Assignment 1.2: Conflicting Viewpoints Essay – Part II

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Assignment 1.1: Conflicting Viewpoints

(Mark McLeod)

Professor: Matthew Miko

Course: Critical thinking PHI 210

10-13-2018

Should the Drinking age be lowered from 21 to a Younger Age?

Drinking at the age of 21 is the set rule in many states. Debates, however, want this age to be lowered to 18. These debates are still ongoing, and there has not been a certain understanding of the issue. I believe that the law should remain as it is. Drinking should be legalized for the young at the age of 21. This will help in the reduction of health risks, unwanted behaviors and will give the young the opportunity to be more responsible at21. At18 years, one is curious, and therefore, the decisions made are biased, and the consequences can be a lifetime.

Should the drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age is my topic of selection, and I firmly believe that the drinking age should not be lowered below 21years. In order to oppose this debate, people have come up with the advantages that lowering the drinking age would come by. Among the three most striking advantages that have been noted include: In the U.S, the age of adulthood is 18years, and with this regard, adults should have a right to make a decision when it comes to alcohol drinking. The other states that allowing 18-year-olds to drink will help in the supervision of unsafe drinking activities and finally, lowering the MLDA from 21 to 18 will reduce the thrill of the youngsters to break the law on drinking.

18 years is the age of adulthood

The most exciting aspect about this factor is that it is true that at the age of 18, one becomes an adult. This means that they earn the right to vote, marry and get married, serve on the juries, sign contracts and be perceived as adults who have adult responsibilities and rights. However, should they be given the right to risk their lives by drinking alcohol? The set law of drinking at 21 is a precautionary law that ensures that young people do not risk their health at a young age through the consumption of alcohol.

If I had to believe in this factor, I would agree with the fact that at 18, one can be able to make their own decisions. It is a personal decision to want to make or destroy our own lives or our health. It is the responsibility of an adult to take care of themselves; therefore, if one decides to drink, then it’s their life they are destroying and are being irresponsible and should be left to be.

This idea might be true in that every individual has a right to do what they seem significant to themselves. Therefore, if an 18-year-old decided to drink at 18, they have got to adulthood and are their own responsibility and under no one's care. They should, therefore, be let free to do what they perceive right on their own. Consequently, they say experience is the best teacher

Reduction of unsafe drinking activities

Alcohol never results to anything positive when consumed. This point states that if legalization of alcohol drinking of the 18year olds in public places will help prevent unruly behavior when they drink in secret. The point clearly states that alcohol causes the young to be more prone to binge and engage in unsafe behavior. Why then should drinking be legalized for the 18-year-old if even the small amount they take in secret caused them to act recklessly and irresponsibly

If I were to support on this point, then my concentration would be on the fact that they take alcohol in secret when they go to house parties or fraternity houses. This means that when they are there, they take large amounts of alcohol with no directions on the best alcohols to take and how to take it appropriately. This intensifies on the health risks and their behavior after that.

This point is true in that uncontrolled and secretive drinking is much more dangerous for the young than the supervised drinking of alcohol.

Lowering of the MLDA will help Reduce the thrill of breaking the law

It is interesting that there is a thrill experienced when it comes to breaking the law. Breaking the law should be a big deal and should be avoided at all costs. It is however funny how the young people find it interesting to break the law by drinking alcohol before they are 21 years of age when they go to college.

Young people can be compared to bear pokers. They are always in mischief to discover the consequences of a prohibited activity. This is the same case when it comes to alcohol. They will want to drink it when they are 18 but not wait till they are 21. This idea is therefore believable in that even if the age is not lowered to 18 for drinking; the thrill will lead them to drink illegally.

The idea is true in that young people to love experimenting, and they will drink alcohol at any age to discover the big fuss behind it all.

Conclusion

No matter how drinking at a younger age than 21 is sugar coated, it is a bad idea. Alcohol is a big deal, and the effects are not those to joke with, especially when our youngsters are involved. For this reason, the legal age for drinking should be at21. At this age, one is more responsible, have enough knowledge on the impacts of alcohol and they will be able to drink instead of playing around to do it legally. It will be more comfortable for them, and no laws will be broken.