Persuasive Drinking Age Essay

Introduction

I. (Gain attention and interest) In just about every college movie ever made, you see almost every college stereotype out there. Whether it is the football team throwing milkshakes at the valedictorian or the sorority girl whose towel gets stolen mid-shower, Hollywood has its way of embellishing the horrors of college life. But there is one thing that every movie gets right: underage drinking. We all know the scene: a frat house covered in beer cans, pizza boxes and passed out people. The sad truth is that these scenes aren’t too far off from today’s reality.

II. (Reveal topic) Our culture glorifies college as a four-year alcohol-fest, and people arrive expecting experiences out of movies such as "Old School" and "Animal House.” But the gravity to which students are binge drinking could be greatly reduced if the United States took action to lower the drinking age to 18.

III. (Establish credibility) By age 18, I was almost high school graduate, enrolled in a university, and more than prepared to assume the rights and responsibilities of adult citizenship. I feel that I should also have been able to legally enjoy a drink.

IV. (Preview body) Today, I’d like to explain to you all the many reasons why the current US drinking age law is flawed. First, I will discuss the problem of binge drinking that we face among college students as well as middle and high schoolers. Then, I will explain why the drinking age should be lowered to 18.

(Signpost) Now I will explain why the drinking age of 21 is such an issue.

Body

I. Driven largely by the desire to curb traffic fatalities associated with alcohol consumption, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 required all states to raise their purchase and public possession of alcohol age to 21, or risk losing federal highway funds under the Federal Highway Aid Act (ICAP).

A. By 1987, all fifty states had complied and made 21 the minimum age for drinking (ICAP).

1. Binge drinking, seen often on college...