Why Drinking Age Should Be Lowered by Ruth C. Engs Essay

Why Drinking Age Should Be Lowered by Ruth C. Engs - Essay Example Some points have been presented by the author in his article â€Å"Why drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based upon research, and it is important to scrutinize some of these points to be able to come up with clear picture about the issue being talked about. Ages 18 to 19 must be the legal age for drinking among the young adult and they must be allowed to drink in public establishment or even in some of the officially functions of schools and universities. However, in this manner, young people could be taught through educational programs and is expected to be mature when it comes to drinking behavior. Nevertheless, this is based upon the research of the author in his more than twenty years of involvement in the college of youth and the history of drinking in the United States as well as other cultures. Despite the fact that the age 21 is the legal age to purchase alcohol, irresponsible manner in consuming alcohol is manifested among the young adult below this age. Furthermore, some of the considerations given to the young adult for drinking were, drinking is inviting, manifestations of rebellion from the authority, and a symbol of adulthood. Current law prohibiting drinking below the age of 21 proves to be not working just like all the laws that existed in the past (1850’s and 1920’s), these laws were found to be hard to enforce and repercussions cause social problems just the same as to what had occurred in the past. Prohibitions through laws are not working on the young adult under the age of 21. Considering the existence of the law, there is a bigger percentage of drinkers that is below the age of 21: 32% of the students are heavy drinkers compared to 21 years of age and above which is only 24%. Even before the implementation of the purchase laws in 1987, research shows up to the present the decreased in the drinking and driving related accident and this is because of the education given with regard to drunk driving, increased in seatbelts, and lower speed limits. However, Along with the decrease of the accidents during that time was the increased on the problem related to heavy and irresponsible drinking among the college student’s ages below 21 are manifested such as 46% of drinking student heavily rise to 50%, 9% cutting class after drinking rise to 12%, 26% absentees because of hangover rise to 28%, and the 12% students getting the lower grade rise to 17%. The reason behind the