Raising the Alcohol Consumption and Purchasing Age Limit - Essay Example

Raising the Alcohol Consumption/Purchasing Age Limit

Alcohol consumption is an acceptable social behavior in the western world. In the US, most states have the age of 18 years as the threshold for purchasing alcoholic drinks. Most countries in Europe also have 18 years as the minimum age for purchasing alcoholic drinks (Carpenter 133). Excess consumption of alcohol has long-term ramifications especially diseases including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, liver disease, breast cancer ,mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon cancers among others (Carpenter 133). Currently, there are many teens or adolescents involved in drinking. Usually, most of the adolescents drink as a risk-taking activity, and fitting in with their peers. According to Hingsong (45), based on 2010 survey, there were over 40, 000 underage deaths associated to drinking and about 11% of underage youths who drink were aged 11-20 years, 90% of their consumption being binge drinking. The aim of this exploration is to examine the benefits of raising the alcohol age limit, the negative impacts of the problem and counter-arguments. Therefore, raising the age for alcohol purchasing and drinking is a step in the right direction since it offers significant solutions to adolescent problems associated with alcohol drinking.

The USA is one of the few developed countries with the minimum drinking age of over 18 years. Actually, there has been a shift in the age limit in the past century. In countries like Belgium and Germany, 16 years is the minimum age for purchasing alcohol (Carpenter 133). One of the reasons why there is a call to raise the age limit for alcohol drinking is the responsibility or control factor. In Australia, doctors are calling on the government to raise the drinking age limit to 21 years. According to the doctors, 63% of youths aged 18-24 are admitted to counselling due to their inability to stop or control their drinking and consequently vulnerable to the risk of heavy drinking like traffic accidents, injuries from violence, suicide, and hospitalizations (Bergin 23). More than 250,000 deaths nationwide in the last 10 years have been attributed to drunken factors. In the US, the CDC estimates that in states where age limit for alcohol purchase is 21 years, there has been a 16% decrease in traffic fatalities translating to 800 lives saved annually (Bergin 45).

In New York, the raging debate on increasing the age limit for drinking from 19 to 21 is underway. According to Bergin (15), there were about 800 deaths in New York in 2016 attributed to alcohol with 40% highway accidents. The proponents are convinced that just as raising of age limit from 18 to 19 two years ago saved lives, changing the limit to 21 years will save more lives. If the legal purchase is raised, Bergin (46) points out that many are convinced that 60-75 lives will be saved and translate to 44% reduction in fatal accidents among the youth.

Other groups are pushing for the age limit of drinking alcohol to be raised to 25 and attribute their reasoning to scientific findings on human brain development. According to Tapert et al, brain and nervous system’s full development and maturity do not occur until the age of 25 (204). The use of marijuana, cigarettes, and drugs develop abnormalities in the brains of those under 25 years; drugs impair brain development. Tapert et al states that “similar effects of cognitive decline, poor attention, decreased IQ would be found in alcohol consumers who have not reached 25 years of age” (p.206). Equally, research revealed that hippocampal volumes were smaller in adolescents with alcohol use problems as opposed to larger hippocampal volume in those who have used alcohol for a shorter period in later life (Tapert et al. 208). Another factor fueling the debate is school attendance and the academic performance since the assumption is that keeping alcohol from the youths increases class attendance. Students in states where the legal age for drinking is 21 are 13 times more likely to stay in school as opposed to those in the states with 18 as the minimum age (Hingsong 45). From 18 years, most teenagers have finished high school, and having higher attendance highly impact their academic performance. Accordingly, Hingsong (45) referred to studies that have suggested that college students are more likely to drink alcohol heavily in comparison to normal adults. A recent study in England inferred out that 21% of the sampled 770 college students from 7 universities exhibited signs of alcohol use disorder (Bergin 20). Frequent drinking was associated with poor academic problems, lower study hours, and lower reported grades. Raising the age limit will, therefore, provide students with more time and evoke the discipline to study and attain good grades.

Another argument for raising the purchasing age for alcohol is that lower the drinking age contributes to alcohol abuse in later life. According to Jacob (67), people who begin drinking at the age of 15 years usually develop dependency and addiction later life as compared to those who begin at 20 or 25 years. Those who begin drinking in early teenage years, especially 11 or 12 years, have a 16% chance of becoming alcoholics ten years later (Jacob 56). Children who begin drinking early do so due to the environmental influences like the lack of parental monitoring, and family acceptance. In adolescents, as Jacob (45) points out, alcohol drinking and alcoholism are associated with impulsivity and seeking out new adventures. Therefore, raising the age limit to 21 or 25 will minimize the incidences of impulses, outbursts, alcoholism and addiction are minimized.

Sexual assault and high-risk sex are other problems associated with adolescent drinking. For instance, 10% of female high school students drinking with male partners reported having experienced raping (Jacob 67). Alcohol impairs judgment, causes nausea, confusion and when in a carefree environment, young people especially the adolescents, often engage in risky behaviors like unprotected sex. Jacob (69) noted that high-risk sex includes the failure to use protection and multiple sexual partners which may result in unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS. Raising the age limit for alcohol purchasing and drinking will, therefore, act as a preventative measure against irresponsible sexual behavior.

Raising the age limit for alcohol will reduce suicide cases. According to Tapert et al, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among the youth (p.210). Young people using alcohol are more likely to indulge in binge drinking as a way of relieving stress or sorrow. In one study, 37% of ladies who consumed alcohol reported suicidal thoughts as opposed to the 11% who did not (Tapert et al. 201). Hence, raising the alcohol drinking/purchasing age limit will, thus, have a significant impact on the reduction of suicide rates. However, there are opposers to the raising of the age limit of alcohol drinking/purchasing. Eighteen years is seen as the age of consent and teens regarded legally adults; to enjoy rights like voting and joining the military, taking away their right to buy alcohol is an infringement to the youth’s freedom. DeJong and Blanchette (109) observe that an imposition on banning alcohol for the youths will mean the youths getting drinks by other means thereby promoting a culture of secretiveness.

Another argument for the necessity to raise drinking age is that the law will reduce drunk driving (DeJong and Blanchette 109); the proponents of raising age limit for drinking argue that it has reduced drunk driving. DeJong and Blanchette (109) observe that drunk driving mostly occurs when people are from parties, clubs, and work intoxicated. Although the problem is common with younger adults over 21 years, the prevalence is much prevalent in adolescents. Raising the age limit will not only eliminate drunk driving but certainly reduce the incidences among teenagers.

Some believe that by allowing the drinking to be 18 years, it instills responsibility at early years (DeJong and Blanchette, 109). Nothing could be farther from the truth as others who wish to drink even at a much earlier age might also argue that drinking at 15 will lead to early maturity. Developments of certain habits such as drinking require the right framework of mind where decisions can be made soberly. At 21 years, DeJong and Blanchette (108) state that young adults have emotionally stabilized and developed identities of themselves hence can practice more drinking responsibly (p.111).Many fear that raising the age limit will lead to the loss of revenue, unemployment and negative effects on tourists who come from backgrounds where the drinking age is much lower (DeJong and Blanchette 113).

The benefits highlighted in this exploration such as saving lives are superior to revenue collection (Bergin, 2016). Islamic countries are known for no-alcohol policy but yet the countries still get tourists who are more than happy to indulge in other adventurers. There are other studies confirming that newly licensed drivers are most likely to be involved in fatal drunk driving. About 35% of the 24-year-old are habitually involve in the blood-alcohol-concentration accident (Tapert et al. 208). Countries in Europe where the drinking age limit is 16 years have fewer alcohol-related accidents than in the USA. Normalizing alcohol consumption among the adolescents is not morally acceptable. Allowing the teens to purchase and drink freely is equivalent to introducing irresponsible use of money. At late teenagers, most people are not working but usually dependent on parental support (Tapert et al. 216). Habitual drinking will, therefore, expose teenagers to losing money extravagance. According to Bergin (9), instead of focusing on the age factor, the debate should shift to enforcing laws obligating people to stop drinking. Actually raising of age limit is measure that will require strict law enforcement because of those who would want to get it illegally.

In conclusion, the current age limit for alcohol purchase/consumption is 18 years in most states. There is a strong debate going on in the US, Australia, New Zealand among countries to raise that age limit to 21 years and above. The use of alcohol has been associated with drunk driving, fatalities, interference with brain development, sexual irresponsibility, poor academic performance, suicidal thoughts, and addiction among the teenagers. It is, therefore, necessary to increase the age limit to 21 or 25 as a countermeasure against the risk factors associated with alcohol consumption. The opponents of the raising of the age limit argue that this will interfere with young adult’s freedom of choice, increase secretive irresponsible behavior, and the loss of revenue. However, raising of age limit is more of a moral argument since and hence the focus should be more on the advantages that will benefit society. Raising alcohol age drinking/consumption is set to be a raging debate but the benefits of raising the age outweigh the disadvantages. Essentially, raising age limit for alcohol purchasing and increasing has more benefits than negative on the society.

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The use of marijuana, cigarettes, and drugs develop abnormalities in the brains of those under 25 years; drugs impair brain development. Tapert et al states that “similar effects of cognitive decline, poor attention, decreased IQ would be found in alcohol consumers who have not reached 25 years of age” (p.206). Equally, research revealed that hippocampal volumes were smaller in adolescents with alcohol use problems as opposed to larger hippocampal volume in those who have used alcohol for a shorter period in later life (Tapert et al. 208). Another factor fueling the debate is school attendance and the academic performance since the assumption is that keeping alcohol from the youths increases class attendance. Students in states where the legal age for drinking is 21 are 13 times more likely to stay in school as opposed to those in the states with 18 as the minimum age (Hingsong 45). From 18 years, most teenagers have finished high school, and having higher attendance highly impact their academic performance. Accordingly, Hingsong (45) referred to studies that have suggested that college students are more likely to drink alcohol heavily in comparison to normal adults. A recent study in England inferred out that 21% of the sampled 770 college students from 7 universities exhibited signs of alcohol use disorder (Bergin 20). Frequent drinking was associated with poor academic problems, lower study hours, and lower reported grades. Raising the age limit will, therefore, provide students with more time and evoke the discipline to study and attain good grades.

Another argument for raising the purchasing age for alcohol is that lower the drinking age contributes to alcohol abuse in later life. According to Jacob (67), people who begin drinking at the age of 15 years usually develop dependency and addiction later life as compared to those who begin at 20 or 25 years. Those who begin drinking in early teenage years, especially 11 or 12 years, have a 16% chance of becoming alcoholics ten years later (Jacob 56). Children who begin drinking early do so due to the environmental influences like the lack of parental monitoring, and family acceptance. In adolescents, as Jacob (45) points out, alcohol drinking and alcoholism are associated with impulsivity and seeking out new adventures. Therefore, raising the age limit to 21 or 25 will minimize the incidences of impulses, outbursts, alcoholism and addiction are minimized.

Sexual assault and high-risk sex are other problems associated with adolescent drinking. For instance, 10% of female high school students drinking with male partners reported having experienced raping (Jacob 67). Alcohol impairs judgment, causes nausea, confusion and when in a carefree environment, young people especially the adolescents, often engage in risky behaviors like unprotected sex. Jacob (69) noted that high-risk sex includes the failure to use protection and multiple sexual partners which may result in unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS. Raising the age limit for alcohol purchasing and drinking will, therefore, act as a preventative measure against irresponsible sexual behavior.

Raising the age limit for alcohol will reduce suicide cases. According to Tapert et al, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among the youth (p.210). Young people using alcohol are more likely to indulge in binge drinking as a way of relieving stress or sorrow. In one study, 37% of ladies who consumed alcohol reported suicidal thoughts as opposed to the 11% who did not (Tapert et al. 201). Hence, raising the alcohol drinking/purchasing age limit will, thus, have a significant impact on the reduction of suicide rates. However, there are opposers to the raising of the age limit of alcohol drinking/purchasing. Eighteen years is seen as the age of consent and teens regarded legally adults; to enjoy rights like voting and joining the military, taking away their right to buy alcohol is an infringement to the youth’s freedom. Read More