![Schulte 2
with parental consent; twenty-five [states] allow it for religious purposes, and eleven allow it for
educational purposes, such as culinary school (2). Even with these exceptions, today an
estimated 10.8 million American teens drink illegally (Jones 1). It has been proven that the most
dangerous activities occur when drinking between the ages of eighteen and twenty in the US. In
2008, the presidents of over 100 college campuses signed a petition that the drinking age laws
were unsuccessful; this sparked a debate across the country (Barnhill 2). This discussion,
brought, several controversial viewpoints that argue what the legal drinking age should be in the
United States.
The argument presented today consists of persons who believe that citizens, of the United
States, under the age of eighteen, are not mature enough to consume alcohol and are more likely
to harm themselves or others. Many parents of college students are against lowering the drinking
age because they are concerned with the number of teens who would drink and drive (Main 36).
However, in a New York Times article, John McCardell states, that number of individuals who
drink and drive decreased in all age groups when the drinking age was raised, not only eighteen
year-olds (1). The number of drunken driving accidents has even declined by the same percent in
Canada, where the drinking age is eighteen (McCardell 2). The parents of college students are
also fearful of an increase in teen violence and a growth in the number of young people who
would acquire alcohol poisoning (Main 36). Some people even argue that there would be an
increase in hazardous sexual behavior among teens. If teens consume alcohol they become
vulnerable in situations where they might give into the peer pressure of having unplanned or
unprotected sex (Main 37).
Individuals, especially the parents of many teenagers are concerned that drinking
prohibits their childs ability to focus in school. Drinking affects the brain negatively. It harms](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/743d636e-d800-4807-9ea4-1e7b67214dbc-160218212608/85/Research-Paper-2-320.jpg)
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Research Paper
- 1. Schulte 1 Gabby Schulte Professor McCullough English 101-04 11 April 2014 Moderation Not Intolerance Ever since I can remember I was always told by my parents and teachers not to consume alcoholic drinks. I was not educated on the repercussions of drinking or given any basic information about what happens when you are intoxicated. I was not taught what a standard drink was or how to calculate how much alcohol is contained in a drink. My senior year of high school was the first time I consumed an alcoholic beverage. I got into a car with my friends who had been drinking and went to a school football game. Luckily we made it to the stadium safely, but when it became apparent to my principal that my friends and I were in the stands intoxicated, we were suspended from school. My parents were surprised because I had always strived to please them and never did anything that would cause myself to receive such consequences. What can I say? I was one year away from college and I was curious what it was going to be like. Now, attending Xavier University, I am glad I experienced this because I would not have wanted to come to college without ever having a taste of alcohol. From my experience, I have learned information about drinking that I would not have absorbed if I did not make this mistake. I strongly believe that the drinking age should be lowered to the age of 18 to encourage the 80% of underage college drinkers to drink safely and responsibly on campus. In 1984, the drinking age was raised from eighteen to twenty-one due to an increase in the number of car accidents that occurred from young adults drinking and driving (Barnhill 1). Doctor John Barnhill states, twenty-nine US states allow teenagers to drink on private property
- 2. Schulte 2 with parental consent; twenty-five [states] allow it for religious purposes, and eleven allow it for educational purposes, such as culinary school (2). Even with these exceptions, today an estimated 10.8 million American teens drink illegally (Jones 1). It has been proven that the most dangerous activities occur when drinking between the ages of eighteen and twenty in the US. In 2008, the presidents of over 100 college campuses signed a petition that the drinking age laws were unsuccessful; this sparked a debate across the country (Barnhill 2). This discussion, brought, several controversial viewpoints that argue what the legal drinking age should be in the United States. The argument presented today consists of persons who believe that citizens, of the United States, under the age of eighteen, are not mature enough to consume alcohol and are more likely to harm themselves or others. Many parents of college students are against lowering the drinking age because they are concerned with the number of teens who would drink and drive (Main 36). However, in a New York Times article, John McCardell states, that number of individuals who drink and drive decreased in all age groups when the drinking age was raised, not only eighteen year-olds (1). The number of drunken driving accidents has even declined by the same percent in Canada, where the drinking age is eighteen (McCardell 2). The parents of college students are also fearful of an increase in teen violence and a growth in the number of young people who would acquire alcohol poisoning (Main 36). Some people even argue that there would be an increase in hazardous sexual behavior among teens. If teens consume alcohol they become vulnerable in situations where they might give into the peer pressure of having unplanned or unprotected sex (Main 37). Individuals, especially the parents of many teenagers are concerned that drinking prohibits their childs ability to focus in school. Drinking affects the brain negatively. It harms
- 3. Schulte 3 the part of the brain that is responsible for learning and memory (Jones 140). College students are now attending parties no only on weekends, but weekdays, as well. Students tend to skip classes after a long night of partying due to hangovers or lack of sleep. College students often begin to put off their schoolwork, which results in lower test grades (Jones 140). These students begin to forget the real reason of why they are at college: to obtain their degree and not to drink every night. I do believe drinking on school nights effects students academically. I have a number of friends who participate in thirsty Thursday, which is the college phrase that means to go out and drink on Thursday nights. Here, at Xavier, a number of students, especially freshmen go to Danas bowling ally and drink on Thursday nights. Many of these teens were not able to drink on weekdays before college so they feel the need to drink heavily because it is something new and exciting. My friends almost always end up skipping their classes on Fridays because they stay out until three or four in the morning, and have no motivation to get out of bed. Not only are individuals concerned about eighteen-year-olds short-term safety, but their long- term safety, as well. They believe the drinking age should remain twenty-one because the earlier a person begins to use alcohol the more likely they will become an alcoholic later on in life (Main 37). Parents believe that teens that begin to drink at a young age will become so use to drinking that they will develop a dangerous habit. I view this as untrue because if a person begins to drink at a young age I feel that they will learn to drink in moderation. When they grow up they will either stop drinking because they do not find it enjoyable anymore, or they will continue to drink, but at a safe pace. I also, see it as the parents responsibility for not paying more attention to their children, or providing the right education to them when it comes to drinking, so they will be able to drink safely.
- 4. Schulte 4 Teens, including myself, believe that the drinking age should be lowered to the age of eighteen because this age signifies becoming an adult in the United States. In almost all other countries, the age of majority, or the legal age, coincides with the legal drinking or purchasing age (Main 39). Children in other countries who begin to drink at a young age with the supervision of their parents have a lower chance of abusing alcohol in the future (Whelan 1). Author, Elizabeth Whelan, does not agree with the drinking laws because she has discovered that other European countries that have a drinking age of eighteen are able to learn how to drink safely, gradually, and in moderation. Whelan also came to the realization that today teens are more sophisticated than they were during her time (1). She believes that they have been given an increase of responsibilities, so why not give them one more (2). It just makes sense to allow eighteen year olds to drink because they are already given all of the responsibilities of an adult. Eighteen year olds have the right to vote, sign contracts, marry, adopt children, serve on juries, and enlist in the military (Main 39). Therefore, they should not be denied the ability to consume alcohol. Another reason individuals want to lower the drinking age to eighteen is because they believe that a higher drinking age encourages binge drinking in secrecy. Binge drinking is a term that refers to heavy drinking in a short period of time. Binge drinking is defined as having five or more standard drinks in a row for men, and four drinks for women (Main 36). If teens could drink in restaurants or bars they would be drinking in public where adults would be able to supervise them (Jones 142). Children would begin to learn that a casual glass of wine at dinner is a healthy family activity rather than something that they need to do in secret. Drinking in an open environment encourages teens to ask questions and learn how to drink in moderation (Main 34). This would reduce the number of binge drinkers because it would take away the excitement
- 5. Schulte 5 adolescence receive from breaking the law (Main 36). However, there is a problem with this argument. If these teens are considered adults why should adults be looking after them? Now that medical amnesty laws are being passed on college campuses, safer drinking is taking place. Safer drinking is occurring because students are more comfortable calling campus police when they know they will not be disciplined for their actions. Without these laws, there would be an increase in deaths across the country (Oster-Aaland and Eighmy 717). Students who drink safely do not want to put their college careers in jeopardy for someone who is drinking past their limit. If students feel more comfortable calling the police when they know they will not be punished, imagine how comfortable teens would be if they drank in an environment where there would be no consequences at all. Teens would think that this was something normal. It would take away the need to drink just to fit in and be part of the crowd. When I first came to school at Xavier, I was excited to experience a life of partying. I thought that this was what the college was all about. One night when I heard from a friend that a boy from my dorm was in the hospital getting his stomach pumped due to alcohol poisoning, I was shocked. I did not think that this could happen to someone so close to me. If the drinking age were eighteen would this student have consumed this much alcohol? We do not have this answer, but this boys life was saved because another student was brave and comfortable enough to call for help even though he had been drinking. I believe that because students are bound to drink, against the law or not, we should encourage them to drink safely instead of continuously telling them no to. Teens are obviously not listening. When I first began to research this topic I thought that the drinking age should be lowered to the age of eighteen based on my friends and Is drinking experience, and after further research I now stand in the middle of this argument. I do believe that the drinking age should be lowered
- 6. Schulte 6 to eighteen based on the number of college students who are going to drink whether it is illegal or not. I also think it should be lowered to encourage responsible drinking and drinking in moderation. However, I think the drinking age should remain twenty-one to allow students to focus in school and provides safety on the roads. I believe that no matter what the drinking age is college students, especially my Xavier peers, should learn how to drink safely and responsibly to avoid harm to themselves, and others.