The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered To 18.

R2 is for case, so I will just post my case. 1. The higher drinking age saves lives We must ask, why does the higher drinking age aid society? Or does it have a bad or no effect. Many studies conclude 20,000 lives are saved from a higher (21) drinking age, and all due to the 21 drinking age. [1]"Drunk-driving crashes have been on the decline, and one reason for this is the drinking age. According to a new study conduced by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), the law that implemented a national uniform drinking age of 21 contributed to a declining percentage of alcohol-related teen traffic deaths. The study notes an 11 percent drop in these traffic deaths. " [2]"New Zealand recently lowered the drinking age based on many of the same arguments advanced by the Amethyst Initiative. The result was more alcohol-involved traffic crashes and emergency room visits among 15- to 19-year-olds. New Zealand is now considering raising its drinking age. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that setting the drinking age at 21 saves the lives of 900 young people each year and has saved more than 25,000 lives since 1975." [3]"Congress mandated in 1984 that states establish 21 as the drinking age in return for federal highway funding. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the 21 drinking age has reduced traffic fatalities involving drivers 18 to 20 years old by 13 percent and saves approximately 900 lives a year. Overall, the number of U.S. teenagers involved in fatal drunk-driving accidents has declined 11 percent because of laws that raised the legal drinking age to 21." [4]Sorry for quoting, just am tired and the quotes do it for me :P Here are a few facts: Lower drinkign age in Arizona lead to a a 25% more of a chance of a fatal car accicent and 35% chance of traffic fatalities [6] Lowering drinking age in massechuses lead to increased fatalities [4] In areas with a lower drinking age there was a 9% higher suicide rate linked to alcohol [4] 2. The younger you drink the worse problems you encounter 4 more time likely to get alcoholism and 2 times more likely to get addicted to those age 21 (18-12 comparison) [5] 12 times more likely to ge tinjured while using alcohol [4] 7 times more likley to get in a car crash while younger and drunk compared to 21 year olds. [4] 10 times more likely to get into a fight while drinking. [4] Further, the younger people begin to drink also may be linked to other illicit drug usages, as many studies showt the younger you drink the more likley you are to get involved with other harmful substances, many illegal. [4] Further, this applies as many are getting pregnant earlier, that the alcoholism and alcohol use when youngr has a higher chance of harming the bayby the person has. [4] So it not only harms them and their freinds, but maybe unborn people. Now, lets look at how it effect the youth. As stated, they are at increased risk for death, yes death, the lower the age they drink. [7] "Research has also shown that youth who use alcohol before age 15 are five times more likely to become alcohol dependent than adults who begin drinking at age 21. Other consequences of youth alcohol use include increased risky sexual behaviors, poor school performance, and increased risk of suicide and homicide." [7] I showed lower suidide rates for states with higher drinking ages, so we can assume there is lower users (my next point). This point is done, youths are not fully deveoped and a lower drinkign age would hurt them. 3. Lowers Users http://www.tobacco21.org...... http://www.tobacco21.org... We can see in 1977, drinking age 18, then in the 80s when states raised to 21 users declined. Also, making it illegal for minors to have alcohol creates a detterent effect. Summary: Younger people that use drugs face more of a chance of alcohol abuse [8] Younger people that do alcohol are more likely to do drugs and commit crime Higher rinkign age lowers DWI Arrests A higher drinking age lowers users Lower drinking age kills people by traffic fatalities and crime Higher age lowers traffic fatalities and suicide + crime CONCLUSION: See summary, then add the vote PRO and a higher drinking age is better. [1] http://www.madd.org... [2] http://www.ghsa.org... [3] http://articles.cnn.com...; [4] "Lower the Drinking Age?" Minnesota health department, p1, research papers, accessed: www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/chp/cdrr/alcohol/pdf/lowerthedrinkingage.pdf 21 [5] National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey. Journal of Substance Abuse, 1998.[6] Arizona Department of Public Safety, "An Impact Assessment of Arizona's Lowered Legal Drinking Ageand a Review of Previous Research," Statistical Center, 1981. [7] http://www.cdc.gov... [8] http://www.cspinet.org...