Lower the Drinking Age

Lower the Legal Age Limit for Drinking

COM/220 Research Writing

Theresa De Souza

10-05-10

Let Them Drink

Driving over to a friend’s house to hang out; when they say they signed up for the military and have to leave for boot camp in 2 weeks. It comes as a surprise, but it is a happy occassion for them and celebration is at hand, but not being 21, going to a club, a bar, or even the safety of someones home is out of the question because it would be illegal. It isn’t necessarily fair that a person can serve in the armed forces, sign a legally binding contract, or even get married, but they legally can’t have a celebratory drink. This is what some people are trying to fight for, the right to be able to drink when all other legal obligations come into play at 18. As you read on you will see my side of the argument on why the legal drinking age should be lowered.

Being drafted into the military is a big step in someones life, but there other things that are affected when someone turns 18. At the age of 18 a person is legally allowed to get married, own property, and sign a legally binding contract. Where is the logic that a person is able to get married, move into a house together, and sign for a car, but you can’t drink in your home with family or to celebrate. As well as being able to do these things at the age of 18, it can also have a negative effect on someone’s life. Crimes commited at 18 years of age are taken as more serious offenses than that of people under 18. Your life can be severely impacted if you are prosecuted for a crime, because you are legally considered an adult and the government thinks you are mature and smart enough to know what you are doing, but at the same time the government doesn’t think you are mature enough to drink alcoholic beverages.

Maturity does and doesn’t come with age, it comes with learning and how someone was brought up. You can have a 13 year old who is more mature than someone two or three times their...