The controversies over alcohol have dated back to as long as many people alive today can remember. In our U.S. History class, we learn about the 18th Amendment, which made the production, distribution, possession and consumption of alcohol illegal, along with many other things, in the 1920’s. Although this amendment was voted in by the public of the United States, it raised a lot of controversy and caused a lot of conflict between the authorities and the anti-prohibitionists.
Because the 18th Amendment made alcohol illegal, people turned to alternative sources to get their alcohol. People began to 'bootleg', illegally producing and selling alcohol to willing consumers, despite what the law stated. Eventually, the 18th Amendment was repealed and illegal alcohol sales ceased. or did they?
In the United States of America, the legal age to purchase and consume alcohol is 21, but is this right? Many people, including myself, feel that the legal drinking age should be changed to 18. If the drinking age was changed to 18, the problems about underage drinking would decrease because many of the people who are 'illegally drinking' wouldn’t be breaking the law and the thrill of 'being bad' wouldn’t be there. People tend to make alcohol such a big deal that oftentimes when they turn 21, they go crazy because they have to wait so long for this 'privilege' that turns out to be not all it was cracked up to be. On what basis was this law created?
What makes people feel that even though you are considered a legal adult at the age of 18, you aren’t 'old enough' to drink? When you turn 18, you are legally old enough to vote, have credit cards, get tattoos and body piercing, buy or rent pornography, smoke cigarettes, chew tobacco, play the lottery, and go to the theatre and watch rated 'R' movies. The law feels that you are old enough to have all these rights, but with these rights come the responsibility of being held accountable for any wrong decisions or choices that are made. As a result, once you are 18, you are tried as an adult in court and can receive life in prison or the death sentence for some of these choices. One of the biggest concerns is the fact that once you turn 18, you can be drafted into the military and be expected to go away to war to risk your own life for the sake of your country, yet you can’t go out to a bar or a restaurant and have a couple of relaxing drinks with your friends after work. So are you really a legal adult once you become 18?
Like any controversy, there’s always a party with an opposing point of view. When asked, these people will tell you that they feel that 'children' at age 18 are not mature or responsible enough to make the right decisions regarding alcohol. They will also explain how they feel that people at the age of 18 are more likely to have younger friends and therefore, are more likely contribute to minors. Overall, they will focus on the opinion that people, by the age of 18, are not mature enough to handle the effects of alcohol and are less likely to consider the consequences of their actions regarding alcohol or while under the influence of alcohol. People fear that this change would bring a lot more crime and problems.
Changing the legal drinking age to 18 from 21 does not necessarily mean that there will be more crime. The legal drinking age is lower in many other countries. In Australia, the legal drinking age is 18, yet their crime rate is incredibly low. Young Australians are responsible when it comes to alcohol because of how it is perceived. People don’t make a big deal of alcohol, it’s like cigarettes or tattoos, once you are 18, it is your decision. The reason that many parents are against this change is because they find it hard to accept the fact that their sons and daughters are growing up. In their eyes, they will always be 'children', whether they are 15 or 30. If you are expected to be responsible enough to fight at war or vote on political issues, have credit cards or live in your own home, then why shouldn’t you be able have a Budweiser or a strawberry daiquiri?
Despite the fact that the 18th Amendment was repealed in 1933, bootlegging failed to cease. It still exists today, yet in other forms. Today it is not illegal to produce alcohol, but is illegal to distribute alcohol to persons under the age of 21. Oftentimes, if someone wants to do something, they will do it, despite what the law says. So what happens? They turn to an alternative source. It is quite easy to find any willing buyer off the street with some sort of compensation. Even though the law states that possession and consumption of alcohol is illegal to any persons under the age of 21, many continue to use it. Just like in the 1920’s.
In conclusion, I feel the drinking age should be changed to 18 because there is no reasonable argument against it. My personal experiences have made it clear in my mind that this change wouldn’t bring about any negative metamorphosis in society. All I have to say is: 'Why not?'
