Drinking age

Many people have different opinions about what age is approprate for drinking. Some people say people who are under 21 years old also can drink. Some people say no, it is terrible. As American citizens, they can do everything at age 18, but just cannot drink (Clesen, 2002). When 18-year-olds drink, it might be very dangerous for everybody, because they cannot control themselves (Mulcaney, 2002). At this age, they should study hard. They cannot think clearly when they play.

When people can drink at 21 years old, it is good for everybody. When 18-year-olds drink, it is dangerous to them and we also are in danger. At that age, people often drive after drinking and alcohol is very unhealthy for people under 21 years old.

First, younger people always drive when they are drinking. For example, when a teenager goes to a party, he finishes the party and should go home. He was drinking a lot of alcohol. His head is not clear. So, while he is going home, he might have a traffic accident, because he was drinking, and could feel sleepy. His concentration will go down. He may be sleeping, when he drives. Those are big problems. Drinking can kill him; it also can kill other people. A 19-year-old girl, according to the Daily Herald, drank about 21 beers. She collided with two people (Mulcahey, 2002). After drinking, driving is dangerous for the person himself and others.

Second, alcohol is very unhealthy for people who are under 21 years old. Teenagers have not finished growing. For example, there are teenagers. One is never drinking, and the other is sometimes drunk. Now they may not be different, but they might have some difference in a few years, for example, one is short, and the other is tall. One's memory is bad, another's is good. If you drink early,, it could make your growth late. Alcohol can demolish your growth hormone.

Opponents say that people who are under 21 years old should be able to drink. It is wrong, because teenagers drive after drinking and it is very unhealthy for them. People in this age group think they can decide about their lives. When their mind is clear, they can decide about their lives. If their mind is not clear, they do not know what are they doing. The U.S.A. and my country have some difference. For example, in my country 18-year-old teenagers can drink, because if they are drinking, they can use public transportation. American people mostly drink outside. In my country, they should drink inside. Nobody goes outside, but here it is free. No one cares about it. Why in my country does no one say they should stop selling alcohol to teenagers? The answer is, they do not have their own car. They should use bus or taxi. So, they cannot make accidents. My country is safer than here. If American teenagers want to drink, they can go to China to drink, because they should use public transportation in China.

In conclusion, today we have a dispute about what age is fit to drink. Drinking is not bad, but for teenagers it is not good. They do not know how to control how much they drink, or what quantity is fit. If teenagers drink beer, then they drive. It can take their life. Their growth is not finished. So, if they drink a lot of alcohol, it will make a disease. Not drinking is good for them. We should think about this problem.

Clesen, N. (2002, January 25). 18-year-old Americans can do everything but drink. Western Courier, Western Illinois University. Retrieved February 6, 2008, from http://media.www.westermcpiroer/com/media/storage/paper650/news/2002/01/25/opinion/18yearold.Americans.Can.Do.Everything.But.Drink-443956.shtml

Mulcahey, S. (2002, January 30). Lowering drinking age is not a solution. Western Courier, Western Illinois University. Retrieved February 6, 2008, from http://media.www.westermcpiroer/com/media/storage/paper650/news/2002/01/30/opinion/Lowering.Drinking.Age.is.Not.A.Solution-443723.shtml