The legal drinking age should be increased because alcohol consumption can lead to health problems, car accidents, and other negative consequences. Some people argue that the drinking age should be lowered, but research has shown that increasing the drinking age has saved lives. Traffic fatalities decreased when the drinking age increased, and states that raised the drinking age saw a decrease in alcohol-related problems among young people. There are many reasons why the drinking age should be increased. Alcohol consumption can lead to health problems like liver disease, cancer, and brain damage. It can also lead to car accidents, violence, and other negative consequences. Increasing the drinking age will help reduce these problems. Some people argue that the drinking age should be lowered, but research has shown that increasing the drinking age has saved lives. Traffic fatalities decreased when the drinking age increased, and states that raised the drinking age saw a decrease in alcohol-related problems among young people (White et al., 2015). Increasing the drinking age is a sensible way to reduce the problems associated with alcohol consumption. It will help protect the health of young people and save lives.
The potential consequences of increasing the legal drinking age could be that fewer people would drink alcohol overall, and those who drink alcohol would drink less often. Additionally, it is possible that increasing the legal drinking age could lead to more people drinking in private settings, such as at home or parties, rather than in public settings. If the drinking age were increased, it would likely hurt young adults’ social lives. This is because drinking is often a social activity, and if the legal drinking age were raised, it would limit the number of people participating. This could lead to fewer social gatherings or gatherings that are less enjoyable for those unable to drink. Additionally, it could lead to more underage drinking, as people may be more likely to drink illegally (Hingson et al., 2017).
Some people believe raising the drinking age would lead to more under-aged drinking because it would be seen as a “forbidden fruit” that is more enticing to teens. Others believe raising the drinking age would lead to less under-aged drinking because it would be less socially acceptable and more difficult to obtain alcohol. There is no clear consensus on the matter. There are many potential health consequences of consuming alcohol at a young age. These consequences include an increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as liver disease, cancer, and heart disease. Additionally, alcohol consumption can lead to problems with brain development, increase the risk of developing mental health disorders, and increase the risk of accidents and injuries (Elder et al., 2010). Additionally, alcohol consumption can interfere with normal growth and development and lead to problems in school and social interactions.
Consuming alcohol at a young age can lead to several potential health consequences, including liver damage, brain damage, and an increased risk of developing cancer. Additionally, it can lead to coordination and balance problems and impair judgment and decision-making ability. This can increase the likelihood of risky behaviors, such as drinking and driving, and can result in injuries or even death. Additionally, alcohol consumption can lead to problems in school or work performance and can contribute to social and relationship problems.
There is much debate on whether or not the drinking age should be lowered, but most research indicates that increasing the drinking age has decreased overall alcohol consumption rates. There are several reasons for this, but one of the most likely explanations is that it is simply more difficult for young people to obtain alcohol when the drinking age is higher. This means fewer young people are drinking, and those who drink do so less often. Additionally, alcohol is often seen as more of a “forbidden fruit” when it is illegal for young people to drink, making it more enticing and leading to more binge drinking. However, in general, increasing the drinking age is likely to lead to a decrease in overall alcohol consumption rates. This is because raising the drinking age would make it more difficult for young people to obtain alcohol, making them less likely to drink. Increasing the drinking age may also lead to more public awareness of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, which could further discourage people from drinking (White et al., 2015).
An increased drinking age would impact public health and safety in several ways. First, it would likely lead to a decrease in the overall amount of alcohol consumed by young people. This would reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and injuries, as well as the number of alcohol-related deaths. Second, it would likely lead to a decrease in the number of people who develop alcoholism. This would reduce the number of people who require treatment for alcohol addiction and those who experience the negative health consequences of alcoholism.
The most effective way to increase the drinking age would be to raise the legal age for purchasing and consuming alcohol to 21. This would mean that bars, clubs, and other establishments selling alcohol would be required to check IDs and refuse service to anyone under 21 (Saffer et al., 2017). The potential consequences of increasing the drinking age could include a decrease in alcohol-related accidents and deaths among young people and a decrease in underage drinking overall. However, it is also possible that raising the drinking age could lead to more illicit and dangerous drinking behavior among young people who are determined to drink, as well as an increase in fake ID use.
References
White, A., Castle, I. J. P., Chen, C. M., Shirley, M., Roach, D., & Hingson, R. (2015). Converging patterns of alcohol use and related outcomes among females and males in the United States, 2002 to 2012. Alcoholism: clinical and experimental research, 39(9), 1712-1726.
Hingson, R. W., Zha, W., & White, A. M. (2017). Drinking beyond the binge threshold: predictors, consequences, and changes in the US. American journal of preventive medicine, 52(6), 717-727.
Elder, R. W., Lawrence, B., Ferguson, A., Naimi, T. S., Brewer, R. D., Chattopadhyay, S. K., … & Task Force on Community Preventive Services. (2010). The effectiveness of tax policy interventions for reducing excessive alcohol consumption and related harms. American journal of preventive medicine, 38(2), 217-229.
Saffer, H., & Grossman, M. (2017). 13. Beer Taxes, the Legal Drinking Age, and Youth Motor Vehicle Fatalities. In Determinants of Health (pp. 509-533). Columbia University Press.
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