Arguments For Lowering The Legal Drinking Age

By law, the state of Texas considers one as an adult at the age of eighteen. By being considered an adult each individual is eligible to vote, get a tattoo, serve on juries, get married and even fight for their life in the army. As an adult one should be able to live the full experience and responsibilities of being an adult which leads to the argument of lowering the drinking age to eighteen. Lowering the drinking age to eighteen from twenty-one would help prevent the problem of binge drinking and alcohol abuse as well as allowing the individuals to fully experience and make decisions being an adult comes with.

First, lowering the legal drinking age to eighteen would make a step of preventing binge drinking. When turning eighteen majority of student’s head to college where they get to enjoy the college life of drinking and partying. Binge drinking is known to be the consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol in a certain period of time. College students tend to drink before games also referred as pregaming or even before parties which can lead to binge drinking. The excitement of partying with friends as well as breaking the law is something that many students experience with the fear of “getting caught”. Alcohol abuse and binge drinking go hand-and-hand as well. When turning twenty-one the thrill of being able to legally consume alcohol as well as buy is something most teenagers look forward too. On twenty-first birthdays alcohol abuse is known because one is able to drink without the worries of getting caught. By lowering the drinking age to eighteen there wouldn’t be the thrill to want something we can’t have because it would be legal. Recently in traveling to Europe where the drinking age is set to eighteen the life and society is alcohol terms was completely different. Alcohol was treated in an enjoyable way whereas in the United States alcohol is being abused by underage drinkers. In Europe, early drinkers tend to be calmer with drinking because they were raised and shown to be responsible with alcohol so they’re able to have a couple drinks without alcohol abuse.

Secondly lowering the drinking age to eighteen would allow the full experience of responsibilities that being an adult comes with. Being an adult means, one is able to pay taxes, live on their own, serve in juries, buy lottery tickets, fight for their own life in the military, army or any other armed forces and the list goes on. Being an adult also comes with many responsibilities such as taking care of yourself, making independent decisions and having financial independence. If eighteen-year-olds are trusted to vote for our political leaders as well as being able to serve for our country they should be able to be trusted with the consumption of alcohol throughout the United States. In conclusion, lowering the legal drinking age will lower the amount of binge drinking following alcohol abuse as well as being able to be fully considered an adult with all the adult responsibilities that are followed. Overall the Amethyst Initiative organization that was found in 2008 is something that myself supports and would bring enhance the country as a whole as well as each individual.