Miss Amethyst

Miss Amethyst

Should the legal drinking age be lowered?

The 21 minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) law is currently one of the most studied and discussed laws in the U.S.. This article presents the views of different stakeholders in this matter.

The United States has the highest legal drinking age in the western world. This age limit was set by the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. This law was largely driven by the desire to drive traffic fatalities related to alcohol reduction.

This requires all U.S. states to legislate and implement a legal minimum age of 21 years for the purchase and public possession of alcoholic beverages. States not comply with the provisions of the Act are subject to a 10% percent decrease in its annual Federal Highway division.

There are a number of ambiguities in the provisions of the law. This law "explicitly requires states to prohibit purchase and public possession of alcoholic beverages. It makes the prohibition of persons not required under 21 (also called youth or minors) from drinking alcoholic beverages. "There are also controversies regarding the term" public property ", which in principle not applicable the following situations: – alcohol for established religious purposes, under the supervision of adults – alcohol for medical purposes, prescribed or administered by an approved care – Alcohol use in private clubs or establishments – alcohol possession as part of a job with a "duly licensed manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer."

The it is not surprising that parents and anti-drunk advocacy groups are those who strongly against lowering the age limit. In early 1970, the minimum drinking age lowered by various States between 18 to 20 years in line with the reduced military enlistment and voting age during the Vietnam War. Many studies show that this step resulted an increase in fatalities and injuries.

According to statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), annual alcohol consumption by students ages 18 to 24 contributes to: – About 1700 students deaths – nearly 600.00 injuries – almost 700,000 attacks – More than 90,000 sexual violence – 474,000 involvement in unprotected sex

In 1998, 42% of crash deaths among 18 to 20 years old were alcohol related. However, drinking rates among youth has declined since the 21-MLDA law came into force. According National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 21 minimum drinking age law saved approximately 900 lives each year. This means more than 17,000 lives were saved, since all states adopted the law in 1988. The 21 minimum age law is considered one of the most effective public safety laws today. Many studies have been conducted to measure the effectiveness and they all have the same conclusion, the law saves lives.

One of the most influential proponents of the legal age is 21 MADD. This non-profit organization established in 1980 with the mission of helping victims of crime is caused by people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It also aims to support families of the victims and public awareness of the problem of drinking and drugged driving increase. MADD was considered one of the most influential proponents of the signing of the minimum age Drinking act in 1984.

The 21-MLDA is closely related to the issue of college drinking. Alcohol Abuse in colleges and universities in the U.S. is becoming a major problem, MLDA despite existing law. In 2002, a report that reviews the state of the science of college drinking was published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol. According to the report, approximately 80% of students drink and about 50% is about "heavy episodic drinking" or better known as binge drinking.

Scientific evidence has shown that drinking at an early age can lead to alcohol dependence later in life. A British cohort study showed that teenage binge drinkers are more likely to be heavy drinkers as adults, which can lead to social exclusion and crime. In this more recent study in the U.S., age at onset of drinking is an important indicator of the risk of alcohol dependence among American women.

Adults aged 18 to 20 years old who are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages are of course the number one opponent of the 21 MLDA. They raise concerns about the apparent inconsistency in prohibiting them while they were drinking treated as adults in most areas of life. Thus, U.S. citizens may vote when they 18 years old. Eighteen year old men are obliged to do national service for possible drafting. This means that 18-year-old men can go to war and carry arms. Eighteen-year-olds can also be selected for the jury. These groups are now asking why they can be trusted to vote, serve the military and the judiciary, but can not be trusted to drink alcohol.

Due to portray alcohol as a forbidden fruit, the MLDA law is really attractive drink to the young. This observation is not just limited to alcohol, but other substances such as illicit drugs. However, the big difference is that access to alcohol, but by law regulated, it is easier and more affordable than drugs. Also by linking the law of the age, is a challenge for the youth to prove their maturity and adulthood.

Moreover, history shows that prohibition of alcohol, as was the case in the beginning of the last century in many countries, including the U.S., but recurrent encouraged excessive drinking.

Those responsible for the reduction of MLDA argue that the current law actually worsened the drinking water problem in colleges.

According to Indiana University professor Ruth scary: – Students who are "vomiting after drinking" increased from 46% in 1982-1987 to 50% after the age law has changed. – "Cutting class after drinking" increased from 9% to almost 12% – "Missing classes because of hangover" increased from 26% to 28% – "On the low rates due to drinking" increased from 5% to 7% – "Been in a fight after drinking" increased from 12% to 17%

This increase in excessive and irresponsible drinking is due to "underground drinking "in dormitories, fraternity basements and apartments without adult supervision. These young drinkers lack the knowledge of responsible drinking behavior. By lowering the MLDA, can young people learn early proper standards of social drinking, under supervision, thus contributing to the problem of irresponsible drinking problems.

The Amethyst Initiative to reduce the MLDA came from the most unexpected places – top officials from several American universities. The Amethyst Initiative, launched in 2008, is an organization composed of more than 100 university leaders, including presidents and chancellors of prestigious institutions such as Duke University, Dartmouth College and Johns Hopkins. The organization members claim based on their campus experience, "Twenty-One does not", so there is a need in the existing legislation to investigate MLDA.

The Amethyst Initiative suggests that drinking problems before starting university. They now call on the legislature to review the current alcohol policy and new ideas to develop young adults to prepare in more responsible alcohol drinkers.

According to a 2002 report by the International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP), The United States has the highest legal drinking age in the world. The five other countries set a minimum drinking age of 21 years are Chile, Egypt, Honduras, Russia and Samoa. In some countries there are exceptions or special circumstances that the age for alcohol consumption may influence. Examples of these include: – In Norway, beer and wine may be consumed at the age of 18 years and ghosts at the age of 20. – In Canada, drinking age legislated by each province. Three provinces set age 18 years if consumption age while the rest have the limit at 19. In the UK, alcohol can be consumed from the age of 5 with parental consent. Opponents MLDA of 21 Europeans claim to have reduced problems of alcoholism and alcohol-related traffic accidents despite the lower minimum age.

The National Minimum drinking age Act of 1984 is full of loopholes and ambiguities. Example, provisions prohibiting the purchase, sale and public property, but not consumption of alcohol by minors be confusing. While all states prohibit vendors from selling liquor to minors, some states prohibit minors from purchasing alcohol. Some states allow minors to sell or serve alcoholic beverages without adult supervision, the majority of states do not prohibit minors from entering drinking establishments. Because of these gaps, cross-state drinking excursions from strict states and countries are frequently less severe. It is also common for young people close to the borders with Canada and Mexico to binge drinking abroad. " go

Drinking is a matter for the government year. Both proponents and opponents of the 21 age limit agrees that alcohol is a serious problem among the youth, but can not agree on common solutions to this problem.

Solving the problem is probably begin to tackle the aforementioned gaps in the MLDA. These shortcomings weaken enforcement of the law in the control of underage drinking. In addition, the mutually collaboration of key stakeholders and efforts towards further study.

About the Author

The article Should The Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered? may be found in its entirety with references and links on http://HealthWorldNet.com .

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