CJ SLIDES

Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18?

CAMILA HEREDIA OSANTE

why i chose this topic?

Mexico drinking age 18 USA drinking age 21

The drinking age between the years has shifted from being 18,19 and 21 years old. "In 1984, the legal drinking age was raised from 18 to 21, and America came into its modern age of alcohol use" (The American alcohol problem: An overlooked and deadly epidemic).

Reasons for lowering the drinking age

1. Reduce the temptation of teenagers to want to drink
2. Eighteen is the legal age of adulthood
3. Reduces the risk of alcohol poisoning

1. Reduce the temptation of teenagers to want to drink

• teenagers see drinking as a fun past time with friends and are willing to do anything it takes to be able to drink
• with reducing temptation to drink in general, it also reduces the temptation for teenagers to travel to places where the drinking age is 18

2. Eighteen is the legal age of adulthood

When a person turns eighteen years old in the United States of America they can vote, join the military, work full time, become organ donor, get a tattoo, adopt, get married and so many more things.

3. Reduces the risk of alcohol poisoning

• "Normalizing alcohol consumption as something to be done responsibly and in moderation will make drinking alcohol less of a taboo for young adults entering college and the workforce" (Should the drinking age be lowered in the US? 13 pros and cons 2022).

Reasons for not lowering the drinking age

1. Drinking before the age of twenty-one is dangerous and irresponsible
2. It lowers consumption rates
3. Consumption should be based on a person's legal age and not the age of adulthood

1. Alcohol consumption before THE age OF 21 is irresponsible and dangerous.

• Drinking at a younger age can interfere with the normal growth of our brain.

• It makes the risk of getting addicted higher.

• "MLDA 21 reduces traffic accidents and fatalities. 100 of the 102 analyses (98%) in a meta-study of the legal drinking age and traffic accidents found higher legal drinking ages associated with lower rates of traffic accidents. [19] In the 30 years since MLDA 21 was introduced, drunk driving fatalities decreased by a third. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that MLDA 21 has saved 31,417 lives from 1975-2016. Lowering the MLDA would surely increase traffic accidents, injuries, and deaths"(Should the drinking age be lowered in the US? 13 pros and cons 2022).

2. consumption of alcohol before 21 poses serious health risks in younger people.

• Causes deaths from motor vehicles, homicides, suicides, falls, and many more.
• Impairs judgment
• Increases the risk of physical and sexual assault
• Increases the risk of alcohol problems later in life

<https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/underage-drinking>

3. Alcohol consumption should be based on legality, rather than the age of adulthood.

• "Drinking should be similarly restricted due to the responsibility required to self and others"(Should the drinking age be lowered in the US? 13 pros and cons 2022).
• the drinking age should be regulated as the adoption or being able to be a candidate for the presidency and be based on how mature you are to be able to

My stance

in my opinion, I will lean into the side of lowering the drinking age to 18 years old because even when it can affect the brain, have so many cons for our own health, and maybe grab the attention of people to drink because they are legally able to, I think it is better those teens avoid trying to get alcohol from untrustful people just to get it and that could be even more dangerous.