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Should the drinking age be 18? Should the drinking age be 18?
Yes, the drinking age should be 18. Yes, the drinking age should be 18.
No, the drinking age should be 21. No, the drinking age should be 21.
The ideal drinking age depends on the jurisdiction. The ideal drinking age depends on the jurisdiction.
There should be no drinking age. There should be no drinking age.
Adults should have the right to decide to drink Adults should have the right to decide to drink
18 is the safest minimum age for drinking 18 is the safest minimum age for drinking
A minimum age of 18 normalizes responsible drinking A minimum age of 18 normalizes responsible drinking
Drinking alcohol is medically risky Drinking alcohol is medically risky
Younger people are too immature to drink Younger people are too immature to drink
A higher drinking age reduces drunk driving A higher drinking age reduces drunk driving
Cultural and religious beliefs vary widely about drinking Cultural and religious beliefs vary widely about drinking
Historically, there were no drinking age laws Historically, there were no drinking age laws
Young people drink regardless of the drinking age Young people drink regardless of the drinking age
Underage drinking is not a priority for law enforcement Underage drinking is not a priority for law enforcement
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Should the drinking age be 18?
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Yes, the drinking age should be 18.

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A minimum age of 18 normalizes responsible drinking

Eliminating the thrill of breaking the law through underage drinking makes moderate, responsible consumption of alcohol the norm.
Dwight B. Heath
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The Argument

Adults in most countries drink some amount of alcohol on a fairly routine basis. Drinking in moderation and making responsible choices while doing so (such as not drinking to excess or driving while drunk) does not present serious risks to other members of society, and it is important to normalize this kind of responsible approach to drinking. If 18-year-olds are not able to drink legally, they are therefore not able to make a responsible choice to drink. This makes drinking a thrill-seeking choice for young adults, which encourages illegal activity and irresponsible behavior. Allowing 18-year-olds to drink legally eliminates the incentive to break the law and establishes the more common, moderate pattern of drinking as the normal and appropriate way to drink.

Counter arguments

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Having a higher drinking age makes drinking alcohol more salacious and therefore attractive as an illegal activity.

Rejecting the premises

References

This page was last edited on Friday, 7 Feb 2020 at 17:56 UTC

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