Drinking Age Should Be Lower - Coursework Example

Drinking Age should be lower I. Introduction The idea of this paper is to support the notion that ‘Drinking Age should be Lower’ than what it is now. The standard age of having the permit to drink alcohol is 21 years. MY basic point is if a boy is allowed to have a driver’s license at the age of 18; is allowed to be a part of the country’s politics by the right to vote than why not he be allowed to have the legal authority to have alcohol at a lower age than 21. I have made some observations ad found that the consumption of alcohol is not at all thing to prohibit, rather it is something that every kid should be trained to have in proper manner. A. Thesis Statement Drinking alcohol should be made legally permissible from a much younger age. II. Background The number of people in their late teens and early 20s being treated for alcohol-related illnesses is growing1. However, the process of prohibition is more likely destroy the innate control over the habit of drinking alcohol. It has got the risk to promote great surplus and abusive drinking among the teenagers. Most of the time people drink alcohol in heavy amount when they find obstructions in getting it. The age-specific prohibition thus plays the role in more drastic way. These prohibitions lead to heavy drinking even when they grow old. This also leads to the development of secret locations and voracious drinking. III. A. First counter argument - Drinking alcohol should be banned nation wide under strict legal authorisation. Supporting evidence Drinking of alcohol is very dangerous for people below the age of 16 in particular.2 B. Refute to counter ‘The early Church declared that alcohol was an inherently good gift of God to be used and enjoyed. While individuals might choose not to drink, to despise alcohol was heresy’3. The drinking of alcohol as gets restricted among the youth the scene turns up different. It becomes the ‘forbidden fruit,’ and thus raises more temptation for consumption. Anyways, the above statement itself says that after 16 it is not dangerous to consume alcohol. Supporting evidence US have tried twice to prohibit the habit of drinking among the youth below 21. First at the state level in the 1850's and next was at the national level in the beginning of 1920. These efforts were unenforceable. They rather and generated serious social predicaments. Every time there is a national attempt to ban the drinking there is a widespread violation of law, the growth of organized crime, and above all there is the development of immoderate consumption patterns; especially among the youth. IV. A. Second counter argument Young people are engrossing themselves into drinking and thus reducing the age limit will further create more people joining the list. Supporting evidence Most of the parents reports that their teenaged kids are more under the influence of risky behaviour and their attitudes are more aggressive. According to a survey almost 82 percent of parents considered that teens' alcohol-related risky behavior is the main hurdle and the chief problem in society today. There are some other views that say that the 56 percent who say that it is a big problem and needs to be solve as fast as possible.4 B. Refute to counter ‘According to latest speculations this is no more a correct these days. These days in reality very few young people are drinking and their average consumption levels have been dropping constantly. Supporting evidence The graph below shows the proportion of high school seniors who have recently consumed alcohol daily.5 Next graph is of high school seniors who have consumed 5 or more drinks on an occasion within previous two weeks. 6 V. A. Third counter argument Drinking alcohol can harm health and drinking from a young age can make things worse. It has been said that the ‘typical bottle of beer, glass of wine or spirits drink each contains the same amount of alcohol. When it comes to alcohol content, a drink is a drink is a drink...they're all the same to a Breathalyzer’. Supporting evidence 66 percent of parents say that the advertisements related to alcohol are affecting their kids very seriously.7 B. Refute to counter This is ridiculous as a kid by the age of 16 is a fully grown person. He acquires the minimum ability to make a judgment. The process should be to EatWise, which will help in living healthy. The EatWise Pyramid suggests exercise and moderate alcohol consumption to every human being on regular basis. This alcohol category contains beer, wine and distilled spirits. Supporting evidence Beer wine and spirits have fewer calories and less sodium than milk. Both have got no fat or cholesterol, and thus are best for kids who are suffering from obesity.   Milk (one cup regular milk) Wine (in a glass) Beer (in a can or in a bottle) 80 proof distilled spirits (1.5 oz shot or jigger) Calories 148 72 145 97 Sodium (mg) 120 8 18 0.4 Fat (g) 5 0 0 0 Cholesterol (mg) 34 0 0 0 Source. US department of Agriculture (USDA) nutritional tables and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). To see the matter more specifically, a glass of white or red wine, a bottle of beer, and a shot of whiskey or other distilled spirits are all filled with equivalent amounts of alcohol and strangely enough these are same to that of a Breathalyzer. In general and when taken in less quantity they are of no harm. In a standard drink the basic ingredients are: 12-ounce bottle beer 5-ounce full glass of wine 1 1/2 ounce of 80 proof distilled spirits.8 VI. Conclusion These issues are in reality changing the basic merits of taking alcohol. It is all about having the knowledge and proper guidance for the same. Most of the German youth consider that if someone is allowed to drink earlier in Europe so he will very easily get used to the experiences with alcohol, so by the time he reaches the age of 18, he will gain more responsibilities about the consumption of it and can take care of himself and his friends. Eventually, it has been discovered that in Europe, the consensus is that when alcohol is not exiled into a corner of society, it is demystified, and so are of lesser concern. This is the reason that in Europe the accessibility towards it is positive and there is very less incidences regarding the misuse of it. Keeping the soberness of European kids I want to say that at the least, the age of 18 should be legal to consume in socially controlled environment. Moreover in reality, people of any age should be permitted to consume alcohol under the direct administration of their parents in their own homes. This will help them to grow the habit as a part of culture. It will help in avoiding irresponsible mannerism. References Avis, H. Drugs and Life. McGraw-Hill, 1999, p. 63; Blume, S. Women: Clinical Aspects. In: Lowenson, J., et al. (Eds.) 1997. Austin, Gregory A. Alcohol in Western Society from Antiquity to 1800: A Chronological History. 1985, pp. 44 and 47-48. Barr, A. Drink: A Social History of America. New York: Carroll & Graff, 1999 p. 268; Drinking Age Limits. International Centre for Alcohol Policies. Washington, DC: International Centre for Alcohol Policies, 1998. Shattering Myths About Drinking. Tallahassee, Bureau of Alcoholic Rehabilitation. Florida: Department of Health and Rehbilative Services, 1973, p. 11. Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G. and Schulenberg, J. E. Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2007, Monitoring the Future national Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975-2006. Volume I, Secondary School Students.669 pages. Philips,M. et al. Endogenous ethanol - its metabolic, behavioural and biomedical significance. Alcohol, 1986, 3, 239-247. The definitive review of the research literature is Fisher, J. C. Advertising, Alcohol Consumption, and Abuse: A Worldwide Survey. Connecticut: Greenwood, 1993. Read More