Should We Lower the Drinking Age?

I know people who drink underage, you know people, we all know people and not all those people are stupid, nor are they all responsible. However, it comes down to the age itself when we can drink in this country, and, along with everyone else I’ve spoken to, I find this law slightly flawed.

Although the drinking age was raised to 21 (a number that, to me, seems drawn like numbers in a lottery) in the 80’s to reduce the amount of alcohol-related highway accidents, with a high percentage also involving young adults, not much has been affected in terms of drinking and driving, combined.

photo via drugfreehomes.org

Here are the facts from chooseresponsibility.org:

• Since 1992, there has been remarkably little statistical decline in the number of alcohol related traffic fatalities
• More lives have been saved in the last two years alone by safety belts and air bags than have been saved in the 22 years since the adoption of Legal Age 21
• In 2002, according to a NHTSA study, the largest number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities occurred among 21 year-olds, followed by 22 and 23 year-olds. Twice as many 21 year olds as 18 year-olds were involved in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in that year.
• Legal Age 21 has postponed fatalities – not reduced them – because every claim of an 18, 19, or 20 year-old life “saved” as a result of Legal Age 21 is offset by the number of 21, 22, or 23 year-old lives lost
• Four factors have combined powerfully (and dramatically more than Legal Age 21) to the decline of driving fatalities associated with alcohol: safer cars, higher awareness by drivers of all ages, greater utilization of a “designated driver,” and more vigorous law enforcement

By raising the drinking age, the government has managed to drive underage drinking underground and frustrate the youth, instead of actually saving as many lives as they hoped it would. The safety of pedestrians and fellow drivers is the responsibility of every driver on the street and on the highway.

A friend in Paris told me about the drinking age being 18 in France, and I was astounded by this information. I always assumed it was just about the same in other countries as it was in the US. Then I found that America is the only country that shares this law with Fiji, Pakistan (for non-Muslims, prohibited for Muslims), Palau and Sri Lanka. Only four other countries, small ones even. The majority of countries around the world set their drinking age to 18. Well, that would be great for me if I was just about anywhere except America.

But if my friend from America can drink legally in Paris right now, why can’t I drink legally in America? Was it something that teenagers in the 80’s did?

This is a controversial debate that doesn’t seem likely to end soon, and not everyone is happy, especially not teenagers in college under 21. And of course there are bigger issues for the government to take care of, but perhaps there might be less trouble for the government and more trust from the younger generations if the drinking age was lowered.

Though it is for our safety, I don’t see why it’s fair to be tried as an adult, be expected to fight for your country, participate in elections and be required to do jury duty at 18 if you have to wait three years to legally buy a beer.

Perhaps it wouldn’t be a good idea to lower the drinking age. What if alcohol-related driving accidents escalate? What if they don’t?

What are your thoughts?