Lowering the drinking age to 18 would raise the rate of alcohol-related car crashes, academic failures and social and physical problems.
In 2010, the Department of Motor Vehicles reported 1,416 deaths that involved alcohol abuse. The drivers were between ages 18-20.
Many teenagers get their license by age 16, and if they were drinking they would get their license suspended till age 25, according to California state law.
Many jobs require people to have a valid license. That would take good job opportunities away from those who got their license suspended. If people are already drinking under age 21 and know that they are breaking the law, lowering the age would give them more freedom to drink.
When a person starts drinking at an early age, there’s a higher chance of them becoming alcoholics later in life. Becoming an alcoholic can lead a person into depression, suicidal thoughts and death from alcohol poisoning.
Teenagers get a lot of peer pressure, so allowing them to drink can lead to unplanned and unprotected sex and leave them vulnerable to other drugs. If they become parents at an early age, they have less chances of furthering their education and having a decent lifestyle.
At age 18, many students are still in high school. High school is the most important four years of education that guides students to a good college. If students were to be drinking over the weekend, they would not have any time to do homework. Waking up Monday morning with a hangover would increase absences in school.
Studies show that people who don’t make it past high school are the highest group to live under the poverty line. People who live in poverty are at greater risk of committing crimes, according to the American Psychological Association.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number one substance abused is alcohol. In the United States, 11 percent of users are between 12 to 20 years of age.
CDC reported that underage drinking results in the disruption of normal growth and sexual development– just some of many problems underage drinkers are faced with.
The drinking age needs to remain the same, or higher, but never lowered to age 18 just because they are considered adults.
A person 18 or younger is barely learning what they want in life. They are not at an age where making decisions on drinking can benefit them in any way. They need to concentrate on school and getting ready for a career path. Drinking would only affect their future and impact the type of life they will have.
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