Drinking age
...e are far more drunk driving accidents involving people over the age of 21. (McClenaghan, 87) The 21-year-old drinking age actually makes underage drinking worse. Just like prohibition, outlawing drinking tends to destroy moderation. “People tended to gulp alcohol in large quantities on those occasions when they could obtain it. The laws force people to hide it.” What we currently have is age-specific prohibition. “Young people are forced to create their own “speakeasies” in secret locations where they, too, must gulp their alcohol in the absence of moderating social control.” The thrill of breaking the law gone and the access to the bar granted, people in the 18- to 20-age group would be treated like adults. (Engs, 3) All the theories that young adults are not responsible enough to drink legally are made up those who are worried that a lowered drinking age will lead to a greater number of alcoholics. These theories have not been proven but were created to scare the general public. At this time a twisted sense of “morality” is being imposed on a younger generation to which past generations were not subjected. (Barnes, 2) The 21-year-old drinking age does not make sense. When people turn 18 they are responsible enough to vote, go to war, have kids, and enter into contracts, but not to drink. “Currently we prohibit 20-year-olds from sipping champagne at their own wedding!” (Engs, 1) The basis of the law is ridiculous. The government has the wrong approach to drinking. They try to teach avoidance instead of moderation. They try to teach in DARE programs that all drugs and alcohol are bad instead of teaching that alcohol is ok along as consumption is controlled. They make the public think that drinking is part of maturity instead of maturity being learning to drink properly. “Lowering the drinking age would help send the important message that drinking is, in itsel...