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Juliana Ivanova

Instructor Brandon Alva

English 2010

17 April 2017

Drinking Responsibly

Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to visit Germany for three weeks and immerse

myself in the culture. Not only are they legally able to drink hard liquor at the age of 18, but

parents encourage their teenagers to drink alcohol around them in a safe place and get

acclimated. Youre even able to go on a lunch break during school to order a beer, get together in

the evening to sip some wine, or even attend pubs with all your gals; a societal norm. Why is it

parents in the United States are so worried about their children drinking alcohol they never teach

them about drinking responsibly? Children are constantly told no until they experiment and

learn the repercussions by themselves.

My good friend Miriam Lurkens who I visited in Germany was able to show me an

atmosphere built around parental consent to allow their children to consume alcohol. On one of

the weekend summer nights, all her girlfriends and I went to a nightclub nearby where most of

the people there were around the age of 16-20 come to dance, drink and socialize. At the time, I

was 18 and able to buy anything off the bar menu, I could even buy drinks for those around me

even if they werent 18, all the bar required was a responsible individual. The group of girls I

was with pre-gamed and consumed alcohol prior to attending to not spend as much money at

the bar, which once again was completely acceptable. We had one of the parents pick us up to

and from the event, and not once during the night did I feel at risk of endangerment. Im

completely for the lower age and believe individuals who are old enough to decide what college

to spend the next four year of their lives are responsible enough to be around alcohol.
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My father, on the other hand, deeply regretted living in a place where teenagers under the

age of 21 could consume alcohol and for the matter consume mass amounts by binge drinking.

Hes now in his 50s and taking medication for the rest of his life because of the toll alcohol took

on him. He cant go out and take shots or drink Vodka with his Russian friends, rather he can

stick to something subtler like wine or beer. Maybe he wasnt aware of the repercussions or the

toll alcohol can take on your life, until it happened to him. However, it was his choice to drink

from a young age, even if his parents restricted him I cant promise you he listened. Although

this is something very serious and anyone should be cautious, it doesnt make me feel any

different on lowering the drinking age and being able to have a choice. Dwight B. Heath, a

professor at Brown University, agrees starting the children young allows them to safely consume

in the future because they arent as enticed to the psychological effects as someone with no

previous experience. Heath believes students should be given more liability and responsibility

when it comes to drinking alcohol (Why Colleges). I agree with Heath and believe a monitored

amount of consumption couldnt possibly harm the body as much as people would like to

believe.

Back in the 70s, each state independently chose what they felt was an appropriate age to

let the American people drink without serious repercussions. However, this was quick to change

once the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 was instated. The act punished those

states who decided to leave the legal drinking age under 21 by not allowing them to receive 10%

of federal highway funds. In America, at the age of 18 you are considered an adult. Im able to

choose to live independently, operate a moving vehicle, vote for who I want to put into office,

join the military and be mature enough to die for my country, but heaven forbid I have a taste of

alcohol (A Too Dry).

A research study conducted consisted of 39,000 people who began consuming alcohol in
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the 70s and were drinking as low as 18. They concluded those with a lower age werent likely to

drink more, they would drink the same amount and binge drink rather than spread the

consumption out throughout the night like the 21-year olds (Lower Drinking Ages). Those

who spread out their consumption are more likely to see health benefits in their lives as they get

older. It is also common amongst young adults to binge drink and get drunk a lot faster, but if we

all decided to be more responsible and instead had a moderate amount-30g of alcohol- daily, we

are more likely to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and significantly change the

concentrations of our clotting factors (Moderate Alcohol).

Another large issue is the talk of drinking and driving. Many assume any alcohol related

violences wouldve been reduced by forbidding the sale and distribution of intoxicating liquors

during the 1920s with the 18th amendment during Prohibition, however it was soon found to be

a failure after crime and corruption happened, the opposite of what the states wished for. Others

are skeptical the drunk driving rate would increase if the age of legal drinking was lowered back

down to 18 years of age, which frankly isnt true. Lowering the drinking age would provide more

leverage on reducing the rate as insinuated by other countries with lower drinking ages (Pros

and Cons). With current technological advances, we are able to implement Uber, Lyft, and all

other cheaper cab alternatives to enforce the rule of no drinking and driving rather than putting

yourself at risk. There are many different methods to avoid drinking and driving, and I believe as

my generation grows we understand the repercussions and learn from the previous generations

mistakes.

Many of individuals who seem worried about these laws are parents raising teenagers of

their own. Theyre worried about their children falling victims to alcoholism, underage drinking,

a car fatality, etc. For parents who are worried about sending their young adults to unsafe school

campus environments, college students are also more likely to listen to alcohol related policy
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enforcements when they are strictly enforced. The areas where campus security strongly

enforced the policies were the areas where the students perceived the efforts and were less likely

to binge drink. Colleges with environments which dont have easier access to alcohol and less

restrictions are the areas creating the condition of heavy drinking (Will Increasing Alcohol).

For example, the University of Utah is considered a dry campus where I wouldnt be able to

drink on campus (including dorm rooms and football games), and the article claims colleges like

these are where students like me are less likely to drink. However, when your teenager is no

longer under your authority if they are living away from home, they often are obeying the rules

their parents put into place for them growing up. I believe the best way to solve this issue is by

having parents be responsible adults and teach their children the consequences and

repercussions, but not necessarily telling them they arent allowed to drink 5,000 miles away

from home. We are all young and we want to be able to explore our options, therefore I believe

being able to be responsible and held accountable is a lot easier than being told I cant drink until

Im 21.

Drinking at a young age does allow our brains to become more susceptible of the effects

of alcoholism because it is still developing. Adolescents experience a lot of changes throughout

their brain and are willing to take more risks during their younger years (Legal Drinking Age).

And those opposed of a higher drinking age assume underage drinking is only a faulty factor

around circumstances where individuals are considered adults and can receive alcohol from other

sources, however this isnt the case. Lowering the age wont get rid of underage drinking. A

statistical study done in New Zealand after the legal drinking age was lowered to 18 years of age

showed 16 and 17-year olds are now drinking illegally (Legal Drinking Age). A lower

drinking age has also been correlated with youth suicide. The states at the time where the legal

age of 18 for alcohol consumption had an 8% higher rate of suicide than those who had the legal
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drinking age of 21 (Minimum-age). Once again, the claim of susceptibility in mental

development is targeted with teenage verse adult drinking suicides.

I dont respect the government taking away my rights especially when only a handful of

other countries fall under the same category of a legalized 21-year drinking age. The United

States is among one of the few countries in the world with a 21-year legal drinking age.

Approximately 95% of the world can legally drink below the age of 21, with 18 years of age

being the most common legalized age. Why is it I can drive or fly over to Mexico for high school

graduation drinks, yet once I cross the border its a completely different story, there are college

students who result to having private parties at fraternities, dorm rooms, or even buying fake

IDs to drink at a prohibited age (Lower)? I shouldnt have to hide behind closed doors to

experience alcohol and have the college experience, rather introduce your teenagers to the

juice, show them the consequences, but trust them with their choices.

I consider alcohol as a stress reliever. If I was of legal age, I would be able to go out to

the bar with my friends after work and have a quick beer while we all talked about our days. I

would know my limits since my dad taught me all about the positives and the negatives of

alcohol consumption. I would know to be smart enough not to drink until I couldnt physically

walk because college culture taught me this. I would know not to drink and drive because I

constantly see innocent lives being lost over a preventable mistake. I would know my boundaries

as an individual without having the government tell me what they think is right and wrong for

my body.
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Works Cited

Birckmayer, J., and D. Hemenway. "Minimum-age drinking laws and youth suicide, 1970-

1990." American Journal of Public Health 89.9 (1999): 1365-368. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

Dryden, Jim. "Lower drinking ages lead to more binge drinking." The Source. Washington

University in St. Louis, 11 Apr. 2016. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

McAloon, William. A Too Dry Fourth of July. Wall Street Journal, 03 Jul 2015, pp. A. 11.

Sirs Issues Researcher. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

"Pros and Cons of Lowering the Drinking Age." HRF. Health Research Funding, 03 Apr. 2015.

Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

Rimm, E. B., P. Williams, K. Fosher, M. Criqui, and M. J. Stampfer. "Moderate alcohol intake

and lower risk of coronary heart disease: meta-analysis of effects on lipids and

haemostatic factors." BMJ 319.7224 (1999): 1523-528. Web. 25 Feb. 2017.

Singh, Maanvi. "Legal Drinking Age Of 21 Saves Lives, Even Though It's Flouted." NPR. NPR,

24 Feb. 2014. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

Tucker, Jeffrey A. "Lower the Drinking Age! ." FEE. Foundation for Economic Education, 21

July 2015. Web. 26 Feb. 2017.

Wechsler, Henry, and Toben F. Nelson. "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. SIRS Issues

Researcher. Web. 25 Feb. 2017.

Why Colleges Should Support a Lower Drinking Age. University Wire, (2015). SIRS Issues

Researcher. Web. 25 Feb. 2017.