The United States is the one of the only developed nations whose drinking age is greater than the age of 18. Countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, China, France, and Singapore hold their drinking age at or lower than 18. Even our neighbors to the north, Canada, have a drinking age of 18 proving that this is not a regional phenomenon. Seventy-eight percent of Americans oppose lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18. However, I am not in this majority for a number of reasons.
In the United States one is legally an adult at the age of 18. This entitles privileges such as buying cigarettes and possessing a weapon. Also at the age of 18 one is subject to being drafted for war, full income tax and jail time instead of going to a juvenile detention center. It is absurd for one to be permitted these civil liberties but denied the right to consume alcohol. Many oppose lowering the legal drinking age because they fear that it will endanger the lives of young adults. However, this argument has no basis. At the age of 18, men can be drafted for war, forcing them to be put in grave circumstances and potentially to kill another human being.
Generally those who are underage tend to want to rebel and do things that they aren't allowed to. From a personal standpoint, I have witnessed many underage people drive home after a night of drinking in order to hide it from their parents. If the drinking age was lowered young adults would feel less pressure to notify their parents that they have been drinking. Ultimately, the greatest threat to people's safety comes when young adults drive home under the influence.
Evidently, other nations have proven that it is possible to have a low drinking age and little influence on the well being of their young adults.
Michaela Ails
freshman-marketing
