Lowering the Drinking Age: a Case for Change

The minimum legal drinking age in the United States is set at twenty-one, a law that has been in place since 1984. This was a hard lesson I learned about thirty years ago after drinking at a friend’s party during the summer of 1989. After the party, my friend Peter and I decided to walk home to the dormitory, which was a short twenty-minute walk. On our way through the gate, Peter and I were detained by the gate guard due to the smell of alcohol on my breath, and my inebriation was confirmed by a breathalyzer test.

The consequences were significant: I faced disciplinary action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the military's justice system. I received a letter of reprimand and a base restriction order. At the time, the punishment seemed harsh, but in hindsight, I was fortunate. According to the state of Mississippi's website, if I had been arrested by a civilian officer outside the base, I would have faced a night in jail, at least thirty days of community service, a fine of up to five hundred dollars, and a misdemeanor on my record.

This experience led me to view the minimum legal drinking age as unfair, targeting young adults without understanding the law's origins. Now, as a concerned parent, I seek to understand why this law was enacted and why other countries have lower drinking ages. I believe the United States should lower the minimum legal drinking age to eighteen, as there are substantial benefits to doing so.

The History of the Drinking Age

The current legal drinking age of twenty-one is widely accepted as the norm in American society. However, this was not always the case. Before 1984, states had the autonomy to set their own drinking ages, ranging from eighteen to twenty-one. The shift to a national standard was driven by increasing concerns about drunk driving accidents and fatalities, particularly among young people under twenty-one. In the 1970s, public outcry over the "teenage drinking crisis" led to numerous campaigns advocating for a higher drinking age. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed increased alcohol use and related traffic deaths, prompting the passage of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984. President Reagan initially hesitated to sign the bill but ultimately succumbed to pressure from advocacy groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The law mandated that states prohibit the sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol by individuals under twenty-one, with the threat of losing federal highway funds as a penalty for non-compliance. This financial incentive compelled states to comply, as losing millions in funding would have significant implications for maintaining roads and highways. The law aimed to reduce underage drinking and drunk driving fatalities among teenagers, ultimately saving lives. But after more than three decades, has the law achieved its intended goals?

Evaluating the Impact

Research by Peter Asch and David Levy from Rutgers University found that states with a higher legal drinking age experienced a decline in accident fatality rates. Their findings suggested that inexperience with drinking posed a driving risk independent of age, implying that young adults were not equipped to drink responsibly and drive. However, the researchers noted that raising the drinking age might reduce accidents among eighteen to twenty-year-olds, but eventually, the twenty-one and over age group would experience a rise in accidents and fatalities. Furthermore, since the 1980s, alcohol-related deaths have been steadily declining, even before the minimum legal drinking age of twenty-one was enacted.

While the law has contributed to reducing fatalities, it has also led to illegal underage drinking. Lowering the legal drinking age could reduce unsafe, clandestine drinking activities, as young drinkers would no longer need to hide from the law. Despite the legal drinking age, college students under twenty-one often engage in secretive binge drinking. In 2008, over a hundred college university presidents signed the Amethyst Initiative, advocating for a reevaluation of the drinking age and promoting responsible drinking education for young students.

International Perspectives and Responsible Drinking

Lowering the drinking age to eighteen could promote responsible drinking habits among young adults. Dr. Ruth C. Engs, a Professor of Applied Health Sciences at Indiana University, argues that the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen within controlled environments like restaurants or pubs. This approach allows responsible drinking to be taught through role modeling and education programs. For example, in many European countries, drinking is integrated into social norms and family traditions, with lower legal drinking ages ranging from sixteen to twenty.

Germany, for instance, allows individuals as young as sixteen to consume beer and wine, with hard liquor restricted to those eighteen and older. Drinking is part of the culture, with young people learning responsible habits from their families. My German friend, Simone Backes, an eight-year veteran of the German Polizei, shared that drinking is a lifestyle in her family, with moderation emphasized. This cultural attitude contributes to Germany's significantly lower drunk driving fatality rates compared to the United States.

Economic Implications of Lowering the Drinking Age

Lowering the legal drinking age could also benefit the economy. The National Youth Rights Association estimates that reducing the drinking age to eighteen would increase alcohol industry tax revenue by approximately 350 million dollars, boosting income for restaurants and bars. Considering local economies, like Sacramento, California, the impact would be substantial. With over twenty thousand adults aged eighteen to twenty in the area, allowing them to drink legally would increase business for local establishments, creating jobs and generating additional tax revenue.

One local bartender in West Sacramento noted that allowing eighteen to twenty-year-olds to drink would increase business significantly, estimating a ten to fifteen percent rise in customers and weekly revenue increases of around three thousand dollars. Such economic benefits highlight the potential positive impact of lowering the drinking age on local and national economies.

Conclusion

The minimum legal drinking age set by the government over three decades ago has contributed to reducing drunk driving fatalities, but it has also created challenges related to illegal and irresponsible drinking. Underage drinkers often resort to unsafe environments to consume alcohol, leading to dangerous binge drinking behaviors. Lowering the legal drinking age to eighteen could address these issues by promoting responsible drinking habits, as seen in countries with lower drinking ages.

Additionally, reducing the drinking age could stimulate the economy, creating jobs and generating revenue for local businesses and the government. As a society that entrusts young adults with responsibilities such as voting, living independently, and serving in the military, it is only logical to extend this trust to responsible alcohol consumption. Through education and role modeling, we can empower young adults to make informed decisions about drinking, creating a safer and more responsible environment for everyone.

Did you like this example?

414

22