For the reasons it's dangerous, causes health problems, and is abused almost all the time, age of alcohol consumption should remain at 21. If the drinking age were to be lowered to 18, it would leave them with less time to get drunk and therefore, more able to put themselves in tragic situations that will hurt them later as adults, whether physically, mentally, for their criminal record, etc. as the US government lowered the legal drinking age to under 21, sexual abuse, unprotected sex, and many tragedies may become more acceptable in our society. Alcohol is harmful to health and its consequences would be harmful to the adolescent as well as to other people in his life if he had the chance to drink at a relatively young age. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay In the United States, the national minimum drinking age states that no one under the age of 21 may consume or purchase alcoholic beverages. President Ronald Reagan signed the law into law on July 17, 1984. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that "88,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes, making it the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States.” Alcohol is a roulette drug that causes many negative effects once it is heavily consumed, especially for a young adult who is still developing their brain, both literally and figuratively. In Carla T. Main's analysis, she states: “Between 1970 and 1976, 29 states lowered the drinking age. The results were catastrophic. Traffic deaths among teenagers and young adults have skyrocketed. Immediately, states began raising the minimum drinking age again. Alcohol consumption among adolescents leads to various dangers such as deaths, accidents, criminal charges, unsafe sexual acts, and loss of productivity. Alcohol makes the response time longer than usual and the body is less well controlled. Alcohol has become a universal drug that is now very easy to become addicted to in our society. Many believe that alcohol can be considered a stimulant, but in fact it is a depressant due to its ability to allow someone to have poor judgment and muffled speech. Recognizing these facts, it is still used by individuals, to feel less anxious but a little more relaxed and confident. Sometimes it can feel like a stimulant due to its chemical properties, but most often this is only at the beginning of consumption. The outcome of a person's reaction depends on the amount of alcohol consumed, the effect that drinking has on the individual, the amount consumed, and the person's history. In 2004, alcohol was involved in 36 percent of traffic deaths between the ages of sixteen and twenty, according to the National Institutes of Health. This only demonstrates that alcohol can slow response times, but underage drinkers also lack the ability to prevent an accident. According to Christopher Carpenter, the effect of lowering the drinking and drug age was the result of numerous injuries and deaths in 1970 and 1976. It was documented that during this period, most deaths have occurred while drunk young adults are operating a vehicle. Carrie Lightner, a thirteen-year-old California girl, was killed by a drunk driver. “MADD” (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)was created by his mother just after this tragic event, Candice Lightner. To lower the drinking age to 21, Candice Lightner and many other mothers became advocates for their beliefs. Over time, President Reagan forced Congress to investigate the drinking age scandal and passed the Drinking Age Act in 1984, which required all states to raise the drinking age to 21. In colleges and universities, "binge drinking", also known as "binge drinking", drinking is a common practice across the United States on campuses, especially among those aged eighteen to twenty. Excessive alcohol consumption would increase the blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 grams percent, which is higher than the accepted alcohol level. Many health professionals have been alerted by the number of students drinking at colleges and universities that movements have been created to talk about this topic and a recent survey indicates that 50 percent of students have experienced binge drinking and other unhealthy alcohol consumption. A study by Front Psychol showed that underage drinking most often leads to "casual sex" and "sexual hookups." Alcohol encourages casual sexual interactions across the United States and the possibility of having unprotected sex and engaging in "date rape" has increased at an increasing rate with college students who drink. The Main article states: “In 2001, 474,000 students had unprotected sex because of their drinking… More than 676,000 students reported being assaulted by another student who was drinking …and 97,000 students were sexually assaulted or victims of sexual violence. raped under the influence of alcohol. Many speculate that since a young adult can join the military, vote for whoever they wish to be in power, and assume legal obligations in certain circumstances before age 21, why should they not be allowed to drink? The answer is that an eighteen year old is mature enough to make life or career decisions, but at this young adult's current stage of development (18-20 years old), it would not be the most appropriate decision. wise to allow him to drink and not even settle down. with their lifestyles/profession in this precious life that we all cherish. Drinking alcohol by age 18 increases the likelihood of using other dangerous substances (gateway drugs), such as opioids and marijuana, as well as the risk of heart failure, diabetes, stroke and liver failure. The three years from 18 to 21 in a young adult's life are crucial years for their mental development. Meanwhile, if alcohol were to be included in the mix, the alcohol would change with brain development, creating havoc between them. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a personalized essay. Twenty-one should remain the legal drinking age due to the maturity process many must experience. As we grow up, we tend to be responsible not only for ourselves, but also for others, whether it is a child, a family member, a loved one, etc. . If the dangerous chemicals in alcohol can pose dangerous risks to anyone of legal age or older, wouldn't it be in the best interest of the American people to maintain the legal age79.