Alcohol In America
Alcohol in America
In their primary years, children are naïve and impressionable. At such a young age, our parents are seen drinking and having a good time, which therefore makes us think that the effects of alcohol are only positive. This is why most teenagers start drinking at such a young age. “Thirteen- to fifteen-year-olds are at high risk to begin drinking. According to results of an annual survey of students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades, 26% of 8th graders, 40% of 10th graders, and 51% of 12th graders reported drinking alcohol in 2008” (Early 1). This just goes to show that because of all the early exposure to alcohol, teens in America tend abuse it at such an early age. \“In fact, alcohol consumption is the third leading …show more content…
“About 29% of teen drivers killed in auto crashes in 2002 had been drinking” (Triplett 1). Young teenagers do not think about the consequences of consuming alcohol and then getting behind the wheel. They are already faced with the responsibility of becoming a new driver. By lowering the legal alcohol age, teenagers now have another thing to worry about. By exposing them to these two new things, one being drinking and the other being driving, they are less likely to know how to handle both responsibilities at the same time. Keeping the legal drinking age at 21 not only saves the lives of individuals, but it also saves the lives of the public. “Half of the people who die in traffic crashes involving underage drinking drivers are people other than the drinking drivers” (Hamilton 1). "My name is Jessica Rasdall, and on Feb. 25, 2006, I killed my best friend”, says Jessica, an 18 year old at the time of the accident. Jessica and her best friend went out to a club, had a few drinks, and then decided to take the wheel while under the influence. Jessica, being the driver, ended up surviving the crash, but had to live with the fact that she killed her best friend, since kindergarten, because she decided to drive intoxicated. Killing others because of a stupid mistake can stick with someone for the rest of their life. All of these fatalities can easily be prevented if teens don’t drive while under the influence, not that they should be …show more content…
Ed. Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Rpt. from "Youth Drinking: Risk Factors and Consequences." Alcohol Alert. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
Clark, Charles S. "Underage Drinking." CQ Researcher 13 Mar. 1992: 217-40. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
Ogilvie, Jessica P. "PRO/CON; should Legal Drinking Age be Lowered to 18?; Yes, it could Decrease Binge Drinking. no, Higher Age Limit has Saved Lives." Los Angeles TimesMay 30 2011. ProQuest. Web. 4 Nov. 2013 .
Wechsler, Henry, PhD., and Toben F. Nelson ScD. "Will Increasing Alcohol Availability by Lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age Decrease Drinking and Related Consequences among Youths?" American Journal of Public Health 100.6 (2010): 986-92. ProQuest. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
Triplett, William. "Teen Driving." CQ Researcher 7 Jan. 2005: 1-24. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
Hamilton, Wendy J. "Efforts to Stop Underage Drunk Driving Must Be Increased." Cars in America. Ed. Andrea C. Nakaya. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions." 2003. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 4 Nov.
In their primary years, children are naïve and impressionable. At such a young age, our parents are seen drinking and having a good time, which therefore makes us think that the effects of alcohol are only positive. This is why most teenagers start drinking at such a young age. “Thirteen- to fifteen-year-olds are at high risk to begin drinking. According to results of an annual survey of students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades, 26% of 8th graders, 40% of 10th graders, and 51% of 12th graders reported drinking alcohol in 2008” (Early 1). This just goes to show that because of all the early exposure to alcohol, teens in America tend abuse it at such an early age. \“In fact, alcohol consumption is the third leading …show more content…
“About 29% of teen drivers killed in auto crashes in 2002 had been drinking” (Triplett 1). Young teenagers do not think about the consequences of consuming alcohol and then getting behind the wheel. They are already faced with the responsibility of becoming a new driver. By lowering the legal alcohol age, teenagers now have another thing to worry about. By exposing them to these two new things, one being drinking and the other being driving, they are less likely to know how to handle both responsibilities at the same time. Keeping the legal drinking age at 21 not only saves the lives of individuals, but it also saves the lives of the public. “Half of the people who die in traffic crashes involving underage drinking drivers are people other than the drinking drivers” (Hamilton 1). "My name is Jessica Rasdall, and on Feb. 25, 2006, I killed my best friend”, says Jessica, an 18 year old at the time of the accident. Jessica and her best friend went out to a club, had a few drinks, and then decided to take the wheel while under the influence. Jessica, being the driver, ended up surviving the crash, but had to live with the fact that she killed her best friend, since kindergarten, because she decided to drive intoxicated. Killing others because of a stupid mistake can stick with someone for the rest of their life. All of these fatalities can easily be prevented if teens don’t drive while under the influence, not that they should be …show more content…
Ed. Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Rpt. from "Youth Drinking: Risk Factors and Consequences." Alcohol Alert. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
Clark, Charles S. "Underage Drinking." CQ Researcher 13 Mar. 1992: 217-40. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
Ogilvie, Jessica P. "PRO/CON; should Legal Drinking Age be Lowered to 18?; Yes, it could Decrease Binge Drinking. no, Higher Age Limit has Saved Lives." Los Angeles TimesMay 30 2011. ProQuest. Web. 4 Nov. 2013 .
Wechsler, Henry, PhD., and Toben F. Nelson ScD. "Will Increasing Alcohol Availability by Lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age Decrease Drinking and Related Consequences among Youths?" American Journal of Public Health 100.6 (2010): 986-92. ProQuest. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
Triplett, William. "Teen Driving." CQ Researcher 7 Jan. 2005: 1-24. Web. 4 Nov. 2013.
Hamilton, Wendy J. "Efforts to Stop Underage Drunk Driving Must Be Increased." Cars in America. Ed. Andrea C. Nakaya. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "testimony before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions." 2003. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 4 Nov.