Drinking Age
... 1996. This should be seen in the context of a 28% drop in alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the general population. From 1982 through 1986 when minimum purchasing and public possession age laws varied from 18 to 21, alcohol-related traffic fatalities for people under 21 dropped by 14%. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities for the general population during this period dropped by 4%. Many people have lost a family member or a close friend in an accident caused by a drunk driver. These people would use these statistics to argue that alcohol related fatalities have decreased; therefore the Minimum Drinking Age Act is working for the better. Although these statistics are all true, they are not alone. Many other statistics suggest that the drinking age of 21 is making situations worse. For example from 1982 until 1987 about 46% of students reported, "vomiting after drinking." This jumped to over 50% after the law change. Significant increase were also found for other variables: "cutting class after drinking" jumped from 9% to almost 12%; "missing class because of hangover" went from 26% to 28%; "getting lower grade because of drinking" rose from 5% to 7%; and "been in a fight after drinking" increased from 12% to 17%(Engs 171-180). The increased consumption age is not the only factor in the decreasing drinking and driving statistics. Other factors include proper education concerning drunk driving, designated driver plans, increased seat belt usage, lower speed limits, etc. Also, maturity is a huge factor in the decision. Since the number twenty-one has no real basis of maturity, the government should have kept the legal drinking age where it was and kept the public educated rather than taking a right away from the adults under the age of twenty-one. Although the legal purchase age is 21 years old, a majority of college students under this age consume alcohol but in an irresponsible manner. Under age drinking is considered a symbol of “adulthood” since being able to drink requires being of “legal” age. Young people want to drink because it is against the law and it makes them feel older. Getting rid of the “underage” part for 18-20 year olds would take away the thrill of breaking the law and they would be treated like the adults the U.S constitution says they are. They learn drinking in unsafe environments like unsupervised fraternity or sorority parties. They drink alcohol on the intentions of getting drunk instead of drinking it with food or for the taste. There is also an inconsistency in not allowing those under the age of 21 to drink while being...