Helpful Link

Although this particular link does not discuss the issue around drinking age, it is very helpful with the problems surrounding alcohol. It illustrates the health dangers with drinking including long term and short term problems. It is helpful because it helps clarify binge drinking, and it gives a list of statistics defining alcohol abuse. It is a sight that helps individuals learn if they infact have a drinking problem.

Alcohol Awareness

Curbing of Binge Drinking

As described earlier, binge drinking is a serious and harmful threat to our youth. Even though it still remains a problem, binge drinking has declined tremendously. Several studies have shown that college students are beginning to manage their alcohol consumption. With increased alcohol education and social pressures changing, youths are curing their alcohol abuse. In order to find out more detailed information on this please check out this link from Alcohol Problems and Solutions.

Binge Drinking

Drinking Age and Binge Drinking

The newly enforced 1984 drinking age has spawned a generation of binge drinkers. The dangers of alcohol abuse have been shown in the rising amount of deaths across college campuses. By increasing the age of consumption, policy makers have promoted alcohol as being a legal privilege instead of a social beverage. This generation began to see alcohol as a rebellious mechanism. In other countries, alcohol is a respected social drink that is rarely abused by youths. Of course legal drinkers may get drunk in other countries, but binge drinking and deaths is not nearly as prevalent an issue as it is in the US. Therefore, policy makers must lower the drinking ages to try and prevent the abuse of alcohol by youths. If a younger drinking age is not an issue with over 5 billion people, why is it such an issue amongst 300 million people. Once the drinking age is lowered, the rebellious nature of alcohol will disappear. As soon as it disappears, binge drinking and alcohol abuse will no longer be an issue.

"Give me Beer or Give me Death"

Although a crude transformation of Patrick Henry's words, it is at best a representation of the drinking age debate in the US. As all US residents know, the drinking age is a malicious argument which has been deliberated since the dark days of prohibition. However, some youngsters might not know that 21 year drinking age stipulation was not established until 1984. Regardless, it is absolutely ridiculous that the drinking age should be set at such a high age. As the country who prides itself as being the fog light of freedom, why must our citizens freedoms be revoked over such a trivial issue. Most importantly, I think the most ridiculous aspect of this law is the responsibility we are held to prior to being allowed to drink. The two most disheartening issues are two entirely unique and different examples. War, why can I be drafted or volunteer to fight and die for my country but not be able to drink a beer. Weddings, why can I get married but not celebrate with a glass of champagne. I admit Drunk Driving accidents are a terrible and disastrous events that should not be overlooked. In response, should we not be intelligent about this and look at the extenuating circumstances, social implications, alcohol abuse, and cultural settings that contribute to Drinking and Driving. However, one must remember the drinking age debate is not solely about Drinking and Driving, but more about alcohol abuse. In doing so, one will realize that by lowering the drinking age and altering certain factors(parental discretion, youth alcohol education, cultural development, safe-drinking encouragement) that alcohol abuse will certainly diminish in the US.