Minimum Legal Drinking Age

Minimum Legal Drinking Age

The current legal drinking age in the United States is 21. Are there any reasons for it to be that age? Does that mean that the people older than 21 are more responsible than those under 21? What about citizens being able to vote, buying cigarettes, or even fighting for their country? With those questions being asked, how would this be interpreted? To do any of those three things citizens only need to be 18. Alcohol has proven that it can be a death wish for many people. So has being sent across the ocean to fight for their country. A good way to find out if the current legal drinking age is indeed a good idea is to look at other countries. So what do their numbers show? Do those countries have less people dying from over intoxication? Less alcohol related vehicle accidents? Does the current drinking age actually save lives?

Alcohol has proven that it can be beneficial to the health of the heart. "Moderate alcohol consumption may provide you with some health benefits. It may reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack and it may possibly reduce your risk of diabetes."(Mayo) Moderate drinking is classified as consuming less than 24 ounces of alcohol within one day. With alcohol being beneficial to the human body, but still under such a big debate, there must also be some cons to consuming alcohol. Though moderate alcohol consumption seems to have some health benefits, anything more than moderate drinking can negate any potential benefits. Alcohol can cause cancer, stroke, high blood pressure, and suicide. Consuming alcohol has proven that it can be way more of a threat to the human body than it is beneficial.

One reason why so many countries search for the ideal legal drinking age is because of the harmful effects it has, not because of the benefits. Many countries look at alcohol differently, which is why there is such a difference in the legal drinking ages around the world. "Jamaica and Albania are just two of over 15 countries with no legal drinking age."(Robertson) In many other countries citizens must be either 18 or 21. Well over 50% of the countries have a minimum legal drinking of the age 18. There are more countries with no legal drinking age than there are countries with the legal drinking age of 21. The US is one of the very few countries that have the highest minimum legal drinking age of 21. However, in the US citizens are able to consume alcohol if under the age of 21, but only under very special circumstances. Like when "accompanied by a legal parent", or for a "religion ritual."(Miron) Countries face many difficulties when they try to set the minimum drinking age. Such as the citizen's right for freedom and the parental rights of the parents to allow their children to drink. Some countries also bring religion into the discussion. Certain religious practices can be a big reason