Drinking and Driving: Raising The Drinking Age in America

In times like these, one of the most dangerous places for young adults would be the roads. In the United States, alcohol related deaths are more common when it comes to drinking and driving Excessive drinking among young adults can be reduced by involving legal procedures. For this to happen, it is recommended that the legal age be risen from the ages of 21 to 25.

Age

During the early period of a young adult’s life, they use this time to explore and get to know who they are. The influence of their peers would be greater than their parents. Adversities tend to occur and young adults handle their problems differently. Some individuals-may carry unhealthy tendencies while dealing with their stress and anxiety. Most likely, in order to gain acceptance, the first instance to deal with their issues would be alcohol. College can be an environment that influence alcohol consumption among young adults. For once in their lives they are alone without the presence of their parents. Students tend to use this period to party and drink excessively. Although, as opposed to non-students, studies show that college students tend to intake a greater quantity at social events. Being that college students have mixed ages in its student population, drugs and alcohol is easily accessible.

Increasing the drinking age will not only save young adult's lives, but it would also give them a chance to mature. In the United States, the legal age for someone to consume alcohol would fall under the age of 21. At this age, most young adults are now eligible to drink legally. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, approximately 5,000 young adults, who are under the age of 21, die as a result of underage drinking. The NIAAA also states that the daily limit for men should be two drinks and one drink for women per day.

Addiction

Young people are vulnerable to the risk of an addiction. The lack of maturity gives way for them to be easily influenced. The earlier they drink, the more likely they are to drink later in their life. Early drinking also results in poor performance with the body. In a worse case scenario, it can lead to organ failure if done excessively.

Risk

Drinking under the influence of alcohol can lead to serious consequences. While drinking driving, the individual’s vision can become impaired. Excessive alcohol consumption blurs eye movement and can affect an individual’s judgement with other vehicles on the road. The brain controls bodily functions and would determine how we see movement. According to the Revovery Worldwide, nearly 28 people die every day in motor vehicle crashes regarding the Uber an alcohol-impaired driver. Other risks from alcohol may include slow reaction time, lack of coordination and reduced concentration.

Young adults between the ages of 16 and 21 are way more likely to get into accidents than drivers over the age of 21. One must always be conscious that not only the driver is at risk, but also civilians and public property is subject to damage. Driving with a BSC level of 0.08 or higher would be considered as driving under the influence. These vehicles may include a car, jeep, truck or bike. Although, each country has its own laws on dunking and driving and it’s penalties.

Prevention

There are precautionary steps that individuals can take to prevent an accident whilst drinking and driving. Before drinking, a designated non-driving driver should be present within the group. If you are alone, your best choice would be to call a taxi or to use a ride share service. Excessive intake of alcohol can lead to memory loss, psychological complications and depression. One should always be knowledgeable about the amount of alcohol taken in the body. This will prevent any future accidents from occurring.

Conclusion

I agree that the drinking age in America should be raised from 21 to 25. It is very dangerous for young adults to be drinking and driving. Changing the drinking age will not only save the young adult, but also other civilians from accidents. Young adults need time to mature before they get behind a wheel. I believe that this notion will make the roads safe for all drivers.