health unit 4 responses

1. I think that the legal drinking age is 21 because research has shown that younger people may react differently to alcohol. Enforcing the drinking age to 21 most likely reduces traffic crashes, protects younger people’s brains that are still maturing, and keeps younger people safe. I do agree with the legal drinking age of being 21 in the U.S. because of the reasons I have listed but also, it could lead to an increase of younger adults dropping out of high school or even college. Whether the legal drinking age is 18 or 21, people will still drink and engage in binge drinking but proper education is important to help young adults stay safe and make smart decisions.

2. The United States is one of twenty countries that has set the minimum legal drinking age to 21. One hundred and three countries around the world do not have any minimum drinking age, while sixty-six countries have the minimum legal drinking age set to eighteen (Hanson, 2019a). This causes a dispute between those who think the drinking age should be eighteen and those who think it should remain to be twenty-one. The average drinking age at which alcohol first occurs is twelve years old, and around eighty percent of young people begin drinking alcohol regularly at age fifteen or younger, according to the World Health Organization (Hanson, 2019a). This is telling us one thing: the majority of individuals are drinking alcohol before being twenty-one no matter what. I think that the legal drinking age comes three years after a person is considered an adult because people do not think an eighteen-year-old is mature enough to drink. Also, some believe that a minimum legal drinking age would cause more injuries and alcohol-related deaths among the youth. Society believes that once you are twenty-one you are more mature and able to handle alcohol effectively. Individuals also think that changes can be made in brain development for eighteen-year-olds and they are most likely not in college yet. Changes in brain development can affect individuals’ school performances. I ultimately believe that the drinking age in the United States should be eighteen, therefore I do not agree with the legal drinking age. I feel this way because I think no matter what individuals will be drinking before the age of twenty-one anyways. I do not think that it is fair to consider an eighteen-year-old a legal adult but not allow them to drink alcohol legally yet. Also, lowering the legal alcohol age will lower the rates of arrests for the police departments who tend to be overpopulated. Although there can be dangers and risks if the legal drinking age was eighteen, I think it would allow the new adults to feel like adults. 

3. I think that the legal drinking age comes three years after a person is considered an adult because at that point your expected to be an adult and act like one. So the expectation that someone who is 21 wont abuse alcohol. I disagree with the legal drinking age because you can be 18 to serve in forces, and vote but you have to be 21 to drink. Then at the same time I wish it was up'd to a different age like 25 or so only because the fact that the youth just doesnt under the way it effects and hurts them. I have had so many friend turn into an alcoholic and my own dad at one point was drinking to the death of him until we begged him to stop. It took us many years to show him how it was ending our family for him to see what it was doing. 

4. The legal drinking age was increased to age 21 to prevent motor vehicle accidents among the 18-21 year age group. Many people believe that you are more mature at the age of 21 and you are more responsible. I don't think the legal drinking age matters much. In our generation, 18 year olds get fake IDs and go out to clubs or have older friends that buy them liquor. I think you should be able to drink at the age of 18 because you are an adult and 3 years doesn’t make a difference. Most 17/18 year olds drink regardless of the law, they just do so illegally. Everyone matures differently and when I was 21 and going out to bars there were a lot of people who weren't responsible even at the age of 21. If we were deciding on the legal drinking age based on maturity then you'll never have the right answer because everyone is different and no matter what your age everyone responds differently to alcohol. Therefore, 18 year olds should be able to drink legally because you can die for your country and can start a family but not drink? It makes no sense. No matter your age if you're irresponsible when drinking then you're held accountable so I don't think the legal drinking age matters.

5. I think the legal drinking age comes three years after a person is considered an adult because there is still so much growth that happens in those three years that couldn't prevent so many accidents. I completely agree with the drinking age in the United states because I feel that by the time you turn 21 you are a bit more mature than you are at 18. Even at 21, you hear about so many drinking and driving, over consumption of alcohol, and so much more dangers that come along if you are not drinking responsbily. Substances/alcohol is defently something you can get addicted to, and peer pressure can really make someone drink more than they even wanted to.