The legal drinking age should be 18 years of age - Essay Example

tion; however, the officially permitted age for alcohol intake varies according to each country, but most countries the legal is 21years of age. However, the legal age for alcohol consumption should be reduced from 21years of age to 18years since the later are responsible young adults entitled to vote, marry; and considering the menace of over-consumption due to curiosity and experimentation. In most countries, whenever an individual attains 18 years of age, he/she has a right to vote, get an identity card, get married, secure a job in any organization, be able to serve in the military and even sign contracts.

This means that an 18 year old person understands whom a potential leader is who will serve a country well and who cannot lead effectively through taking part in voting. Likewise, being able to secure a job in any organization or serve in a military means this person can be responsible and can as well make adequate decisions. Additionally, being able to acquire an identity card means he/she is of age to do things responsibly. In order to get married means an individual knows how to be responsible by taking care of his/her partner and children.

Therefore, such an individual has a right and should be allowed to buy and consume alcohol without any restrictions because he/she knows how to be responsible (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine 25). In addition, there is a challenge of alcohol consumption out of curiosity; forbidden fruit syndrome, as anyone who has not attained 21 years of age perceives alcohol as forbidden and that it should not be consumed. This increases curiosity among them because they are curious to know why they are not allowed to drink; furthermore, when in college those under the age of 21 are not allowed to drink at the same place with their seniors, and this equally increases their interest to know what is behind alcohol intake.

They rebel and they certainly yearn to know what is in alcohol that they are kept away from hence they decide to give it a try. Therefore, by forbidding 18 year old individuals from drinking in bars, restaurants and licensed places makes them to drink in privacy, for example, in parties. This may lead to dangerous behavior, for example, they may decide to over drink because they do not know when next they will have a chance to consume alcohol. As a consequence, problems like deaths or unprotected sex may arise; therefore, if alcohol consumption is legally allowed for 18 years and above, the curiosity dilemma will no longer be present.

In addition, unwanted behaviors and deaths of 18 year old teenagers resulting from alcohol consumptions will greatly reduce since every individual will be responsible of his/her drinking, and will not be driven to over-indulgence because of curiosity (Trapp 78). However, reducing the age for alcohol consumption to 18 years of age is dangerous to the health and is also medically wrong. This is because the brains interior of an individual is vital for functions like