Drinking Age essays

Drinking Age essays In the year 2002, drinking has come to be a nation wide problem. Within the last few decades, all the states have changed the legal drinking age from 18 to 21. However, this prohibition of alcohol until the age of 21 has not been all that effective. From surveys it is easy to see that a dramatic percent of 18 year olds drink regularly even though they are not of legal age. In fact, underage drinking has never seemed to be as much of a problem as it is today. To many teens, the idea of alcohol being a forbidden fruit makes it all the more tempting to consume. Also, it is unfair to put adult responsibilities on 18 year olds, yet not allow them the responsibility to drink. Therefore, the drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18 in the U.S. First, one of the main reasons that underage drinking takes place deals with the fact that alcohol is viewed by teens as a forbidden fruit. It is human nature to rebel against society. For example, when I was young, my parents used to always tell me not to play in the street. Yet whenever they were not looking, the first thing I always did was go and play in the street. This is what it is like when many teens are told they are not allowed to drink by the law, and their parents. It is almost as if the country refuses to remember the complete failure of both prohibition acts. Does the cliche, those who dont remember the past are condemned to repeat it, mean anything to the government? In fact, making 21 the legal drinking is a prohibition act in itself. Recent studies have shown that amongst all drinkers, 32% of under age drinkers are considered to be heavy drinkers, while only 24% of legal drinkers are considered heavy drinkers. In addition, many students in college are unde r the age of 21. Yet this is the place where flaunting of law breaking is so common. Considering this, it is senseless to uphold a law that cannot be enforced. ...