High school students getting dangerously drunk is not a novel idea, nor is the debate over whether the drinking age should be 18 or 21. The enactment of the Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 raised the legal drinking age to 21, but this legislation is still widely debated today, and for good reason. The U.S. is one of the few countries with a legal drinking age of 21; most others have a legal drinking age of 18. Political interest groups, such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MAAD), argued in favor of increasing the drinking age. However, the benefits of raising the drinking age are outweighed by the detriments. A lower drinking age allows people to learn responsible drinking habits in a safe environment. It is also unreasonable to claim that one becomes an adult at the age of 18, when they are not allowed to buy alcohol, but can join the military. It is in the best interest of society to lower the drinking age back to 18.

Contrary to popular belief, the higher drinking age does not ensure safer drinking due to higher rates of alcohol related incidents. In fact, according to Bettina Friese of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, many European countries with lower drinking ages, such as Italy, have lower rates of alcoholism than the U.S. For example, only 3% of Italy’s population are considered “problem drinkers” compared to 15% of the U.S.’s population. The most likely reason for this is the difference in the way alcohol is introduced to American teens compared to European teens. Reported by the Directorate-General for Communications, European teens learn to think of alcohol as an addition to a meal meant to be consumed in a family environment. This is very different from many American teens who think of it as a forbidden fruit and learn to drink behind their parents’ back. This results in overcompensation in drinking. It can be dangerous for teenagers to drink for the first time without parental supervision because the teens still do not know their limit and this can cause a teenager to drink too much. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 5,000 teens die in America from underage drinking every year, which is more than the consumption of all illegal drugs combined.

By the age of 18, these teenagers are considered U.S. citizens and can smoke cigarettes, register to vote, and enlist in the army, yet buying and consuming alcohol is still prohibited. There is no sense in allowing an 18-year old to smoke cigarettes rather than alcohol. According to the American Lung Association, cigarettes cause 4 million more deaths a year than alcohol. In addition, it is absurd that one cannot buy and consume alcohol when one could be sent to war. If an American can risk their life to protect their country, they should be allowed to drink alcohol.

The minimum drinking age of 21 is largely ineffective because many teens choose to drink anyways. According to the National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse, underage drinking accounts for 17.5% of consumer spending on alcohol in the U.S. In 2006, 72.2% of 12th graders reported drinking alcohol at one point in their high school careers. This trend of teenagers refusing to obey the minimum drinking age can promote increased disrespect of other U.S.

The detriments that come with a higher drinking age, such as irresponsible drinking habits, alcoholism, and increased alcohol-related incidents, are harms that can be prevented with this solution. There have been many consequences resulting in the rise of the drinking age that overshadow the improvements made. The way alcohol is introduced in America creates a toxic drinking atmosphere, resulting in higher alcoholism rates. It is ridiculous to label one an adult, giving them some privileges while holding back on others. A safer drinking culture needs to be achieved through the installment of a lower drinking age.