Illegalization of Consumption of Alcohol for Under 21s - Report Example

Illegalization of Consumption of Alcohol for Under 21s The rate of alcohol consumption and drug abuse has been onthe rise in the twenty first century with the majority of the abusers being children in their middle ages. Most of the drunkards are below 21 years. Even after the warnings sounded by health organizations such as WHO on the effects and health implications of excessive consumption of alcohol and other addictive drugs that are often abused by the users, the affected parties are yet to hid to the warning. Instead, the rate of consumption is steadily rising. Even the safe health campaigns organized to sensitize the youths on the social, economic, and health dangers early age excessive consumption of alcohol. The central government through its revenue authority has imposed heavy taxes on alcoholic drinks and cigarrate as a way of discouraging the consumption of these commodities by making them relatively expensive. Notably, contrary to the expectation of the states, the rate of consumption is still on the rise and now extending to minors and teenagers. To protect these young kids and the future generation, it is important for the concern authorities to regulate and restrict the minimum drinking age. This discussion therefore starts by defining alcohol. What is alcohol? According to Thinkquest (45) "Alcohol is a clear drink that is made from corn, barley, grain, rye, or a beverage containing ethyl.” When a person drinks alcohol, about 20 percent of the alcohol is absorbed in the stomach, and 80 percent is absorbed in the small intestine. The concentration of alcohol, the type of drink, and whether the stomach is full or empty influences the rate of absorption of alcohol. Once the alcohol is absorbed into the body tissues, it affects both the mind and body.  The concentration of alcohol in the body can rise up to 20 minutes after having a drink. After alcohol is absorbed, it is excreted through three body organs: the kidneys, lungs, and liver. Alcohol is widely used in our society. Most individuals drink alcohol in ways that do not increase risk for alcohol use problems and may also derive a health benefit. For others, use of alcohol will increase their risk for alcohol problems. Defining precisely who is at risk for alcohol problems and assessing the risks versus the benefits of alcohol use are important to designing effective interventions to reduce alcohol problems and providing accurate public health information. According to Australian indigenous HealthInfoNet " The short-term physical effects associated with the consumption of one to three standard drinks per hour may include a change in heart rate, a reduction in body temperature, dilation of the small blood vessels producing a warm flushing, stimulation of appetite, increased urination and reduced muscle coordination .Alcohol slows down the messages sent between the brain and the rest of the body. This can make a person feel relaxed and more confident, but may also reduce concentration and slow the reflexes. The initial effects of alcohol may reduce tension or inhibitions. With more alcohol, the effects extend to motor and sensory centers in the brain, causing a person to react more slowly to stimuli. For example, when driving, it is likely to take longer for a person who has been drinking to apply the brakes if the car ahead stops suddenly”. There are some differences between the countries in the legal age of drinking. For example, the people in the European countries, they can drink in the age of 18 but, in Canada they cannot drink in age of 18, they just can in the age of 19. There are some states in Canada allowed you to drink when you are 18 years old which are Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec .It is a little different between them. There are two Countries that you are not allowed to drink alcohol because its illegal in those Countries are Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In the U.S you are not allowed to drink Alcohol until you are 21 years old and over. There are many people agree with the age of drinking and there some people disagree with it. Im one of the people who disagree with allowing who are 18 years old to drink. One of the reasons that make me disagree is because alcohols affect teenage brain. The second reason is that percentage of cars accidents will rise up. The third reason is drinking alcohol will affect the growth of their bodies. The final reason is they have the freedom to do what they want. Does alcohol affect teenage brain? Alcohols usually affect most of the people who became addicted to alcohol, but it affects more on the teenage. According to A collaboration of Cornell University, University of Rochester, and the NYS Center for School Safety " Alcohol use and the developing teen brain Recent research suggests that alcohol use affects adolescents and adults differently, which makes sense given what we now know about the changes going on in the teen brain. While more research needs to be done in this area, Duke University scientists say “the available research suggests that adolescents are more vulnerable than adults to the effects of alcohol on learning and memory. Not only do they react differently to the initial effects of alcohol, studies suggest that teens who repeatedly use alcohol can suffer long-term effects. Preliminary studies using rats have shown that those with repeated alcohol exposure during adolescence are more sensitive to alcohol induced impairments later in life". Most people who drinking alcohol while they driving had accidents by cars. What about if they are teenage? There are some people who say if we allow teenage for drinking alcohol that will rise down the car accidents. Because they will not driving their cars after finishing their party. Teenage were allowed to drink alcohol in America, but they had a lot of car accidents that made the government to change the laws. According to American Journal of Public Health (45), “Wagener provides an excellent description of Michigan’s experience in rising its legal drinking age in a previous issue of this journal. We summarize his account with special emphasis on the key influences and messages and the role of research findings that shaped the process of the change in the law. Michigan lowered its MLDA to 18 in 1972 as part of a legislative package that also lowered the age of majority from age 21 to age 18. In the years following passage of the age-18 MLDA, evidence began to emerge showing a significant increase in traffic crashes among 18–20-year-olds the study found an 18% reduction in late-night Single-vehicle crashes and a 31% reduction in police reported Alcohol-related traffic crashes among 18–20- year-olds in the years following the increase in the Michigan MLDA. The study results were well publicized, and in the general election the proposed amendment to lower the MLDA to 19 was defeated with a 62% margin". So that study means if we change the drinking age it will be bad idea and we will have more than the usual of cars accident. Another thing that will affect teenagers when they drink alcohol before 21 ages is the growth of their bodies. It has been said that most of teenagers’ bodies have stopped from growth. The human body naturally stops growth in the 21 age. It’s really sad to see a teenager whose body has stopped from growth and the reason is because he has started drink alcohol before 21 ages. "Growth hormone is predominately secreted during the early sleeping hours of the night and because alcohol tends to disrupt natural sleep rhythms, it will decrease the amount of growth hormone released.” (Askmen.com. P: 1). it is very important for teenagers’ bodies to growth in their ages. After that they can drink alcohol if they want to. In fact, this problem leads to another. If the person has problem with his hormones and they have stopped from growth, he may get a trouble with birth control. Anyway, this is a big issue and people should think about it. Parents are responsible of their teenagers. Wither they allow to them to drink alcohol before 21 ages or after this age. All the people get their freedom when they are 18 years old. Most the counters allow people to drink alcohol when people get 18 years old except America. Even though they are allowed to drive when they are 17 years old, this is not very heathy for them. They may also marry when they are 18 years old. According to Journal of Safety “Twenty-one is not working’. Many of the messages in this current initiative are similar to those used in previous MLDA debates. These include: (i) individuals who are old enough to die at war should be old enough to drink alcohol; (ii) we should be teaching young adults how to drink responsibly, and (iii) individuals aged 18–20 years are able to get married and vote, thus they should also be trusted to make reasonable decisions about alcohol use. Proponents of the new effort to lower the MLDA also suggest that Europeans have a lower drinking age and fewer alcohol problems." What is the right legal drinking age? That allows people who are above than 18 or 21 (it depends on the country’s law) to drink alcohol or go to the bar. I would recommend the law that allows people who are from 21 and above are able to drink alcohol. So many bad things will happen to teenagers if they drink alcohol before 21 ages. These things will affect their life and their future. Teenagers have really strong brain that will be affected if they drink alcohol before 21 ages. Alcohol affects teenagers’ brains more than adults. Their growth hormone will be affected from alcohol as well. They will have problems with their growth. Protect teenagers from heart and brain disease is one of the advantages that if teenagers drink alcohol after 21 ages. Also, car accidents will be less than before. With more caring from teenagers’ parents by guiding them to the good ways in their life, teenagers will be safe more than before. Works Cited Adolescent Brain Development. (2002). Retrieved from http://www.actforyouth.net/resources/rf/rf_brain_0502.pdf TQ0310171, Team. What is alcohol?. Oracle ThinkQuest. 2003. Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0310171/what_is_alcohol.htm Wilson M, Stearne A, Gray D, Saggers S.The harmful use of alcohol amongst indigenous Australians. Australian Indigenous HealthInforNet. 2002. Retrieved from http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/health-risks/alcohol/reviews/our-review# Impact of legislation raising the legal drinking age in Massachusetts from 18 to 20. American Journal of Public Health; Feb83, Vol. 73 Issue 2, p163-170. Traci L. Toomey, Toben F. Nelson & Kathleen M. Lenk. The age-21 minimum legal drinking age: a case study linking past and current debates. Addiction policy case studies. Journal of Safety Research; Apr2010, Vol. 41 Issue 2, p173-181, 9. Read More