Since the early times of human civilization, alcohol has been an enjoyable drink to accompany dinners, parties, celebrations, and almost any other occasion. As time and research has progressed laws have been put into place to regulate alcohol consumption. Countries around the world have laws and bans on under-age drinking and set certain ages at their minimums. There are a few countries with no limits, but for the majority the ages range from fourteen to eighteen, with the United States as an exception with their law at twenty one. Twenty one is too high for a limit and has been the cause of many fatalities, alcohol poisoning and other tragedies; it should be lowered to add more benefits to the youth of America including a safe at-home environment …show more content…
Once an individual turns eighteen they can purchase a gun, tobacco, lottery tickets, they can vote, get tattoos, sue, get married and lease a house all without consent, as well as enlist in the military. Why then can they not drink alcohol? Is it not in the government’s issue of individual rights to feed one’s body what it wishes? Why is it that the government can withhold substances for consumption when it is in basic rights to feed one’s body how they wish? If one was to relate these questions to another controversial topic it could easily be compared to drugs such as cocaine, heroin, shrooms, acid, molly, opium, crack, PCP, meth, MDMA, and ecstasy. Even though these drugs are not permitted for use in the United States they are still used widely underground. The underage and illegal markets in the United States are present and vastly successful. Even prohibition and the legalization of marijuana go to show that just because the government doesn’t allow a product doesn’t mean it will not be used. However, with government support and knowledge many incidents and deaths can be avoided yearly with compromises. Even today, states have legalized marijuana to be able to tax its purchase and to be consumed for medical purposes. In the same way, it should be a state-to-state decision on what they want their legal drinking age to be based on that state’s values …show more content…
Alcohol contains ethanol which intoxicates the body once consumed in high amounts. The body begins to feel lighter, warmer, and your brain almost seems disconnected and free. Often times once people become intoxicated they lose their speech filter and say or do whatever they think or feel. This leads to exotic behavior, especially at colleges when partying is where consumption usually happens. Flamboyant dancing, sexual behavior, and violence sometimes occur. But these behaviors happen occur at all ages and cannot be prevented without prohibition, which even in the forties was not successful. However, all of those are extremes to drinking alcohol at any age. Many people enjoy alcohol with meals such as wine or beer and drink them to help decompress after a long day, instead of get extremely loose or