The Benefits of Lowering The Drinking Age in America to 18

In the article, You Must Be 21 to Drink? by Gabrielle Glaser, it conveys the debate about the national drinking age. Glaser believes the age should be lowered to 18, and strictly enforced from there. She is arguing why statistics don’t show a dramatic difference between the legal age as 21, and the legal age as 18. Although the law states one must be of 21 years of age to purchase and consume alcohol, Glaser argues that changing the drinking age to 18 will enhance the public health, decrease alcohol-related deaths, and fulfil one’s rights as an adult.

One claim is a general “boost” public health would increase. With the ages at 21, Glaser believes that many students aren’t getting proper education on drinking responsibly before they turn 21. A study was conducted by National Institute of Health, stating, “With the age being 21, high school students, along with underage college students, have a higher potential of binge drinking.” The study goes on to say that if the age was lowered, the drug would become normalized, consumption in large amounts would lower because of a more available source. Glaser states, “IF the age was lowered to 18, it would allow the people who wanted it to drink in moderation because they would have access whenever.” She goes on and explains how since its illegal, they take as much as they can which leads to serious public health problems. If the age was lowered, and kids were better educated to alcohol consumption, it would increase public health records.

Another claim Glaser focused on was alcohol related events. Since the drinking age was raise to 21, traffic deaths have decreased, which is terrific, but it has greatly increased the numbers of alcohol poisoning, and sexual abuse charges. Alcohol acts in many ways in one’s control center, however it’s main cause is to sedate, and make one feel great. Those who are underage tend to consume alcohol in numbers, which can be detrimental on them and others. Some want more and more because it “takes away the feeling”. Some say they want to be able to feel other good feelings. “Alcohol causes me to feel in the mood for love, I want to be with someone”. Both students were in a study conducted by the National health Institute, that describes how alcohol makes them feel. Overall, the study explains the good feelings that come from alcohol. In another study from The Journal Studies on Alcohol and Drugs that alcohol poisoning deaths have increases annually along with linked-excess drinking sexual assault cases. Students will do anything to get their hands on this product that makes them feel great, which cause them to act out because of consumption of excess amounts. One could argue that, that is the obvious reason it should stay at 21, but it is simply not true. If the age were to lower to 18, it would allow students to drink responsibly, and safely. No under the table, or risky party sites would be used. Kids wouldn’t have to do illegal things to get an illegal substance, they would only need to go to the store, show an I.D. and carry on with their night in a responsible fashion.

Finally, another evident claim made by Glaser is that consuming alcohol is a basic human right. Now, that seems a little too informal, but to reiterate at the age of 18, a person is deemed an adult. At the age of 18, one can serve on jury, serve in the military, and get legally married. Those life events have a huge impact on one’s lives and can change them forever. So why not be allowed to drink alcohol? This prevents those underage individuals to learn. Many studies show that those in the military, approximately 72% from ages 18-20, having hazing that includes alcohol. In the same study, 98% admitted to drinking responsibly because of their upbringing. If they can take a bullet for you, why can’t they drink some alcohol and let loose.

Gabrielle Glaser’s idea is to educate the people on what lowering the drinking age would do. Glaser wants to educate that lowering the drinking age would increase overall public health, decrease the death toll for alcoholic related events, and allow legal adults gain a freedom they deserve.

Works Cited 

• Glaser, Gabrielle. “You Must Be 21 to Drink?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2018, www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/you-must-be-21-to-drink/return-the-drinking-age-to-18-and-enforce-it.
• Carpenter, Christopher, and Carlos Dobkin. “The Minimum Legal Drinking Age and Public Health.” The Journal of Economic Perspectives : a Journal of the American Economic Association, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3182479/.