...The Pros and Cons of Underage Alcohol Consumption (Canada) Whitney Aldrich, Armando Cruz, Bryan Munoz, Lucy Cortez, Mitchell Guidry Team A BCOM/275 May 29, 2012 Scott Earle The Pros and Cons of Underage Alcohol Consumption (Canada) Canada is a country that is pro for under 21 years old to consume alcohol. They believe that if you have young adults start using alcohol at a younger age they learn how to monitor and control their drinking. Some of the reasons Canadians believe its okay are; they are less likely to see alcohol as a badge of adulthood and rebellion. Allows them to learn their limits in a safe space may also help ward off risky experiments in more dangerous settings later. By allowing 19 year olds do it makes alcohol illegal for high school students but allows virtually all college kids to legally drink. This means that at least some of their drinking is supervised and that there is no incentive to binge to avoid being caught possessing alcohol. The lower legal drinking age means that more Canadian students drink than American students; however, those who imbibe display more moderation than their U.S. counterparts (Larry Hemelin, 200). Even thou Canadians believe that the age of 19 is the right legal age for youngster to start drinking, many activists are still pushing new laws to raise the age limit for drinking alcohol. There are programs that are pushing to stop underage drinking. Awareness is being publicized in many ways. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers...
Words: 385 - Pages: 2
...they should also have the right to drink alcohol. Others claim that fatalities from underage drinking are just too high and at the age of 18 a person is still not responsible enough to drink. In 1984 a bill was brought before government to raise the age to 21 or states would lose highway funding and in 1987 the government complied and signed a bill that forced most states to raise the legal age to 21, if they did not comply the state would lose ten percent of their highway funding. Some saw this as unfair and put laws into place where it was still legal for underage drinking with certain conditions attached, such as being supervised within your parents’ home. This bill has claimed to of saved 17,000 lives since 1988. The debate on the drinking age has raised many concerns for both sides and still continues to be a subject that brings controversy to any conversation. The pros of lowering the drinking age to 18 can be a very valid argument. At the age of 18 a young person is considered an adult and most believe that if you have the rights to join the army, get married and vote that the use of alcohol legally should be a right as well. Allowing an 18 to 20 year olds to drink in a controlled environment can decrease unsafe drinking activity. Being supervised by parents that drink responsibly and provide guidance at this age can greatly reduce the abuse of alcohol during this age. Lowering the drinking age would take the thrill out of breaking...
Words: 1779 - Pages: 8
...Tamyra Hamilton Susan LaPlant ENGL 1102 K 2 April 2015 Be Good or Be Good At It In the article “Parents Notification Policies for Underage Drinking Evolve” by Jenna Johnson she discusses the pros and cons of informing a parent about their child’s alcohol-related actions that they condone at universities. Johnson seems to be on the fence throughout the whole article on whether she agrees or disagree with informing parents on every little detail in their child’s life pertaining to consuming or even just being around alcohol. In the article, Johnson quotes the vice president of student affairs at Virginia Tech, Edward Spencer, when he states “[s]tudents are more concerned about their parents being notified than they are of the legal consequences,” which is true because parents are more terrifying than any form of law enforcement (qtd. in Johnson). Regardless of how minor a situation is parents should be notified if their child is in any situation pertaining to alcohol. It is better for parents to know and be upset for a little while with their child than it is for the parents to not know and possibly not even have a child to be upset with because their child could be taken away from them. It is always best to expect the unexpected in any case regardless of the teenager trying to gain independence. The director of student conduct at the University of Maryland, John Zacker, said it best when he stated that “[t]here is no magical line here between May of their senior year...
Words: 1005 - Pages: 5
...Change the drinking age to 18. When you are eighteen years old you have multiple responsibilities. Everyone who is eighteen is seen as a responsible, mature young adult. If eighteen year olds are portrayed as responsible and mature adults then why can’t they buy or consume alcohol? The legal drinking age should be lowered to eighteen because people are able to fight for their country, can be prosecuted as an adult, can buy cigarettes, and many more. One of the biggest issues on not being able to drink when you are eighteen is that they are able to fight for their country for freedom. They are able to hold, and shoot a gun, and possibly kill someone. Yet, they still can’t have a beer? Reynolds states “If you are old enough to enlist, and old enough to vote, you are old enough to swill cheap beer in the company of your peers."(n.p.) Military men and women have every right to drink and purchase alcohol if they so choose. Some people disagree with lowering the drinking age. They think it will cause more fatalities. People believe that someone who is eighteen is more likely to drink, and drive. I have no clue how people came up with this, but a twenty-one year old is just as likely to drink, and drive. Therefore, our roads won’t be any more dangerous than they are now, but Ogilvie states “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that raising the drinking age to 21 saves about 800 lives a year.”(n.p.) The thing is underage drinking is happening every day,...
Words: 681 - Pages: 3
...Lowering the American Drinking Age April 18, 2011 Table of Contents I. Introduction- Speculation on the drinking age II. Maturity Level III. Cons against lowering the drinking age a. Students and Drinking b. Party Habits IV. Pros for lowering the drinking age c. Binge Drinking d. The Limit V. Risk VI. The American View e. Legal Responsibilities f. Government Statistics g. Capital VII. Conclusion \Abstract/Executive Summary The drinking age should be lowered and Americans should take charge and know their limit. When it comes to the subject of lowering the drinking age, many speculations have been made, both positive and negative. Ohio legislature should take into account both view points. A positive being a drastic reduction in binge drinking among the American population. A negative is the fear of higher death rates due to alcohol poisoning. Lowering the American Drinking Age The drinking age in America has been under speculation for many years now and even though the law is set for 21, there are still minors abusing their availability to the stimulant. One can argue that the law shouldn’t be 21 and should be reduced for many reasons. On the contrary others believe that it just might be the right age if not too low already. Many people disagree with lowering it because of the lack of maturity in young adults, the number of increasing injuries, deaths related to drinking alcohol, and also...
Words: 1314 - Pages: 6
...Howard ENG-123 13 Jun 2015 Lowering the Drinking Age The drinking age in America needs to be changed to align our cultural values with the rest of the worlds. In America there is no real reason to support the fact that we need to wait until the age of 21 to drink. To think that 21 is the age when everyone is mature enough to drink is just speculation. At 18 you are allowed to buy tobacco and even tattoo yourself. So how could lawmakers come to the decision that we need to wait until 21 in order to consume a beer? The main argument against keeping the drinking age at 21 is the fact that it may cause problems in the development in the frontal lobes of the brain. There is only minimal supporting evidence that actually shows any problems in normal drinking habits. Many people feel that the drinking age that is set in place is biased and a form of prohibition to the people who are 18 to 20. We need to stand up to lawmakers in the government and ensure that the laws that are emplaced to protect and allow for “adults” to make their own decisions. The fact that the brain may not be fully developed until the age of 21, the drinking age should be lowered because you are considered an adult at 18 and can die for your country and the primary reason states are refusing to change the law is for fear of losing federal funding for roads from the government. There is controversy surrounding the primary argument against lower the drinking age which is the assertion that the brain...
Words: 1639 - Pages: 7
...para. 5). Currently, the United States has set the legal age to drink at 21. The age was once 18; however, society has changed its views concerning this issue. Because the legal drinking age changed to 21 there was an increase in mortality rate at age 21, increase in motor vehicle accidents, and increase in suicides. Even though 18 is considered an adult and a person should be able to make his or her own decisions, the drinking age should not be lowered because teens lack the maturity to handle alcohol and teens are at a higher risk of alcohol-related deaths. This debate has two sides as some people are for lowering the age to 18 again and some against. Many will argue that the average drinking age around the world is 18. According to International Center for Alcohol Policies (2011), “Minimum drinking and purchase ages in countries around the world range from 16 to 25 years of age, with 18 being the most common age limit” (para. 6). Others say that if a person age 18 is old enough to serve and die for his or her country, he or she should be permitted to consume alcoholic beverages. Should the drinking age be lowered to 18? This paper will weigh the pros and cons as well as identify potential issues associated with this debate. Pros on the Debate Many people still hold to the belief that the drinking age should be lowered to the age of 18. This argument is not without validation. When a person reaches the age of 18 that person is...
Words: 2686 - Pages: 11
...The drinking age has been a topic of debate ever since an age was established. Many years ago, government said that 21 years old would be the minimum age for drinking. This was fine for a while but later became an issue. People started to think of all the things one can do as an 18 year old, yet still not able to drink a beer. At 18 years old one is considered an adult. They become eligible to serve in the military and yield weapons. Also at 18, one can go out to the store and buy a pack of cigarettes. So why can they still not have a beer. This is where controversy has begun. People believe the drinking age should be lowered to 18. Already in some states it is legal for someone to drink at 18, under some circumstances, but why is it not nationwide?...
Words: 1772 - Pages: 8
...purchase of alcohol for those who are underage is illegal. ProCons.org informs us that exceptions do exist on a state-by-state basis for consumption at home, under adult supervision, for medical necessity, and other reasons. So this brings about a very controversial question that I have. Why can’t we lower the drinking age? Yes, there are risks, but there are also many facts that bring the pros of this recreation to light. (First, let me say, that I am definitely not delusional in saying this would be a perfect plan, but even though there are risks they do not outweigh the good) Before we go into the pros and cons of this situation I think you should all know the reason as to why the drinking age is 21 anyway. Well, according to a blog from a reputable source called the mental floss, we ended up with a national minimum age of 21 because of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. This law doesn't prohibit drinking per se; it merely requires states to outlaw purchase and public possession by people under 21. So, that being said, the first risk everyone seems to touch upon is that drinking under the age of 21 can interfere with brain development. I have learned from previous classes that the frontal lobes don’t develop completely until later in a human being’s twenties. The frontal lobe cortex controls judgment and is greatly impaired when alcohol is added to the equation. The second concern procon.org touches upon is that “Lowering drinking ages from 21 to 18 will irresponsibly...
Words: 888 - Pages: 4
...Q. What are the pros and cons of making alcohol illegal today? What other option can you suggest to regulate alcohol consumption apart from legislation? Give reasons for your response citing research. Answer to the student: People use alcohol for a number of reasons. Once someone addicted with alcohol they cannot stop using them. He continues to use alcohol despite numerous negative consequences. Alcohol slowly but inevitably destroyed the physical health and mental health and moral character (Baumberg B & P Anderson, 2008). It is a creature of nearly unemployment, poverty, all social problems, business failure, insanity, slums, crime, and violence (especially against children and women). It related with very real social and economic problems of with every country within the world. So that is most significant evidence against making alcohol. Misuse of alcohol has the potential to impose harm on both society and individuals through a range of social and health problems (Austin E and Weintraub M, 2006). Apart from legislation there are various significant suggestions to regulate alcohol consumption. Price is a first factor influencing the consumption of alcohol. Low alcohol prices encourage higher consumption. So regulation or taxes that affect differently lower-priced drinks may be more reducing and effective for heavy use of alcohol. A strong policy to help minimize the harms and maximize benefits of alcohol use. Alcohol policies creating a balance in a number of different...
Words: 329 - Pages: 2
...The drinking age in the U.S. is a widely debated topic. People everywhere think it should be lowered while other people think it should stay the same. In this report I will explain both sides of the story and all of the pros and cons of lowering the official age, and then explain to you my view on the topic. Why we should lower the drinking age. 18 is the age of adulthood in The United States, and adults have the right to make their own decisions about alcohol consumption. By lowering the drinking age, allowing 18-20 year olds to drink in regulated environments would decrease unsafe drinking activities. Also there are fewer drunk driving accidents and fatalities in many countries with the MLDA of 18. Lowering the MLDA from 21 to 18 would...
Words: 616 - Pages: 3
...The Legal Drinking Age Snjezana Radic English November 08 , 2012 The Legal Drinking Age At the age of 18 we are considered adults, with the rights and responsibilities of make our own decisions in life. Turning 18 we receive the rights and responsibilities of adulthood to vote, smoke cigarettes, serve on juries, get married, sign contracts, be prosecuted as adults in court, and join the military (Markoff, 2012). Being considered as adults at this age and mature enough to make decisions like jury duty, we still aren’t considered old enough to consume alcohol. We get the right to drive a car at the age of 15 with someone 21 years of age. While at 16 we can get a driver’s license legally, and drive without supervision of an adult. The law of the legal drinking age was changed on Dec. 22, 1978 (Markoff, 2012). People believed that changing the law would stop 18- 20 year old from drinking, and reduce highway crashes. In my opinion the law don’t stop the 18 year olds from drinking, and the highway crashes haven’t stopped. The drinking has went underground, or behind closed doors. This makes it more dangerous for college students because they can’t have any drinks out in the open at a bar, or at family event like New Year ’s Eve. Also, the age of 21 don’t stop the DUI’s or the problem of too much drinking. Some may belive that the legal drinking age should...
Words: 1221 - Pages: 5
...Drinking Age Here in America alcohol is used for many different reasons. Some drink alcohol leisurely at a barbeque or party. Some drink it to get drunk and alleviate stress, some people even become so addicted they are physically dependent on consuming alcohol. Regardless of the reasons you drink it, legally you must be 21 years of age. This leaves a lot of room for heated debate. 21 is the magic age for youth, it allows you to now go out to night clubs, gamble, and of course buy and legally consume alcohol to name a few things. In regards to alcohol, many feel as if the age should be 18. As the man in the video was arguing, if you’re able to serve your country why can you have a beer? That is the argument many people will have. I do not agree that the legal age should be 18 in general, but I do feel that military men and women who lay their lives on the line should be given the option to do so. That would be the only case I feel as if it should be allowed, otherwise it would be chaos in my opinion. As stated in the video, states have tried to lower the drinking age before. The result was failure, there were much more drunk driving cases and accidents from people under 21. Now days alcohol is readily available no matter where you are at or what age you are. When I was in High School getting alcohol never seemed to be an issue for a lot of the kids I went to school with. Whether it was parents...
Words: 1171 - Pages: 5
...I also think ethics is sort of a step in the critical thinking process. When making a decision something you’re going to ask yourself is if the decision is going to break any ethical values? A good example of this would be to say a student was invited to a party. Then the student finds out that the party is going to have drugs and underage drinking involved. The student wants to go because all of his/her friends are going but does not want to go because it could end up bad. The first thing the student is going to think about when deciding to go or not would be their own personal ethics or values. This is the same for all problem solving, decision making and career/social responsibilities. Critical thinking and ethics do and always will go hand in hand. The definitions of both critical thinking and ethics are important in understanding the way they impact the steps through critical thinking. Critical thinking is defined as the objective to analysis and evaluates an issue to form a judgment. An example of this would be my decision to attend online or traditional based college. Before starting online school I thought critically about the pros and cons of the two main different types of colleges. I analyzed and evaluated my different choices until I came up with a solution. On the other hand ethics would be defined more as principles that govern a person’s behavior. A lot of times ethics are thought about first when a person is in the stages of the critical thinking process. The...
Words: 739 - Pages: 3
...Legalizing Marijuana: The ethical issue and problem Dorcas Rivera SOC 120 Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Instructor: Robert Gala September 23, 2013 Legalizing Marijuana: The ethical issue and problem Marijuana is the most commonly abused drug. Therefore, legalizing marijuana, not only now, but for many years, has been the topic on rather or not it should be legalized. Even though marijuana has been legalized for medical use in 18 U.S. states, this has caused big controversy in our country and the ethical issue and problems it presents. In this article I will explain; what is marijuana, the risk of marijuana use, the effects of marijuana (in the brain and body), and the pros and cons of legalizing it. I will also explain how one of the classical theories, utilitarianism, would resolve the problem. On the other hand, I will contrast the response with the perspective brought to the issue by, ethical egoism. Lastly, will ended off choosing which of the two are closer to my view. Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant. You may hear marijuana called by street names such as pot, herb, weed, grass, boom, Mary Jane, gangster, or chronic. All forms of marijuana are mind-altering. In other words, they change how the brain works. They all contain THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the main active chemical in marijuana. They also contain more than 400 other chemicals. Marijuana's...
Words: 1992 - Pages: 8
