Lowering the drinking age to 18 is a controversial topic that has been debated for decades. The legal drinking age in the United States is 21, but many argue that it should be lowered to 18. Supporters of lowering the drinking age claim that it would reduce binge drinking and alcohol-related deaths among young adults. However, opponents argue that it would increase alcohol-related accidents and harm the health and well-being of young people. In this article, we will examine the statistics behind the debate.
Drinking Age History
The legal drinking age in the United States has a complicated history. Prior to 1984, many states had a drinking age of 18. However, in that year, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which required all states to raise the legal drinking age to 21 or lose federal highway funding. Since then, the legal drinking age has remained at 21, despite efforts to lower it.
Lowering the Drinking Age Statistics
Supporters of lowering the drinking age argue that it would reduce binge drinking and alcohol-related deaths among young adults. They point to statistics from other countries, such as France and Germany, where the legal drinking age is 18 or lower, and argue that these countries have lower rates of binge drinking and alcohol-related deaths than the United States.
They also argue that young adults are already drinking, regardless of the legal drinking age, and that lowering the drinking age would reduce the need for young people to drink in dangerous and unsupervised environments. They believe that by allowing 18-year-olds to drink legally, they would be more likely to consume alcohol responsibly and under the supervision of responsible adults.
Opposition to Lowering the Drinking Age Statistics
Opponents of lowering the drinking age argue that it would increase alcohol-related accidents and harm the health and well-being of young people. They point to statistics that show that a higher percentage of 18-20-year-olds are involved in alcohol-related accidents than those over the age of 21.
They also argue that the brain is not fully developed until the age of 25, and that allowing 18-year-olds to drink could harm their brain development and lead to long-term health problems. They believe that the legal drinking age should remain at 21 to protect young people from the dangers of alcohol.
Current Drinking Age Statistics
Currently, the legal drinking age in the United States is 21. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 86.4% of people aged 18-20 report drinking alcohol at some point in their lives, despite the legal drinking age. However, the same study found that 60.9% of people aged 21-25 reported drinking alcohol in the past month, compared to 48.6% of people aged 18-20.
The study also found that binge drinking rates were highest among young adults aged 18-20, with 33.5% reporting binge drinking in the past month. However, binge drinking rates decreased among 21-25-year-olds, with only 27.4% reporting binge drinking in the past month.
Conclusion
The debate over whether or not to lower the drinking age to 18 is complex and multifaceted. Supporters argue that it would reduce binge drinking and alcohol-related deaths among young adults, while opponents argue that it would increase alcohol-related accidents and harm the health and well-being of young people.
Regardless of your stance on the issue, it is important to understand the statistics behind it and make an informed decision. The legal drinking age in the United States is 21, but young people are still drinking at high rates, regardless of the law. Whether or not the drinking age is lowered, it is important to promote responsible drinking and educate young people about the dangers of alcohol.