Underage Drinking in the United States

In the United States, you are legally considered an adult at the age of eighteen. The United States government will allow you to purchase cigarettes, buy a car, sign a legal contract, vote for the next president, get married, buy a house, and much more. The U.S. government is even able to send you off to war, and have you potentially die for your country, yet you are prohibited to consume any alcohol. The definition of an adult can be defined as a person that has been fully developed and reached the age of maturity as defined by law. As stated by law, anyone at the age of eighteen and above are considered an adult yet the age group between eighteen and twenty are unable to consume alcohol legally. The United States has the highest drinking age restriction compared to the entire world. According to the International Center for Alcohol Policies, the only country that comes close in comparison in the age restriction of alcohol is Japan and Iceland where it is currently restricted to age of twenty and above. South Korea is trailing behind which set their restriction at the age of nineteen and above, while 43 other countries such as Hong Kong, Jamaica, Mexico, Russia has there alcohol restriction at the age of eighteen while many of the other countries such as China, Nigeria, Vietnam, Poland does not have a drinking age restriction at all. The objective of the twenty one year old drinking age law is for the protection of minors and young adults from themselves and society. The argument that is presented for such a law is supported by evidence showing that alcohol may have severe effects on the young developing mind. According to the American Medical Association, "Drinking by adolescents and young adults could result in long-term brain damage, including diminishment of memory, reasoning, and learning abilities". The second argument in support for the twenty one year old drinking age law is partially supported by data of potential traffic fatalities that could be caused by underage teen drinkers. According to the Nat 'l Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence "Alcohol has been shown to be a major contributing factor in teen deaths from accidents, homicide, and suicide, and it has also been shown to increase the chances of juvenile delinquency and crime". The current laws in effect to prevent underage drinking are not working with the highest concentration of underage drinking between the age of eighteen and twenty. According to statistics upon college campuses with The College Alcohol Survey where a study was conducted on 400 colleges. The results depicts residents of sorority and fraternity houses hold the highest percentage of binge drinkers; 80 to 86 percent. Men and woman of intercollegiate sports reports 61 percent of men and 50 percent of woman are binge drinkers. Also according to this study, 50 percent of college males and 39 percent of college females were once binge drinkers. Binge drinking is seen as the most common pattern of alcohol consumption among today 's youth. In an article by Robert Davis Editor of USA Today, "Five underclassmen in four states have binged drunk themselves to death where four of the dead students were too young to drink in the first place". Underage students tend to view drinking as a "forbidden" drink, and because of this idea, it has done more harm that good. This ban of drinking of underage students can be compared to the prohibition era in the United States between the 1920 and 1933. During that era of the United States, alcohol consumption, transportation, and sales of alcohol is prohibited. But it can be seen in history that prohibition has not, and will not work. Alcohol consumption, violence, and criminal activities has all skyrocketed due to this prohibition and in result the 18th amendment became the first amendment to be repealed by another amendment. This same idea applies to the highly concentrated binge drinkers between the age of eighteen and twenty one. No matter the laws or preventative matters that will be in effect, underage students will be able to obtain alcohol one way or another. The mass binge drinking in college campuses is analogous to the increased in violence and established crimes during the establishment of the "dry law". According to Barrett Seaman, a former TIME editor and correspondent, "In my reporting at colleges around the country, I did not meet any presidents or deans who felt that the 21-year age minimum helps their efforts to curb the abuse of alcohol on their campuses. Quite the opposite. They thought the law impeded their efforts since it takes away the ability to monitor and supervise drinking activity" (Seaman).
The minimum twenty one year old drinking age law is not enforceable with the current status quo of inconsistent laws. As defined, a young adult has been bestowed all of there rights at the age of eighteen, except for the purchasing and consumption of alcohol. Researchers Wechsler and Wuethrich believes, "One reason is that students "developed *a sense of entitlement to alcohol" after the drinking age was lowered to 18 during the 1970s and then re-raised to 21"( ). The current alcohol policy on underage drinking is deferring young adults. If the main objective of the current age restriction of alcohol consumption is to protect minors (under eighteen) from the affects of youth drinking then it is entirely consistent and plausible. In this case the current alcohol age restriction policy is inconsistent with other restrictions. As described in the Lewis and Clark Law Review by Judith G. McMullen, "It is this legal autonomy in other areas, I think, that makes enforcement of a 21 drinking age impossible" (McMullen). Current law and policy makers have to decide on an ultimatum. It has already been established that current laws and policy are not working in preventing underage drinking, and drastic measures must be taken. Either lower the drinking age restriction to the age of eighteen, or raise the current accepted age of adulthood to the age of twenty one. It is although a radical idea to prevent underage drinking by allowing these underage drinkers to consume alcohol, but it allows many of the college campuses to promote and educate on moderate drinking. It is very difficult for college campuses to educate moderate alcohol consumption when many of the students are not able to consume alcohol in the first place. By lowering the drinking age it also allows the idea of the "forbidden fruit" to be demolished. It allows the current underage drinkers to be educated in moderate alcohol consumption and safe drinking habits.

Works Cited
Miller, J. W. "Binge Drinking." Pediatrics Jan. 2007: 76-85
Nat 'l Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Ed. Christine Daee, 9 Mar. 2006 http://www.ncadd.org/facts/fyicrime.html Scrivo, Karen Lee. "Drinking on Campus." CQ Researcher 8.11 (1998): 241-264. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA. 27 Feb. 2007 .
Seaman, B. "How Bingeing Became the New College Sport." Time Aug. 2005: 80.
Stroh, M. "Younger Drinkers Risk Damaging Brain Cells." Baltimore Sun, Dec.10, 2002: 1A.

Cited: Miller, J. W. "Binge Drinking." Pediatrics Jan. 2007: 76-85 Nat 'l Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Ed. Christine Daee, 9 Mar. 2006 http://www.ncadd.org/facts/fyicrime.html Scrivo, Karen Lee. "Drinking on Campus." CQ Researcher 8.11 (1998): 241-264. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA. 27 Feb. 2007 . Seaman, B. "How Bingeing Became the New College Sport." Time Aug. 2005: 80. Stroh, M. "Younger Drinkers Risk Damaging Brain Cells." Baltimore Sun, Dec.10, 2002: 1A.