The legal drinking age should be 18 years of age

R1: Drinking age Lol, things that are lowered on average can still go up. Obama's approval rating was lowered but it going up.When new Zealand lowered the drinking age, traffic accidents increased. [1] "In the 1970s, 29 states lowered their drinking age. This led to an increase in alcohol-related traffic accidents -- so much so that by 1983, 16 states had raised their drinking age back to 21. This brought about an immediate decrease in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in those states. By 1988, all states had set 21 as the minimum drinking age." [2]This is logical, as an 18 year old driving would you drink and drive more likely with a fine for drunk driving, or rather drink when you get underage drinking + under the influence. Having a 21 age lowers drinking levels among their groups, decreasing driving accidents, as 21 year olds are more sensible than an 18 one."In states that have passed laws making it illegal to possess or purchase alcohol by anyone under 21, the researchers found an 11% drop in alcohol-related traffic deaths among those under that age." [3](tell me in the comments, is about.com a good source?)Also, you note a drop in accidents with lower drinking ages, most of the states in 1980 had the 21 drinking age. [4], and most had a 20 drinking age in the 70s. [4] So the drinking age was fairly high when you mentioned the stats. When in 2000 it was all 21. [4]did the 2000 raise in drinking age help? Yes. "And since the 21 law was widely enacted, the number of young people killed annually in crashes involving drunk drivers under 21 has been cut in half, from more than 5,000 individuals in the early 1980s to around 2,000 in 2005. By the end of 2005, the 21 drinking age had saved nearly 25,000 American lives—approximately 1,000 lives a year." [5]Now, 1980s-2005 21 saved lives, in 2000 is when all 50 states had 21 set. In this time, many lives where saved. From the 20 states in the 1980s, through all 50 today, the drinking age saves lives.R2: Kids are worse than adults in alcoholThis is a great reason. If kids brains are worse with alcohol, then they will be more likely to do dangerous things than the adults are, they are more likely to hurt themselves, kill their brains. So, if the kids do worse then a 21 drinking age is safer, and better for brain development.Back to my argument:Studies have shown that alcohol use by youth and young adults increases the risk of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. [6] [7] [8] [9] Also studies show kids who drink earlier are more likely to be dependent on alcohol then those who start at 21.(saving lives, and dependency, good go 21 :) [6] [10] Also when youth use alcohol they are more likely to do suicide, do poorly in school, and engage in unsafe sexual acts. [6] [11] [12] [13] *most sourced argument ever :)*As lower ages cause all of these extra more likely events, then it has more adverse effects on the brain logically. "The age limit for alcohol is based on research which shows that young people react differently to alcohol. Teens get drunk twice as fast as adults, but have more trouble knowing when to stop. Teens naturally overdo it and binge more often than adults." [14]Now, as kids get drunk faster, get dependent easier, and over do more then there is a problem. "12th graders in states with lower drinking ages drank significantly more, were less likely to abstain from alcohol, and were drunk more often than students in states with a drinking age of 21.' [15] [16]The lower drinking age raises users, the higher drinking age lowers users, therefore less kids doing the bad things mentioned above. Therefore a higher drinking age is good for the kids health. Also your conclusion is a statement that says scientists say 18 is adult, well you cannot say this without a source.Also your only legally an adult at 18, but you cannot do most things until your 21. [17] Your an adult, but not really. [17]Adult: fully developed and mature [18]As I have proven earlier in the debate you are not fully developed at 18. Also you made 2&3 one rebuttal so...Conclusion:Driving age needs to be 21 for the above reasons. Vote con.sources:http://articles.cnn.com... [1]http://www.syracuse.com... [2]http://alcoholism.about.com... [3]http://en.wikipedia.org... [4]http://www.usnews.com... [5]http://www.cdc.gov... [6]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov... [7]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov... [8]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov... [9]http://www.oas.samhsa.gov... [10]http://www.oas.samhsa.gov... [11]http://www.cdc.gov... [12]http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov... [13]http://www.madd.org... [14]http://www.cspinet.org... [15]Maisto, DA and JV Rachal, Indications of the Relationships Among Adolescent Drinking Practices, Related Behaviors, and Drinking-Ages Laws,” In Minimum-Drinking-Age Laws, Wechsler, H (Ed.), Lexington, MA: DC Heath Co., p155-176, 1980. [16]http://voices.yahoo.com... [17]http://www.merriam-webster.com... [18]