Teens and Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) Essay

Introduction For many years, underage drinking in America has been a very controversial topic. However, because of the many discrepancies that some US state representatives have added to the federal underage law, this subject will hardly be solved or going away, anytime soon. Proponents argue â€Å"The current underage drinking law of 21, has not stopped teen drinking, and has instead pushed underage binge drinking into private and less controlled environments, leading to more health and life-endangering behavior by teens† (ProCon, 2012, para. 2). Therefore, the minimum legal drinking age for teens should be lowered from 21, to 18. On the other hand, â€Å"Opponents of lowering the MLDA argue that teens have not yet reached an age where†¦show more content†¦The strongest reasons in favor of Proponents: If teens are responsible enough to serve in the military, then why are they not responsible enough to drink alcohol? Opponents contend that: (1) Lowering the MLDA will see an increase in injuries and death resulting from car crashes; (2) Long-term alcohol abuse causes serious health problems in teens when compared to teens that do not drink alcohol; and, (3) Teens that drink alcohol are involved in a higher rate of assaults than teens that do not drink alcohol. Opponents also argue that teens who abuse alcohol: (4) Are more apt to commit suicide, than teens who do not abuse alcohol; (5) Are involved in a significant amount of non-vehicular homicides, than teens that do not drink alcohol; (6) Have a higher chance of bei ng sexually and physically abused by friends and strangers than non-drinking teens. Strongest argument in favor of Opposition is that, â€Å"traffic fatalities decreased when the MLDA increased† (ProCon, 2012). I maintain for this argument that: Although MLDA does not effectively prevent teens from drinking alcohol or from drinking in inappropriate locations, it does however set the legal standard that allows for accountability for the risky and dangerous behaviors that are often associated with underage drinking. Federal Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) ProCon (2012), a research site for controversialShow MoreRelatedThe Generations Of People Who Were Born After 1984 Have1284 Words   |  6 PagesThe generations of people who were born after 1984 have only known the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) to be 21 years old. But, it was not so long ago when the minimum legal drinking age was 18. In 1984 Congress passed the MLDA Act as a result of the rise in drunk driving accidents involving teens and alcohol related deaths. This Act ultimately made the states raise their MLDA to 21 from 18 for fear of losing federal highway funds. There have been many debates about it and whether or not it shouldRead MoreLowering The Minimum Legal Drinking Age Essay1521 Words   |  7 PagesBeer For Everyone! The debate of lowering the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) has been going on for decades in the United States. Those opposed, argue that the current MLDA is not efficient and counterproductive (Engs 1). One study indicated that thousands of lives under the age of twenty-one are lost each year to alcohol (McCardell 1). Underage drinking is an issue that persists, despite evidence suggesting that the minimum legal drinking age of twenty-one has lowered alcohol usage among individualRead MorePositive And Negative Effects Of Drinking Alcohol1709 Words   |  7 Pagesthe consumption of alcohol but it can be said that drinking alcohol has both positive and negative effects. Controversy may arise between opposing sides that those below the age of twenty-one are not responsible enough to drink however are allowed a driving license or a driver’s permit. In the United States of America, society and lawmakers focus more on the negative impacts of alcohol consumption especially when it comes to who we allow drinking, and do not consider that teenagers are able to thinkRead MoreMinimum Legal Drinking Age Should Remain at the Age of 21 Essay1310 Words   |  6 Pagesnational problems with underage drinking. Depending on personal ideologies, some people might not agree that the current minimum drinking age of twenty-one is based on scientific facts rather then ideology of prohibitionism. For example, since 1975 over seventeen thousand lives have been saved since the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) was changed to age twenty-one (Balkin 167). This shows that even over a short amount of time, a higher MLDA helps decrease the risk of teen suicides, accidents and overdoseRead MoreNegative Effects of Lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age in America1292 Words   |  6 Pageslooking at the drinking age in many nations, a trend of relatively young minimum legal drinking ages (MLDA) can be seen around the world. As it stands, all of America’s 50 states employ a MLDA of 21 making America one of only seven countries in the world to have a drinking age set at 21; the oldest age set as the minimum legal drinking age in the world. Where many of our friends in Europe are happily drinking away at 18, many here in America are left wondering why we don’t employ the same age requirementRead MoreChallenging The Legal Drinking Age1689 Words   |  7 PagesMackenzie Schultz Mrs. Hamilton AP English Language 25 July 2014 Challenging the Legal Drinking Age The Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) has been challenged since the passing of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 that raised the drinking age to twenty-one in all fifty states (Ogilvie). Advocates for lowering the MLDA to eighteen years of age argue that this change will eliminate the thrill of breaking the law for young adults entering college and boost the national economy. SupportersRead MoreMinimum Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered1253 Words   |  6 Pages2017 Minimum Legal Drinking Age Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age? Ever since the end of prohibition in 1933 the United States government has placed the issue of minimum legal drinking age sensitively in the hands of the states, letting each decide for itself what the minimum age should be. At that time all agreed that the minimum legal drinking age should be 21, where it remained for allRead MoreMinimum Legal Drinking Age : A Discourse Appraisal1452 Words   |  6 PagesMinimum Legal Drinking Age in America: A Discourse Appraisal You know an issue has evoked large levels of community discussion when interest groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving and rappers like J-kwon are telling us the same thing: teen drinking is very bad. But discussion on the topic tends to vary far more than that. Congress discussed the issue in 1984, with the National Minimum Drinking Age Act: an act that withheld federal highway funding from states without a minimum legal drinkingRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered1481 Words   |  6 Pagesthe century, underage drinking happens every day in the United States and for some this might seem unacceptable but for most this is all because an unfair law put up by the government. The legal drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18 because, among other things; 18 is the age of adulthood in America and adults should have the right to make their own decisions, also traffic accidents and fatalities are most common among newly-legal drinkers regardless of their drinking a ge; and, this law has notRead MoreThe Legal Drinking Age On America s Youth1749 Words   |  7 Pages In 1984, the legal drinking age was changed to twenty-one years of age. This change was made after the Prohibition. Studies during this time found that as the minimum legal drink age (MLDA) was lowered, there was an increase in youth traffic accidents. A study done after the legal drinking age was raised to twenty-one showed reduced youth drinking, youth drunk-driving, and accidents related to alcohol. The change of the minimum legal drinking age proved to be beneficial during this time period.