BCOM 275 Week 5 Learning Team Assignment Debate Paper
Learning Team Debate Paper
A topic with considerable debate is the legal age to consume alcoholic beverages. “Most cultures where alcohol consumption is legal have a mandated threshold age at which buying and/or consuming alcohol becomes permitted” (International Center for Alcohol Policies, 2011, para. 5). Currently, the United States has set the legal age to drink at 21. The age was once 18; however, society has changed its views concerning this issue. Because the legal drinking age changed to 21 there was an increase in mortality rate at age 21, increase in motor vehicle accidents, and increase in suicides. Even though 18 is considered an adult and a person should be able to make his or her own decisions, the drinking age should not be lowered because teens lack the maturity to handle alcohol and teens are at a higher risk of alcohol-related deaths.
This debate has two sides as some people are for lowering the age to 18 again and some against. Many will argue that the average drinking age around the world is 18. According to International Center for Alcohol Policies (2011), “Minimum drinking and purchase ages in countries around the world range from 16 to 25 years of age, with 18 being the most common age limit” (para. 6). Others say that if a person age 18 is old enough to serve and die for his or her country, he or she should be permitted to consume alcoholic beverages. Should the drinking age be lowered to 18? This paper will weigh the pros and cons as well as identify potential issues associated with this debate.
Pros on the Debate
Many people still hold to the belief that the drinking age should be lowered to the age of 18. This argument is not without validation. When a person reaches the age of 18 that person is considered an adult in our society. They have the right to vote for the leadership of our country, the right to marry, join the military, and to buy cigarettes. If we truly consider the age of 18 as reaching adulthood, why do we not allow an 18 year old to make the decision to drink alcohol themselves. (Procon.org, 2011, para. 3) Society would never try to dictate what a 35 year old person should be able to drink or not drink, so why is it that we are debating this same topic about an 18 year old. Perhaps is we lowered the drinking age to 18 it would not be such a taboo in this age group. Often times when you tell a person that they cannot do something, this makes them want to do it all the more. In other societies where drinking is permitted at this age, it is not as big of a deal for young people. Prohibition proved to be unsuccessful in our country and society needs to consider that all we are doing is singling out this age group for prohibition. Most teens from 18-21 still consume alcoholic beverages; they just end up drinking in a less obvious environment, such as someone’s home.
