Debate Project

Against
Thesis: The United States drinking law should not be reduced from 21 to 18 because of the fact the fatalities and injuries due to alcohol are the most common. Reducing the age would only severely increase the number of deaths, which would impact the country severely.

- drunk teens are more likely to binge drink
-5% of all deaths involve alcohol induced teens
- 2.8% of all teens have an AUD( alcohol used disorders
- 14.2% 5.4 million pages 12-20 were binge drinkers and about 3.7% 1.4 million were heavy drinkers.
-  underage age drinking leads to interfering with adolescent brain  development and increases chances of AUD. Addition, this leads to a range of acute consequences including injuries, sexual assaults, and even death.
- keeping the age at 21 is better because the individual has more maturity and responsibility than an 18.
- about 2000 underage drinkers die each year
-1/3 of all teen deaths, alcohol is the factor of it
-teen drivers are increasing alcohol consumption and driving around the same time, leading towards death.
- allowing the drinking age to be lowered would increase the use drugs among teens.
- there are others laws that restrict the age to 21 for example owing a gun. That is kept and 21 so having the right to drink should be kept at an appropriate age just as everything else.
-76% of bars sell drink to individuals who are already intoxicated which leads to DUIs and deaths based on car crashes. Also having too many bars in one location will increase the rate of violent crimes going on in that specific area. Also in neighborhoods, the crime rate can increase.
- 18 is the same year almost every teen starts college, and allowing the drinking age to be at that same exact year is not the smartest decision since it can distract the from their education and drinking hazes the mind, so the might do something stupid on their campus. Drinking at such a young age can take a toll on you.


For
Thesis- The drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18 because once you turn 18, you have the legal right to make your own decisions and alcohol consumption should be included among those decisions. You become an adult which gives you the right to control your life.

- when the individual turns 18, he or she should have a right to make their own decisions which includes the consumption of alcohol
- allowing 18s to drink legally would allow them to drink in safe environments instead of drinking somewhere dangerous and getting themselves killed.
- there are fewer drunk driving accidents in other countries who have the drinking age at 18 instead of 21
-making the law reduced to 18 would make the hype of breaking the law and getting a drink which would lower the consumption
-even if the law stays at 21, college students would still go out and drink, but the only difference is you would get arrested for it.
- some say that lowering the drinking age decreased the suicide and homocide rates
- students who work hard at school or at a part time job deserve to come back to their homes and be allowed to enjoy a drink.
- if more 18 year olds drink, then more bars and licensed establishments would collect more tax revenue which would improve the economy.
-reducing the drinking age will allow people who are in alcohol based injuries to seek medical attention because they are not afraid to get in trouble.
- allowing to drink at 18 can also be a stress reliever of some sort. Knowing that you come home and have a drink might reduce your stress level which can lead to a calmer mind set which is overall healthy for you in a way.