Table of Contents
- 1 Should the US drinking age remain at 21?
- 2 Why is 21 the legal drinking age in us?
- 3 What are the arguments against the 21 year old drinking age?
- 4 Why the US should not lower the drinking age to 18?
- 5 Can you drink at 18 in America?
- 6 When did the drinking age change to 21?
- 7 Should we raise the drinking age to 21?
- 8 Should the smoking age be increased to 21?
Should the US drinking age remain at 21?
More than 25,000 lives have been saved in the U.S. thanks to the 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age. This law continues to prevent tragedies — decreasing crashes by an estimated 16 percent and keeping young people safer from many risks.
Why is 21 the legal drinking age in us?
1984-2014: National drinking age raised to 21: In response to the drunk driving epidemic of the 1970s, President Ronald Reagan passed the Minimum Drinking Age Act in July 1984, a law that mandated states increase the drinking age to 21.
What are the arguments against the 21 year old drinking age?
Opponents of lowering the MLDA argue that teens have not yet reached an age where they can handle alcohol responsibly, and thus are more likely to harm or even kill themselves and others by drinking prior to 21. They contend that traffic fatalities decreased when the MLDA increased. Read more background…
Can Europeans under 21 drink in the US?
The long answer is that yes, it is absolutely legal for someone under the age of 21 to purchase and consume alcohol in the United States— in certain areas, under the right circumstances.
Why should the drinking age be changed to 18?
Lowering the drinking age to 18 would allow 18-to-20-year-olds to consume alcohol safely in regulated environments, with supervision. Lowering the drinking age would also reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents among underage drinkers.
Why the US should not lower the drinking age to 18?
According to the CDC, lowering the drinking age could impair the brain’s development causing depression, decreased motor skills, or memory loss. One can argue that the earlier a person starts to drink, the more likely they are prone to developing alcohol related problems in life.
Can you drink at 18 in America?
Although the minimum legal age to purchase alcohol is 21 in all states and most territories (see National Minimum Drinking Age Act), the legal details for consumption vary greatly. While a few states completely ban alcohol usage for people under 18, the majority have exceptions that permit consumption.
When did the drinking age change to 21?
1984
The Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984, establishing 21 as the minimum legal purchase age. Since then: Drinking by high school seniors has fallen substantially — from 66\% to 42\% (see chart).
Why should the drinking age be 18 instead of 21?
Lowering the age would only allow people to start their habit at an even younger age. This could lead to more and more adults suffering from alcoholism. By starting at 18, kids will be able to build a tolerance to alcohol and by the time they get to college they will be experienced drinkers.
Why should they change the drinking law to 21?
Teens get drunk twice as fast as adults, 9 but have more trouble knowing when to stop. Teens naturally overdo it and binge more often than adults. Enforcing the legal drinking age of 21 reduces traffic crashes, 4-6 protects young people’s maturing brains, 12,14 and keeps young people safer overall.
Should we raise the drinking age to 21?
In addition, raising the drinking age to 21 to prevent them from enjoying life and doing as adults. Many countries have the legal drinking age of 18 as well. Secondly, raising the legal age of drinking does not prevent a minor from drinking.
Should the smoking age be increased to 21?
Yes smoking age should be raised If you have to be 21 to drink you might as well be 21 to smoke also. Teenagers and adults might try to steal more but would you rather have your store robbed or have family/friends/kids and others dying because of smoking.