Drinking: Partying or Destroying Oneself - Research Paper Example

?Drinking: Partying or Destroying Oneself? Introduction Drinking has become a widespread phenomenon in many developed countries, which is not only causing severe health problems but also moral hazards. In most of the countries, the minimum age of drinking should be 18 years (Minimum Legal Drinking Ages around the World). Although many people believe that minimum drinking age is 21, there are, however, many other circumstances under which a person can drink below that age (Minimum Legal Drinking Ages around the World). The argument of this paper is that a minimum drinking age should be raised to minimize the number of hazards caused by drinking. Supporting Arguments Nowadays, an alliance has been formed youth and drinking. It is not only spoiling the youth’s health but also causing a great deal of immorality in them. They are destroying themselves by filling their body with such fluids. Youth is now unable to present itself as a healthy part of society; rather, the young have lost their focus of life and become irresponsible. In the past, school was an institution which was a place for the young to nurture their abilities and talents. But now it has become a place of fun funded by parents. They just have found a place where they can party and do whatever they want to (Should the Legal Drinking Age Be Raised to 25 to Eliminate Deadly College Partying?). The health experts of University of Otago conducted a study showing correlation between suicides, homicides, and age of drinking (Elder). People who start drinking early in their lives have a higher tendency to commit suicide or kill others (Elder). Same study found out that there is a decrease in suicide ratio among people who began drinking alcohol late in life (Elder). This is an effective supporting evidence for increasing the minimum age of drinking. Drinking causes moral and health problems; the earlier a person becomes the victim of alcohol, the sooner he or she will be dejected and disappointed in life and more likely to commit suicide or homicide. Increasing the minimum age of drinking to 21 can be helpful in many ways: it can reduce the number of road accidents and ensure the perfect brain development process of youth (Knudsen). If the age is raised, it is more likely that there will be fewer drinkers among students. In this way, this habit which spreads through company can be avoided to some extent. Youngsters can concentrate more on studies and achieving ambitions of their life. Research also shows that adults react quite differently to alcohol as compared to youth (Knudsen). Adults have more sense of when to stop drinking as compared to the young; also, they do not drink as frequently as school going youngsters (Knudsen). Brain development of adults is more stable as compared to youngsters, so they do not go to extreme extents for partying. If drinking is started at early age, there is more probability that a person will endure depression and will be psychologically distant from the society (Knudsen). Drinking has more hazardous effect on developing brains of the young (Knudsen). Some scholars say that youngsters are not sensible and responsible enough to understand the purpose of alcohol even at the age of 21 because alcohol is the most abused drug (Lianne H.). So, according to some scholars, the minimum drinking age should be raised to 23 because brain keeps on developing until the age of 23 (Lianne H.). Also, at the age of 23, people graduate and are ready to start their professional lives. So, there are less chances of spreading this habit in the whole group. At the age of 21, most people are at university and colleges enjoying and partying with friends and more of their attention is towards enjoying life and breaking rules (Lianne H.). Automobile accidents are also very common and there are many cases of drunk driver ruining a number of lives, which results in an endless trauma (Lianne H.). Adults at the age of 23 have mature minds and they are conscious enough not to drive after drinking (Lianne H.). However, teenagers do not have this attitude towards life and they do before they think. Because of this psychological fact, the minimum drinking age should be raised to decrease the number of road accidents. Challenges However, there is a risk of non-compliance in case of rising the minimum age for drinking. There can be many political and ethical problems. There can be opposition from 20 years old youngsters who are mature enough to vote, but immature and irresponsible to drink. They are considered eligible for applying for a military positions but not able to enjoy beer at a gathering of family or friends (Should the legal drinking age be raised to reduce road crash deaths?). It is understandable because the army requires different kind of responsibility sense, and drinking is prohibited for very different reasons. Military people argue that they are considered responsible enough to save their country but are not allowed to drink because of immaturity. Some say that military people are sensible enough to be safe drinkers (Knudsen). So, there are lots of opposing stances which can come in case of rising minimum age for drinking to 21 or 24. Conclusion Drinking is an increasing trend in many of the European countries and the US; the young are losing their ambitiousness and wasting their abilities on these bad habits and spreading party culture. Not only are they destroying themselves but also causing millions of road accidents and losing their morality. Various researches prove that early drinking leads to more cases of suicide and isolation from the society. It should be stated, therefore, that minimum drinking age should be raised so that brain receives proper development and maturity. At a mature age, brain receives more control over the actions performed. There is a limit of alcohol intake per day, and adults are more likely to take care that they do not take it in surplus amount. Also, at a mature age, there is a lower chance of getting used to drinking and spreading this habit in a company. Works Cited Elder, Vaughan. "Study shows drinking age should be raised - health experts". nzherald. 24 November 2011. Web. 30 April 2012. Knudsen, Chyanne. "Why the Drinking Age Should Stay 21." Web. 30 April 2012. Lianne H., Palatine, IL. "Drinking Laws." teenink.com. Web. 30 April 2012. . "Minimum Legal Drinking Ages around the World." potsdam.edu. Web. 30 April 2012 . "Should the Legal Drinking Age Be Raised to 25 to Eliminate Deadly College Partying?" 24 October 2010. christwire.org. Web. 30 April 2012 . "Should the legal drinking age be raised to reduce road crash deaths?" 10 February 2010. crikey.com. Web. 30 April 2012 . Read More