The legal drinking age should be 18 years of age

Your main argument this round drops my main ones... Anyway you say as 18 is legally an adult then it should be consistent. This law is there for a reason: Lives, and growth. You are correct, when 18 you are legally an adult, but you forget when you turn 21 is when you get all rights. [1] When 18 you cannot do many things. Also when you turn 21 is wen you are fully alone, no family benefits. [1] So even in the law an 18 year old isn't technically out on his own. Also let me also show another reason the state keeps the drinking age high: Development. Adults process alcohol differently from youth, when in youth alcohols effects are intensified. [2] A small amount of alcohol can stunt physical and mental growth in a teen. [2] Adults, and older people, are more responsible so they are less likely o get into accidents involving alcohol. [2] Now, as older people have more experience then they are less likely to do dangerous things. So a higher drinking age gives 3 years more experience, and maturity + mental growth, so the higher drinking age means less accidents. Also as the 18 year olds have adverse effects with alcohol, then the higher drinking age protects them. As I have proven the higher age lowers users of the youth, hence less kids melting their brains at early ages. Last reason the state doesn't be consistent: Saves lives20,000 lives have been saved by the higher drinking age. [3] [4] Also, sorry for the late response, you show Europe has lower ages and lower alcohol fatalities, that's a myth they have a larger problem with that.[3] [5] Also they have a worse binge drinking problem. [4]Prime examples that the lower drinking age kills people, and a higher one saves people. Also the national highway Traffic Safety Administration says the drinking age of 21 saves 900 lives per year. [6] [7] "Fewer college students reported drinking in the past month in 2006 (65.4%) than in 1980 (82%)" [6]. [8]Note 1980 = lower drinking age. Also you claim they will do it anyway. I have proven that the lower drinking age lowers users with statistics and facts, you just have a un-sourced statement. Also it is simple psychological theory:Deterrent effect: "Deterrence is a theory from behavioral psychology about preventing or controlling actions or behavior through fear of punishment or retribution. This theory of criminology is shaping the criminal justice system of the United States and various other countries." [9]This means if we have more retribution you are less likely to do it, and a higher drinking age does this, a scare factor. So a higher drinking age acts as a deterrent, and as mentioned earlier the 16 year old woudl think the 8 year old is "hip" (is that what they use?) so they will copy him. A 21 year old may be viewed as "less in touch with the times". So a lower age would increase users. source: http://www.tobacco21.org...Notice then th edrinkign age hit 21 users decreased, in 1977 when the age was 18 the users of youth where higher, so a higher drinking age reduces users, hence savign lives etc.My point is, i lowers users ----> saves lives ----> better word. As you advocate the change in the status quo, therefore you have the BOP which yo have not fufilled. I rarely do this:Sources: Me as I had more and mine seem more accurate, as I had many .govs and .edu and .orgs. Shw had good sources as well, but as she had many fewer my many sources that are accurate > less sources similar accuracy. Arguments: You had the BOP, which you didn't fill, also I won the saving lives factor, and most of the major contentions in the debate. COnduct : tieS/G: you decide. Also: Extend saves lives argumentExtend: alcohols effects on teensShe dropped 1 this round, and has not refuted the youth and teens at all. I Urge a CON votesources:http://www.state.gov... [1]http://www.girlshealth.gov... [2]http://www.madd.org... [3]DiClemente, Ralph J. et al “Parental Monitoring: Association With Adolescents' Risk Behaviors” Pediatrics 107: 6 June 2001, 1363-1368 [4]Fell, James. From “Chapter 2: Federalism: Resolved, the Federal Government should restore each State’s freedom to set its drinking age.” in Ellis, Richard and Nelson, Michael (eds.) Debating Reform. CQPress Publishers, Fall 2009. [5]http://www.health.state.mn.us... [6]Accident Analysis and Prevention, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 2008 [7]Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975-2006. Volume I: Secondary school students (NIH Publication No. 07-6205). Bethesda, MD. [8]http://en.wikipedia.org... [9]