The problem with underage drinking is that underage drinking occurs everywhere in the United States on a daily basis. Whether binge drinking takes place in a college town, by students who have not reached the magical age of twenty-one, or by high school students who are drinking and driving just to seek a thrill, everyone knows that underage drinking is an enormous problem in the United States. Despite all of the immense accomplishments achieved by the United States, statistics show that every twenty-two minutes a person is killed due to an alcohol related incident (Jones 112-115).

Doctors say, "Almost half of all unnatural deaths are related to alcohol." Research that was carried out by doctors suggesting that forty-four percent of deaths from causes such as suicides, falls, traffic injuries, and murder are all linked to alcohol (Jones 112-115). A human being's life is ethereal. Once a drunk driver has taken another person's life, there is no way to give it back. Whether it is a fatal accident or an incident of fatal alcohol poisoning due to a human being's carelessness, alcohol must be seen by everyone as what it is, a fatal weapon. Alcohol, consumed in large enough doses is ve

Trying to abolish underage drinking all together is impossible, but educating the entire population of the United States about underage drinking is not. Even if the minimum drinking age were lowered to eighteen years old, there would be twelve year olds drinking somewhere. Linus Pauling said, "The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas." No matter how many programs are instated, underage drinking will take place. But by educating everyone, not only children, about the extreme dangers involved with alcohol and underage drinking, adults too will become more responsible drinkers. Thus, adults will be setting an outstanding example for underage drinkers to follow. Actions must be taken in order to save the lives of those who die every day due to alcohol related incidents. I thoroughly believe that by educating the adults in communities about alcohol and the problems associated with underage drinking, these adults will take the next step in order to prevent the loss of further innocent citizens who were in the wrong place, at the wrong time or people who merely die because of acts of their own stupidity.

Underage drinking has many different aspects and requires many different approaches. These are all magnificent programs and I cannot argue that they do not save peoples lives every day. In fact, I think that these programs only omit one incredibly important aspect of underage drinking. When children grow up, they look up to their parents and model their lives after their parents. Very few organizations have focused on the responsibility of the parents of children or the adults in the community. Whether it is a school teacher or just an employee at McDonalds, the community must take an active role in the education of the youth of America. Studies have shown time and time again that a child's home life will have a massive impact on his or her personality and life after childhood. A proper childhood can pave a road for a flourishing life, as well as a life that excludes dim-witted acts such as drinking and driving. Recent studies published in the Mental Health Weekly have shown that by eighteen months of age, the children of alcohol-abusing fathers were reported to have more symptoms of anxiety and depression than the children in the control group (Wagenaar 175-200). The researchers gathered that this effect was directly attributed to the higher levels of depression in the alcoholic fathers. These symptoms of anxiety and depression can be a horrendous start for children, thus having suppressed memories as a result later in the children's developmental stages. These suppressed memories can cause the depression and anxiety that drives many youths to give into peer pressure, which will not only lead to underage drinking, but also possible drug use and delinquent acts for attention that was not given as a young child.

Throughout the past years many groups have formed in order to try and prevent underage drinking. One such group is MADD or Mother Against Drunk Driving. MADD was formed in 1980 by a Candy Lightner and a small group of California women after a thirteen year old girl was killed by a drunk driver. The drunk driver, who had three prior drunk driving arrests, was released just two days prior to the acc

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Approximate Word count = 2200
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)