The Impact of Lowering the Drinking Age on State University Essay

The legal drinking age in the United States will always be a point of contention. No one can settle upon a drinking age that everyone is in agreement with; should it be 18 or 21? Ages 18 and 21 are the most popular options, yet neither one has 100% of the vote. With the current legal drinking age in America standing at 21, meaning that people under the age of 21 cannot purchase or consume alcoholic food or beverages, there is the question of whether or not to lower it to 18 or 19 years old. This paper will argue that the drinking age should be lowered, and examine its impact on State University. Almost everyone has an opinion on what the drinking age should be. Some people believe that it should stay at 21. However, others argue that it should be lowered for the sake of teen safety. The opposition to lowering the drinking age backs their argument with science. Advocates of keeping the drinking age above twenty one believe that alcohol causes permanent damage to the still-developing brains of teenagers. This group of people includes scientists such as Susanne Hiller-Sturmhà ¶fel, and H. Scott Swartzwelder, who have conducted scientific trials studying the effects alcohol has on the human brain. On the other hand, proponents of lowering the drinking age believe that the pros outweigh the cons of their story. To this group of people, including Ruth C. Engs, lowering the drinking age will come with restrictions still, although most of the restrictions will help educate young people about alcohol in the hopes of preventing alcohol related deaths. This is where universities come into the picture. Would keeping the legal drinking age at 21 prevent students on campuses from obtaining alcohol, therefore keeping them safe? Or wo... ...ty, Choose. "The Minimum Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered." Teens at Risk. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Debating the Issues."chooseresponsibility.org. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. "State History of MLDA 21, 1933-present." ProConorg Headlines. ProCon.org, 27 Oct. 2011. Web. 04 Nov. 2013. Sullum, Jacob. "College dry: drinking age debate." Reason Dec. 2008: 16. General OneFile. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. University Center & Michael D. Rose Theatre Policy Manual. Memphis: University of Memphis, n.d. PDF. Wechsler, Henry, PhD, Jae Eun Lee, DrPH, Toben F. Nelson, MS, and Meichun Kuo, ScD. "Underage College Students’ Drinking Behavior, Access to Alcohol, and the Influence of Deterrence Policies." Journal of American College Health 5th ser. 50 (2002): 223-36. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. The Impact of Lowering the Drinking Age on State University Essay The legal drinking age in the United States will always be a point of contention. No one can settle upon a drinking age that everyone is in agreement with; should it be 18 or 21? Ages 18 and 21 are the most popular options, yet neither one has 100% of the vote. With the current legal drinking age in America standing at 21, meaning that people under the age of 21 cannot purchase or consume alcoholic food or beverages, there is the question of whether or not to lower it to 18 or 19 years old. This paper will argue that the drinking age should be lowered, and examine its impact on State University. Almost everyone has an opinion on what the drinking age should be. Some people believe that it should stay at 21. However, others argue that it should be lowered for the sake of teen safety. The opposition to lowering the drinking age backs their argument with science. Advocates of keeping the drinking age above twenty one believe that alcohol causes permanent damage to the still-developing brains of teenagers. This group of people includes scientists such as Susanne Hiller-Sturmhà ¶fel, and H. Scott Swartzwelder, who have conducted scientific trials studying the effects alcohol has on the human brain. On the other hand, proponents of lowering the drinking age believe that the pros outweigh the cons of their story. To this group of people, including Ruth C. Engs, lowering the drinking age will come with restrictions still, although most of the restrictions will help educate young people about alcohol in the hopes of preventing alcohol related deaths. This is where universities come into the picture. Would keeping the legal drinking age at 21 prevent students on campuses from obtaining alcohol, therefore keeping them safe? Or wo... ...ty, Choose. "The Minimum Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered." Teens at Risk. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Debating the Issues."chooseresponsibility.org. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. "State History of MLDA 21, 1933-present." ProConorg Headlines. ProCon.org, 27 Oct. 2011. Web. 04 Nov. 2013. Sullum, Jacob. "College dry: drinking age debate." Reason Dec. 2008: 16. General OneFile. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. University Center & Michael D. Rose Theatre Policy Manual. Memphis: University of Memphis, n.d. PDF. Wechsler, Henry, PhD, Jae Eun Lee, DrPH, Toben F. Nelson, MS, and Meichun Kuo, ScD. "Underage College Students’ Drinking Behavior, Access to Alcohol, and the Influence of Deterrence Policies." Journal of American College Health 5th ser. 50 (2002): 223-36. Web. 13 Nov. 2013.