Biography of Kim Jong-Un
Drinking Age
The debate about whether the drinking age in the United States was set too high is getting hot and hotter every day. Interestingly, the US considers 18-year olds as adults but one wonders why keep the same adults up to the age of twenty-one to seep a glass of beer. The recent arrest and prosecution of the twin daughters of former President Bush aged 19 years in Texas for violating alcohol regulations has left many people wondering whether it is the high time that legislators should consider lowering the drinking age to 18 years. The arrest left many people wondering whether the girls were insensitive to disrespecting the political stature of their father, but one argues if it was another country; the girls could have been taking the beer at their comfort (Steinberg, 2015). The proponents of the law of raising the drinking age to twenty definitely had good intentions, but what lingers in the mind of people is how they settled for that age. Why not nineteen? One might wonder how a twenty-one year old has suddenly matured, thoughtful, and responsible compared to when he/she was say nineteen or twenty. The underlying issue is the educational programs that the drinkers should undertake before being initiated to the world of drinking.
Recent reports have shown that at least half the number of young people in the United States aged between twelve and sixteen have consumed alcohol at least once in their lifetime. The reports further added that two-thirds of students in the American colleges said they consume with no worry at all (Steinberg, 2015). The above trend shows raising the age limit to twenty-one has not had any effect on the drinking habits on the American youths. The law that was passed in the 1980s regarding raising the drinking age to twenty-one is archaic and need immediate amendment. At that time the law was meant to reduce the number of accidents caused by young drunk drivers. However, tightening of traffic laws has significantly reduced the cases of accidents related to drunk drivers aged below the twenty-one years but has increased significantly in the age bracket of 21-24 years. This trend perhaps shows that the age limit might not be the determinant but rather the level of education instilled on the drinkers.
Many fatalities have been recorded in the US prior to raising the drinking age. The main reason is that the young people are drinking in hideouts hence they would not call home for drive assistance. Further cases of alcohol poisoning have been witnessed as kids drink large amounts of alcohol at a shorter period during partying for fear of being caught. Proponents of lowering the drinking age have argued that such suicidal cases could have been avoided if the kids were allowed to drink at an early age.
Raising the drinking age to twenty-one incidentally has made the drinking habit exciting among the young Americans. The theory of the “forbidden fruit” took shape immediately. One of the research conducted after increasing the drinking age showed an interesting scenario where the number of college students that consumed alcohol increased, especially towards graduation (Griggs, 2015). Following the passage of the law according to the research, has allowed the young Americans students to suddenly become attracted to the drinking habits as compared to the older students. The US have stuck to the drinking age limit of twenty-one when many countries across the globe have set it at eighteen. Other countries like France and Spain have further lowered the drinking age limit to sixteen. The reason being they have weighed all the pros and cons and finally settled for those lower age limits.
Many countries have set the age of eighteen as the adulthood age where one is given the national identification card similarly to the US except for drinking license only (Jacinta, 2015). They are further allowed to marry, join the defense forces, and most importantly to vote. However, interestingly they are not allowed to satisfy their alcoholic appetite. It is imperative for the old Americans to start having a different drinking perspective. It is absurd that everyone expects the young Americans to drink responsibly come the age of twenty-one yet no one is minding about introducing early so that they start learning effects of alcohol early. This has made the young Americans crave for the age of twenty-one where they will be allowed under law to go on a drinking spree.
Interestingly, following the raising of the drinking age, there has not been more alteration in the drinking trends among the young people. On the contrary, the number is significantly rising at an alarming rate. The United States should consider adopting cultures like those used in countries like France and Italy where parents give some little amounts of wine to their children during dining. This approach gives parents a great opportunity to educate their kids about the effects of alcohol drinking, especially the rebellious kids who are fond of sneaking to the basement for some gulps of alcohol in the absence of their parents. The parents, other than demystifying alcohol, embrace it and teach their children responsible drinking ways. That way, the children will respect alcohol just like any other meal they take (Jacinta, 2015).