Sgt. Leo York doing what he does best; busting underage drinkers and being an asshole.Your a 18 year old freshman in college. You go with your new roommate to a party off campus, ignoring the smell coming from him and the obvious fact that he hasn't showered in weeks. You walk into the party. A guy opens the door, and asks how old your are. When you reply 18 he says sorry you can't drink, then watches you look dejected after walking a half mile to this party in the god damn snow and says "naw man im just playing, beer's in the fridge." You proceed to get wasted. On a Wednesday. Welcome to college. (disclaimer: this is not from personal experience i usually go to church on Wednesday night...and by church i mean bar *zing*....just kidding i don't go out and drink on Wednesday's.Who do you think I am a college student?...o wait.)
But now people have taken it upon themselves to make these parties more sufficient and better equipped! Equipment!
A new group called "Choose Responsibility" has been formed and is seeking to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18. I think they have gained support from over 100 college presidents including the president of the Ohio State University (boo!). They present a unique argument as to why they want to lower this age. Lets look into these arguments.
Pro 18 arguments.
People who generally agreeing with this stance.
-Anybody who is a member of a fraternity and is enrolled in college.
-Those 100 college presidents
-Oprah (she wants all voting age citizens to be wasted so she can trick us into voting for gay marriage, just like she did with Obama).
-Any male between the ages of 20 and 18. Or is about to celebrate his 21st in style.
1. 18 is the legal age for everything in the United States except for drinking. If you can fight in Iraq, Vote, Marry,Enter into binding contracts and serve on a jury you can drink. (If you do all of those things in one day you should probably have a drink). Also in a lot of cultures the drinking age is synchronized with the legal adult age hence the U.S. is out of sync. (especially since N*SYNC broke up *zing*.....I know im killing all credibility).
2. 18-20 year olds are doing a great deal to conceal their underage drinking and are doing so away from the supervision of parents, RA's and other adult figures. (well duh its illegal). Drinking at remote locations away from supervision puts not only the drinker but the citizen at greater risk.
3.The legal age of 21 encourages binge drinking. (which is, like,bad right?)
4. Having the age at 21 disenfranchises parents from facing the realities of underage drinking. They must either completely ignore the situation and not allow their children to drink or serve their kids alcohol to allow for proper supervision. Lowering the age would allow parents to teach their children informed, healthy decisions about alcohol. (EAT YOUR GOD DAMN BROCCOLI NOW!, parent telling kid to make a healthy decision).
5. Underage drinkers do not realize that every time they open a beer they are breaking the law. It creates an enviorment where younger kids are disrespectful to the law. Having the age at 21 is like having prohibition in the 1920's. (Well maybe except their's no mob violence).
CON 18 arguments
People who generally agree with this stance
-Your mom (not like the dumb joke "your mom" but literally)
-Any high school administrator
-Susan B. Anthony
-The makers of sesame street
-Your Sunday school teacher, who is opposed to everything that seems like fun. (don't touch your wee wee it's a sin)
These arguments are from CADCA, which i have no idea what that stands for, but you can check them out here.
1. More high school senior's don't drink now then when the age was lower. (some frat brothers would say this is an argument for lowering the age but chill "brah"..its not.) Scientific studies show that more than three times as many 18 yr olds are not drinking alcohol. (you blinded me with science.)
2.Prevention has been successful. (that's what she said. OH!) 25,ooo lives have been saved since the drinking age was moved to 21. (this website sites its sources and it comes from a study done by the U.S. department of Transportation. Study.)
3. Science confirms that teen drinking has long term consequences. (like a potential hangover filled day.) Because the adolescent brain is not fully developed until the mid 20's; drinking before your 21 can harm brain development and function. (explains Joel...jk...Dad: jk is internet lingo for Just Kidding.)
4. Lowering the drinking age would normalize potentially addicting behavior. Lowering the drinking age would send the wrong message to America's youth and would normalize behavior that has potential to be both dangerous and addictive. (and you know who would be sending that message? That's right. Effing Oprah.)
5. Delaying the age of onset is in the best interest of youth. People who begin drinking before age 15 are four times as likely to develop alcohol dependence as an adult.
