The Legal Drinking Age in the USA

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the legal age for alcohol consumption in the USA with the author making a case that the national drinking age minimum should be 18 rather than the current age of 21. The author includes reference to several laws that have been introduced in the past, finishing his argument by stating that not lowering the legal limit is diminishing the freedom of this age group.

From the Paper:

"It could be a weekly experience in reading any number of national newspapers, watching a national cable news broadcast, or overhearing a conversation in a grocery store check-out line, another teen tragedy of drinking. Almost as often there is discussion of the current level of American Armed Forces casualties in any number of the theaters of in the armed conflict our nation is embroiled in. A common thread between the two is the age of the focus of conversation, 18 years old. On one hand an eighteen year old youth is old enough to bravely fight and pay the ultimate price in the defense of the country, yet they are not old enough to participate in an activity that is perfectly legal (at the proper age), socially acceptable, and encourage by popular culture. There are a number of very important responsibilities that society expects of the eighteen year old, yet polling data indicates that the some society is opposed to letting this same age legally drink alcohol. We are blessed to live in a free society, and the proper way is regulate illegal activity, the sometime unfortunate consequences of alcohol consumption, not ban the activity altogether. This is an issue of personal freedom and responsibility. A free society expects its members to behave within legal parameters, not lord over its members like "Big Brother" or an omnipresent nanny."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Carroll, Joseph. (July, 27, 2007). "Most Americans Oppose Lowering Drinking Age to 18 Nationwide." Gallup New Service Website. Retrieved August 10, 2007, from http://www.galluppoll.com/content/?ci=28237.
• Devon, Michelle L. (2007). "What is the Legal Drinking Age in the United States and Why?" Associated Content Website. Retrieved August 10, 2007, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/pop_print.shtml?content_type=article&content_type_id=86691#.
• Woolley, John T. & Peters, Gerhard. (June 30, 1971). "Richard Nixon - Statements About Ratification of the Twenty Sixth Amendment to the Constitution." The American Presidency Project Website - University of California Santa Barbara Website. Retrieved ,August 10, 2007, form http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=3065.
• "Selective Service and You." (August 4, 2007). Selective Service System Website. Retrieved, August 10, 2007, from http://www.sss.gov/sssyou/sssyou.htm.
• Klugger, Jeffery. (January 13, 2003). "How to Manage Teen Drinking (The Smart Way). Time Magazine Online. Retrieved August 10, 2007 from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,129907,00.html

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