Changing the Legal Drinking Age in Michigan - Essay Example

Changing the Legal Drinking Age in Michigan ABSTRACT The research paper is about the legal drinking age allowed in Michigan which is 21 years of age. The paper will prove that age is not the primary requirement in drinking. Instead it strengthens the urge of the young people to try what is prohibited from them. Introduction Drinking alcoholic beverages was very rampant in different parts of the world mostly in the Western society and is usually done during social gatherings, get-together, and parties. It has been a part of almost every person’s life and majority of these were the young people; trying out of curiosity and getting addicted to it to fit in their society. As defined by Cambridge International Dictionary, alcohol is an item for consumption produced when manufacturing wine, beer and liquor. People who drink these products tend to have behavioral change causing them to do inappropriate acts. Alcohol contains substances that can affect a human body especially its way of thinking and acting on things. It is said that people under the influence of alcohol became fearless in saying their feelings toward other person; they also tend to be bold on doing things. They think that when they take alcohol it makes them better and boosts their self esteem. Legal age as defined by the dictionary is the right age wherein an individual enters adulthood wherein lawful rights and responsibilities should be followed. The legal drinking age in Michigan – a state in the East North Central United states that consist two peninsulas separated by water, was 21 years old. In this research, a variety of facts and opinions will be discussed so as to oppose the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) also known as the Uniform Drinking Age Act of 1984 wherein the MLDA will be 21 years of age. On the other hand, certain facts will also be given to support the 21 years of age as the legal drinking age. The research was done to present both sides of the issue regarding on changing the legal drinking age; considering 18 years of age as the legal age. It is important because it affects the government, society, adults and most especially the youth. RESEARCH AND FINDINGS The legal age is said to be 18 years old wherein a person enters adulthood and with this age, a person is expected to be more mature and is ready to face the society. A person who reached his/her legal age is therefore according to the law allowed to vote, to have a license and to apply for a job. In Michigan, young men and women may go to war at the age of 18 and may drive automobile at the age of 16 but is allowed to drink alcoholic beverages at the age of 21. Undeniably, age is one of the many factors to be considered in selling alcoholic beverages but to look into a larger picture, 21 years of age is old and mature enough to be responsible in his/her action/s. The law says a citizen can vote at the age of 18 because maybe they believe that this age, teenagers are responsible enough to know the laws and policies of the country and yet they are not allowed to drink. If we are to compare voting and drinking, I personally think that voting requires more knowledge and maturity compared to drinking. Another fact is that, manufacturers of these products did not lack anything to their consumers for they have warning/s on their advertisements like the famous tagline of beer, “Drink Moderately.” According to an article, on an Amethyst Initiative – an effort done by McCardell wherein a number of college presidents were called, college presidents signed a statement saying, “Twenty-One is Not Working.” In lieu with the statement here are the reasons supporting the statement (1) a society of risky, clandestine binge-drinking has been made and is usually done outside the campus (2) there was no positive behavioral change with the students; the alcohol education instructing the students to abstain from drinking did not help (3) as mentioned above, people under the age of 21 are capable of voting, contract signing, serving and even joining the military still are not allowed to have beer because of the reason that they are not mature enough (4) students are using fake IDs to have beer therefore disrespecting the law. There are also health benefits in drinking: (1) Psychologically because it reduces stress (2) Cardiovascular because of the reduction in the risk of coronary artery disease (3) increases appetite particularly in the elders. On an article from Times-Picayune, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse Columbia University damaged its on name. The article states, “The notion that teen-agers account for a quarter of the nation's alcohol consumption just doesn't square with reality, and no one at the research center should have believed it. That age group makes up about 13 percent of the U.S. population and has to rely on fake ID cards, indifferent sales clerks or complicit older friends to get alcohol. Can they possibly drink a third as much as the 70-odd percent of Americans who are of legal age?” (Times-Picayune). It was also said in the article that teenagers were drastically over-represented among surveys but Columbia researchers did not consider this; the mistake seems to be on purpose; the researchers just assumed the data in their research. In a memorial lecture of Fedele F and Iris M. Fauri, it states there that 80 percent of children and young ones have tried alcohol and 25 percent are indulged into drinking while 43 percent are drinking regularly. Not allowing people under the age of 21 to take beer is not a good reason to stop or even lessen vehicular accidents. Instead it makes them more aggressive to try what is prohibited. People of today’s generation are full of curiosity that’s why it motivates them to try things that are outlawed. Counter Arguments The legal drinking age in Michigan was initially established by the law and was lowered to 18 in 1972 by the Age of Majority Act. After this, scientists started to study the effects when MLDA was lowered especially on the prevalence of motor vehicle accident which was the top cause of fatality among the youth. According to the studies done and from Michigan Office of Highway Safety traffic crash data, during the 1970s particularly in 1972, there was a drastic increase on motor vehicle accidents wherein 18-20 years old drinking drivers are involved. But in 1979, the MLDA went back to 21 in Michigan; there was a drastic decrease in motor vehicle accidents. Because of this observation, advocacy groups demanded the government to sustain the MLDA to 21. Alcohol affects the body because it is a depressant; it lessens the functioning of the Central Nervous System (CNS) by blocking the pathways of messages towards the brain modifying a person’s perception, emotions, movement, vision and hearing. Yes, in very small amounts it can help a person to be relaxed but in excessive amounts, it can result to intoxication. People who have overused alcohol may stagger, lose their coordination, and slur their speech; confused and disoriented. Depending on the person, intoxication can make someone very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry. People who are intoxicated may think they're moving properly when they're not, acting totally out of character. (kidshealth.org) Consuming a large amount of alcohol in a little period of time may lead to alcohol poisoning; violent vomiting is usually the primary symptom. It may also result to excessive sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty in breathing, low blood sugar, seizure and to worsen death. An article from University of Michigan (UM) entitled U-M releases new study on student drinking behavior written by Ann Arbor says that because of binge-drinking, UM students are undergoing an array of negative consequences – personal, academic and social. This was the result of a survey conducted during their National Alcohol Awareness Week by U-M Substance Abuse Research Center (UMSARC). (Arbor, 1999) According to Carl J. Boyd, associate professor of nursing and women’s studies and director of UMSAC, their study shows that binge drinking among their students stays as a major health and safety concern on their campus. Due to binge drinking, students were missing their classes or works; poor performance on examinations and projects; having hangovers, nausea and vomiting, and loss of memory; to worsen the effects, some were being harassed and/or assaulted. The study that was conducted in UM shows that increase in number of binge-drinking results into frequent and severe consequences. (Boyd, 1999) Another viewpoint to be considered is the church; Southern Baptists strictly oppose drinking and other vices. John MacArthur Jr., a pastor, states in an interview, “Written by Robert Stein, it says this (among other things): “The wine of the Bible was not unfermented grape juice.  Yes, it was different from the wine of today.”  What he means by that is some people would say, “Well, the wine Jesus drank wasn’t fermented.”  Of course it was fermented.  How could they keep it from being fermented?  But it was different from today. (MacArthur Jr.) He added that during the earliest times, wine was typically stored in amphorae – large pointed jugs. When the wine will be use, from the amphorae, it will then be poured in crater- large bowls; then it will be mixed into water and poured into cups. But take note, before drinking the wine, water is being fixed first having a ratio of 20:1 – twenty parts of water to one part of wine. In today’s generation, the ratio of water to wine went down to 1:1 defining it as a strong drink not wine; drinking unmixed wine was seen as a ‘Scythian’ or Barbarian custom because only Barbarians drink unmixed wine. (Robert Stein) Athenaeus, in his work, quotes Mnesitheus of Athens, and this is what he says: “The gods have revealed wine to mortals to be the greatest blessing for those who use it right, but for those who use it without measure, the reverse, for it gives food to them that take it and strength in mind and body and medicine that is beneficial.  It can be mixed with liquid and drugs and bring aid to the wounded.  In daily life, to those who mix and drink it moderately, it gives good cheer.  But if you overstep the bounds, it brings violence.  Mix it half and half, and you get madness; unmixed, body collapse.” (MacArthur Jr.) In the history, wine is evidently seen as a medicine or a solvent for medicines that serves as remedy and naturally as a drink but, it is a mixed drink. Plutarch says, “We call a mixture wine, although the larger of the components is water.” (MacArthur Jr.) Wine was drank diluted in water because it purified the water. To end MacArthur’s interview, he stated that no one takes strong drink unless they are considered Barbarian. In reality not only in the ancient times, drinking alcoholic beverages have greater disadvantages than advantages. There should always be a limitation in everything especially in alcoholic beverages intake. Even researchers exaggerated the number or percentage of accidents because of binge-drinking, it still one of the most common cause of hospitalizations of teenagers and early death of the young ones. Drinking is not prohibited by the law but as citizens of their country, the legal age that the law has implemented should be followed. Conclusion The research therefore conclude that excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages whether the legal drinking age is 18 or 21, may affect one’s health and may even cause death; whether because of health problems or vehicular accidents. Like other things, drinking alcoholic beverages has advantages as well as disadvantages. Even though, the paper’s stand regarding the MLDA is to allow the youth to drink at the age of 18 and not 21 because 21 years of age is too old to experience being drunk or just having a taste of beer or wine. As the saying goes, “experience is the best teacher.” Still, there are set of rules and policies to be followed. In drinking, there should always be a limitation because too much of anything particularly drinking may harm one’s intellectual and personal health. Still, in my own opinion, I personally believe that the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18 because at this age, young ones enter the first phase of adulthood; it is at this age where teenagers seek to explore new ideas and usually excited to face tough responsibilities. As mentioned on the research, students that were usually prohibited in alcohol drinking tend to become more eager to try what is prohibited from them. A person should also have self-control and is discipline enough to know his/her limitations. On the other hand, when it comes to informing the people of the effects whether harmful or not, education regarding alcohol intake should start in our very own homes. Young ones will be taught by the adult through proper supervision and being a good model to them. Lastly, drinking should be moderate and drinker should be responsible of his/her action. References Arbor Ann. (1999) U-M releases new study on student drinking behavior. University of Michigan. October 21, 1999 from http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs /releases/story.php?id=2954 page 4 and page 5 Fauri Fedela F and Iris M. Against Health! How Ideologies of Health and Healthcare can stand in the way of good living (Memorial Lecture). http://deepblue.lib.umich. edu/bitstream/2027.42/57735/1/2006%20Fauri%20Lecture%20Elders.pdf page 3 MacArthur John Jr. Bible Questions and Answers. http://www.biblebb.com/files/macqa/ 1301-9.htm page 5 and 6 The Times-Picayune. 2002 The Times -Picayune Publishing Co. Drunk with Good Intentions. http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/youthissues/1046287698.html page 3 But I heard drinking was good for my health. http://www.med.unc.edu/alcohol/prevention/ benefits.html page 3 Cambridge international dictionary. Alcohol.http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key= alcohol*1+0&dict=A page 1 MSN Encarta Encyclopedia. Michigan. http:’’encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761572168_7/ Michigan.html#s36 page 1 Statement signed by the college presidents: a list of those who have signed; and pros and cons of signing. www.amethystinitiative.org. page 2 and page 3 The Power of the 21 Drinking Age. http://www.preventionnetwork.org/pages/The%20Power %20of%20the%2021%20Drinking%20Age.doc page 2 and page 3 A Brief History of the MLDA. www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13256. page 4 How does it affect the Body?. http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html page 4 TIME partners with CNN. Let the Church Strand UP. http://www.time.com/time/ magazine/article/0,9171,918212-3,00.html page 5 and page 6 Read More