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Should the drinking age be 18?
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Drinking alcohol is medically risky

Young adults are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of alcohol consumption on brain development, and are at greater risk of alcohol poisoning.

The Argument

Young adults are still developing physiologically and neurologically, and the consumption of alcohol can have deleterious effects on this development. Early adult brain development includes changes to the brain's frontal lobes which, if disrupted, can lead to profound behavioral and psychological issues. Risks of addiction and suicide can be increased by alcohol-related neurological problems. Young adults are also more prone to excessive binge drinking, which leads to alcohol poisoning and medical treatment for many younger drinkers.

Counter arguments

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Drinking at too young an age people can have a negative impact on brain formation. [P2] The state should not sanction this by having the legal drinking age at 18.

Rejecting the premises

References

This page was last edited on Wednesday, 7 Oct 2020 at 07:25 UTC

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