The Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws were created in the US after the Prohibition in 1933. AT this time, many states set the MLDA at 21. When the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971, many states also lowered their drinking age to 18 or 19 (Fell, 2009).
After the lowering, the amount of alcohol related accidents involving young adults age 18 to 20 had dramatically increased. Studies also showed that when the drinking age was raised, traffic crashes and alcohol related accidents were significantly lower.
Consequently, Congress created the National Uniform Drinking Age 21 Act, which provided a substantial financial incentive for states to adopt an MLDA of 21, and President Reagan signed the bill into law in 1984 (Fell, 2009).
Between 1982 and 1998, the percentage of fatal crashes involving drunk drivers ages 20 and younger, has decreased by 59 in the US. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has estimated that MLDA laws save approximately 900 lives a year in traffic fatalities alone (Fell, 2009).
According to our text, “A cross-over sanction is a threat to withhold national funds from programs states line, or even need, if they do not implement other programs that national government wants” (Levin-Waldman, 2012).
The MLDA is a perfect example of this because if the states did not raise the minimum drinking age, they would lose their federal highway funds. The law never actually set a national minimum drinking age, it actually established a goal and used the cross-over sanction as a mechanism to achieve it.
The Essay on Under Age Drinking
Why would people who are under age want to drink? Well under age drinking isn't to uncommon. (1) Studies say that approximately 6% of 10-11 year old children use alcohol. 25% by the age of 14 and 55% by the age of 17. Approximately 92 percent of high school kids have used alcohol, of the 92 percent 64 percent use alcohol on a regular basis. Sometimes teenage kids drink under stress. Stress can be ...
“Still, the national government used the cross-over sanction to compel states to pass the minimum age drinking laws in accordance with its wishes” (Levin-Waldman, 2012).
There is no evidence that lowering the MLDA will reduce the underage drinking problem. Conversely, there is strong evidence that lowering the drinking age will increase youthful alcohol consumption and alcohol-related injuries and fatalities. The pros of this policy are obvious. It has dramatically reduced the number of alcohol related accidents in young adults age 18 to 20.
Some cons of this policy include that fact that young adults can vote, hold public office, serve in the military, marry, sign contracts and buy cigarettes but still are not allowed to drink. The original intention of the law was to reduce the incidents of alcohol related accidents among people under 21. But since passage of this legislation and the raising of the drinking age in many states, the percentage of people who drink between the ages of 18 to 20 has skyrocketed.
Many say the prohibitions have actually encouraged secretive binge drinking and more dangerous behavior. I believe that the drinking age should be lowered back down to 18. If a person is legally considered an adult, can vote, purchase cigarettes, and serve our country, they should be able to have a drink without legal consequences. Being 21, I can honestly say that as young adults, we are not educated on alcohol enough. I think it would be much more beneficial to educate young adults on not only the risks of drinking, but to think realistically.
Young adults are going to drink regardless of their age. I believe that educating them on how to handle themselves while drinking would decrease the amount of alcohol related accidents in young adults. Another option would be that at the age of 18, young adults could be able to apply for a drinking license, just like a driver’s license. In order to qualify for this license, one would have to take a course, much like drivers education, that teaches the individual how to drink responsible.
The Essay on Drinking Age Legal States Alcohol
... drinking age should be lowered to 18 or 19. "Although the legal purchase age is 21, a majority of young people under this age consume alcohol, ... is readily apparent among young people who, since the increase in the minimum legal drinking age, have tended to drink in a more abusive ... When someone turns 18, our country considers him an adult, and trusts him with the responsibility of voting, starting a ...
They also would be required to pass a written test that shows their knowledge of drinking responsible. Other factors could include if the individual has had troubles with alcohol in the past, such as underage drinking tickets or drinking and driving. Overall, I believe that the MLDA is doing the job that it was intended to do. But I also think that with the changing times, it is time to reevaluate and revise the policy.
