Age is but a Number
Alcohol, "a colorless, volatile, pungent liquid, it can be burned as fuel, is used in industry and medicine, and is the intoxicating element of whiskey, wine, beer, and other fermented or distilled liquors" has been a part of American culture and society since the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock (Websters New World College Dictionary). "Humankind has had a relationship with beverage alcohol for over 6,000 years" (Hanson, "In My Opinion - It's Better to Teach Safe Use of Alcohol"). Alcoholic drinks are a part of our meals, festivities, and social interactions. Prior to 1987, the legal age to purchase and consume alcohol varied from state to state, but in July of 1987 the minimum purchase age became 21 in all states. This change was justified by the concern over the alarming number of alcohol related automobile accidents and fatalities. In 1998, the Transportation Department reported that "there were 15,935 fatalities in which alcohol was involved in the crash" (Wald, "At a School, the Unbelted Go Unfed"). While the seriousness of driving under the influence cannot be ignored, the means by which the government chooses to attempt to remedy it is distasteful. The institution of a blanket policy that ignores the root of the pr
Refutation 1: Changing The Drinking Age Has Not Changed Irresponsible Behavior Associated With Drinking oblem will never proscribe unwanted behavior. The government's choice to prohibit the consumption of alcohol by individuals under the age of 21 is an example of poorly thought out legislation and should be revised to make the drinking age 18. It is uncontested that irresponsible drinking is a problem in our society. "Nearly 14 million adult Americans have alcohol-abuse problems [and] alcohol abuse figures in half of American homicides and about a third of suicides" (Knapp, "The Glass Half Empty"). However, the keeping the drinking age at 21 is not going to solve that problem. The idea that individuals should completely abstain from consuming alcoholic beverages until they reach their 21st birthdays is about as logical as not allowing youths to ever get behind the wheel, until they've acquired their licenses. The key to changing irresponsible drinking is not older drinkers but smarter drinkers. Lowering the drinking age to 18, empowers youths, removes the allure, and facilitates education about responsible drinking. "Drinking in moderation is neither undesirable nor dangerous but is actually associated with better health and greater longevity than is either abstention or heavy drinking" (Hanson, "In My Opinion - The Legal Drinking Age Science vs. Ideology"). If the drinking age were lowered to the age of 18, however, the individual would more than likely still be in high school and living at home. Thus, the drinking experience can be one that is monitored by the parents, and "responsible alcohol consumption could be taught through role modeling and educational programs" (Engs, "Forbidden Fruit"). The idea that "the young learn valuable lessons be experimentation and will eventulaly learn to regulate themselves" is preposterous (Dionne, "Caution! Student Drinker"). Responsible drinking is something that needs to be taught, it is not inherent knowledge. "Young people [need] to learn at home from their parents and from other adults how to handle alcohol in a responsible manner... it behooves us as a nation to change our current prohibition law and to teach responsible drinking techniques for those who choose to consume alcoholic beverages" (Engs, "Forbidden Fruit"). The education needs to start in the home, and "first and foremost, parents must set a good example by using alcohol only in moderation, preferable with meals, and never suggesting it as a solution to stress or other emotional problems" (Brody, "Personal Health: Coping With Cold, Hard Facts on Teen-Age Drinking"). Unfortunately, "most parents aren't teaching their kids anything about alcohol" and this can be attributed to the fact that 21 year olds are experiencing alcohol for the first times away from their parents (Brody, "Personal Health: Coping With Cold, Hard Facts on Teen-Age Drinking"). Regardless of the alleged link between alcohol consumption and irresponsible behavior, there is no conclusive evidence that the switch over to a national drinking age of 21 has had any regulatory effect on the consumption of alcohol by minors. The opposition may look to the fact that "the Federal safety administration pointed out that the number of alcohol-related fatalities fell 24 percent in the decade up to 1995, from 22,720 to 17,274" in support of their claim that the higher drinking age has been effective in curbing the negative secondary effects (Wald, "Message Isn't Reaching Hard-Drinking Drivers"). Yet, it could be equally convincing to argue that "the decrease in drinking and driving problems are the result of may factors and not just the rise in purchase age... These include: education concerning drunk driving, designated driver programs, increased seat belt and air bag usage, safer autom
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Approximate Word count = 2569
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)
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