ne saysthat in Germany, “the locals treat alcohol as a supplement to evening activities, not as themain event” (Rally). If young adults are taught that drinking is a privilege and should betaken seriously, the problem of alcohol abuse on college campuses and across the nationwould begin to change itself. The idea is that an 18 year old is not mature enough to be trusted with alcohol butcan vote, pay taxes, serve on a jury, stay out later than curfew laws, leave home, drive,smoke (in some states), buy weapons, engage in financial contracts, get married, givebirth, serve and die for our country in battle, and be tried as an adult in the court of law. Eighteen-year-olds have the same responsibility as twenty-one-year-olds but are notallowed to consume alcoholic beverages. Is it right to grant eighteen-year-olds all ofthese privileges, responsibilities, and obligations yet restrict them from drinking alcohol? If eighteen-year-olds have the ability to handle the freedoms and responsibilities of beingan adult, they should have the privilege to drink alcohol (Rally). Is it really about you? The Unites States is a country of consumers, hypocrites andignorance. If we raise the age-limit for driving we will hurt the automakers (a lot lessconsumption and lost jobs). So we raised the age for drinking---it is OK. No jobs lost. You think it is about our lives? Do you think Washington cares about you or your lives? No, they care about you and your life only as a consumer (Mooney 72)! When the national drinking age was raised to twenty-one in the ‘80s, the intentionwas primarily to reduce the number of alcohol related deaths in America. Among driverskilled in motor vehicle crashes, the highest rates of alcohol intoxication occur in the agegroup of 25-34, followed by 21-24 and then 35-44 (Jones 23). Conservatives andlawmakers look down on lowering the drinking age because of the many consequenceslinked to excessive drinking...
