The Pros And Cons Of Underage Consumption Of Alcohol Abuse

Every year, thousands of minors die from the use of alcohol. Many young adults abuse the drinking age policy. It is put in effect for substantial reasons, which contribute in making the safest environment for all. Drinking underage is not only illegal, but also damages one’s health tremendously. Furthermore, drinking in large amounts is extremely dangerous and can cause detrimental things to occur. There have been numerous attempts to create a law to lower the drinking age, but none have gone through. In contrast to what some people may say, the drinking age should not be lowered because it would decrease maturity, promote poor behavior, and damage reputations.

I ended up getting arrested on

On January 22, 2009, I pled guilty to a Class B misdemeanor DUI charge in Logan, Utah. The offense occurred in November of 2008. On the day of the offense, I had consumed alcohol after work with some friends but felt safe to drive. I was an inexperienced drinker and used poor judgment. When I was pulled over my blood alcohol content was below the legal limit, but I was still cited with a DUI. At first I felt like the victim of injustice but soon realized I was actually the victim of my own poor judgment. I accepted the consequences, pled guilty, and made the decision to never find myself in questionable circumstances again. I was fined and sentenced to two days in jail, one year probation, and required to complete an alcohol treatment course.

Unsupervised and driven underground, underage drinking has gained widespread popularity in America’s youth, even claiming victims such as the former President Bush’s 19 year-old daughter. At 18 years of age, a citizen can purchase a gun and tobacco, enlist in the military, get married, vote, and be tried as an adult in court but yet as an “adult” they still do not possess the right to purchase nor consume alcohol legally. The drinking age should be lowered to 18 years of age because adults should be able to make their own decisions, it is safer for the youth in America, and with alcohol education classes instilled in schools at a young age, the younger citizens will be exposed to responsible drinking habits so it reduces the enticement factor

In December, 2009 I was arrested once and in November, 2010 during my second year of college. I agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor offenses. As part of the agreement, both of my charges were dismissed and sealed. As part of my punishment I had to do community service for a total of 15 days for both charges. But during this time my grades were also affected, as it is exemplified in my transcript.

Over the years the legal drinking in the United States has been heavily debated. Some people argue that the legal age to drink should be 18 or 19 because people at that age are recognized as adults; while others argue that the drinking age should be 21 because people who are able to drink should be more mature and have their lives better planned out. Although people are legally adults at 18, they are not yet mature adults; in fact, according to NRP “emerging science about brain development suggests that most people don't reach full maturity until the age 25” (“Brain”). Before earning the right to legally drink, people should allow their bodies to fully developed and have a better knowledge of how to organize their lives. The drinking age should remain at 21 because if teens were allowed to drink, they could do harm to their underdeveloped bodies, the progress of decreasing the number of teenage and underage drinkers would be lost, the number of car accidents would increase, and teens would be more likely to experiment with other toxic drugs. By merely keeping the legal drinking age at 21, hundreds of lives would be saved.

There has been a large amount of research regarding underage drinking and the long-term effect that it can have on a person’s body and their mental state. The public is often informed of phases and activities that underage students are partaking in that can be extremely harmful to themselves that they are not aware of. In the journal article “The Use of Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages Among Underage Drinkers: Results of a National Survey” they examine the relationship between the tendencies underage drinkers who drink non-traditional caffeinated alcoholic beverages and traditionally caffeinated alcoholic beverages. The study defines non-traditional CABs as Pre-Mixed Sodas or Energy Drinks with Liquor added and defined traditional CABs as Liquor with soda, coffee, or tea added by the beverage consumer.

Today, alcohol use continues to be regarded by many people, as a normal part of

The drinking age has been a controversial topic in the United States for years; should the drinking age be lowered to 18 similar to many other countries around the world? Or should the drinking age remain at 21, which has been the MLDA (minimum legal drinking age) since 1986. There for a couple of strong points for both sides on this debate. One of the strongest points for lowering the drinking age is that at 18, you’re considered a legal adult in the United States. Since the United States trusts teenagers with the ability to join the military, sign contracts, go to jail, and many other things but the United States does not allow drinking at the same age. If we also compare the drinking age with other countries around the world, one will see that the United States has a the highest drinking age in the world, and that other countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Italy, India, France, etcetera. Some say that the minimum legal drinking age of 21 shouldn’t be changed. People who oppose lowering the drinking age say that allowing 18 year olds to drink can mess up their development and brain growth. Also, many state that the minimum legal drinking age reduces traffic accidents and fatalities. There are great points for both sides in this debate of changing the minimum legal drinking age.

Recently, many researchers have questioned whether the legal drinking age in the United States should remain at twenty-one years old or if it should be lowered. This debate has been going on for years. Underage Drinking and the Drinking age”, written by Carla T. Main, represents the side of the argument that believes that the drinking age should remain at twenty-one. While,” Underage drinking: Does Current Policy Make Sense, written by Judith G. McMullen, represents the side of the argument that believes that the United States drinking should be lowered.

Ultimately, lowering the MLDA will be safer for active drinkers. Underage drinking is being pushed out of the public eye and to hidden unsafe locations. As found in a 2006 survey conducted in Northern California, of 15 young adults ages 18-26, all in which were students at some sort of university proves that location is one of the many factors that determine the type of drinking that will occur. A 20-year old male participant explains that “process-oriented drinking is when you don’t need to drink to get drunk, it’s just drinking to enjoy the process. Outcome-oriented drinking, on the other hand, is when you’re drinking alcohol because it’s alcohol” (from process vs outcome, 246).

Late November I made a mistake that has now made my college workload immense. While attending the University of Nebraska at Kearney as a full-time student, alongside with an internship at the Kearney Area Community Foundation, working fifteen hours a week, teaching swimming lessons at the Y along with subbing as a guard, society may image my schedule is booked. Although, in my past, I have made many respectable decisions and I have made poor ones, ultimately learning right from wrong. Provided, the circumstances of my MIP could have been easily avoided if I would have used common sense, for example not consuming alcohol beverages on campus. Now, with a Minor in Possession on my record, for the time being, I have realized the impact this incident has had on my academics, personal life, and countless other circumstances dealing with my everyday life.

Intoxication is the state of being administered drugs involuntarily or voluntarily. People who are drunk usually commit a major amount of criminal offences. The human being’s mood, awareness or mindfulness can be changed by alcohol which is a drug, or any other drugs or elements, resulting in the slackening of self-consciousness and of damaging movements, responses, decision and capability to predict consequences. Although considered as a defence, intoxication is really not a defence. A drunk person will not commit the same acts when he is sober, and he cannot raise the defence of intoxication even if he is capable of creating the necessary mens rea he is accused of. ‘A drunken intent is nevertheless an intent’, this was quoted from the

Not only does family play a significant role in the prevention of underage drinking, so does education. The plan is to get more schools involved in teaching youth about the potential risks associated with underage and irresponsible drinking habits.

As I was standing in front of the judge many emotions proceeded to give me a nudge,