p.15) The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that: By the time teenagers reach twelfth grade? more than half of them drink alcohol at least once a week; Nearly half of all teenagers who drink say that they have been drunk at least once compared to only 19 percent twenty years ago; Five percent admit they get drunk once a week or more often; Thirty-four percent ...