Lower Drinking Age

Specific Purpose: The purpose of my speech is to convince the audience that the minimum drinking age in the United States needs to be lowered and doesn't make sense.

Thesis Statement: the current minimum drinking age doesn't make sense and needs to be changed.

Organizational Pattern: Topical.

INTRODUCTION

I. Can you come up here? (Tyler Reynolds). Look at this gentleman; look at the uniform he wears. Think about what it symbolizes; think about what it means to him. Now think about this:

A. Lets say Tyler serves our country in the United States Army. Shouldn't he be able to have a beer?

B. Lets say he serves this country by serving a 12 month tour in Iraq; shouldn't he be able to enjoy a beer now?

C. Lets say he gets back from Iraq and decides to serve another 6 month tour in Afghanistan; shouldn't he be able to have a beer now?

D. Lets say after his tour in Afghanistan he buys a house; he can surely drink a beer in his own house can't he?

E. Lets say Tyler gets married; he can drink Champaign at his own wedding can't he?

F. No he can't. Tyler is only 20 years old.

II. How can someone at the age of 18 be responsible enough to join the selective service in case of a draft, join the armed service, risk their life to protect their country and the lives of their country men and women, let alone vote for the next leader of the free world not be responsible enough to legally drink a beer?

III. The drinking age needs to be lowered.

A. In this speech I'm going to talk about how the difference of reasonability in being 18 and 21 are irrelevant to base a law around

B. Secondly, I'll show you some statistics that show how today's drinking laws are not working, and are making drinking even more unsafe.

C. And finally I'll finish up with some solutions/suggestions that could make drinking for all ages safer.

BODY

I. So First of all, I would like to discuss with you how being 18 and being 21 are irrelevant to maturity, responsibility and drinking.

A. According to the National Youth Rights Association, when you turn 18 you are judged responsible enough to;

1. Vote

2. Hold public office

3. Serve on juries

4. Serve in the military

5. Fly airplanes

6. Sign contracts and so on.

B. Why is drinking a beer an act of greater responsibility and maturity than flying an airplane or serving your country at war?

C. In that same article the NYRA was asked," doesn't your body develop up to the age of 21?

1. Your body continues to develop through out life. An 18 year old is different than a 21 year old, just as a 41 year old is different from a 38 year old. It's not complete on your 21st B-day.

2. According to David J. Hanson, Ph. D., prohibition activists ignore the proven medical fact that the moderate consumption of alcohol is associated with better health, and fewer acute hospital visits than abstaining or abusing alcohol.

3. Every single over the counter drug defines the adult dosage as 12 and up, not 21. If the FDA can determine that a 12 year old is developed enough to have an equal dose of Tylenol, or Sudafed, or Dramamine, or Zantac 75, then an 18 year old is developed enough to have a glass of wine with dinner.

II. Since the new drinking laws established in 1987 there have been several things that have been affected in a negative way. These laws have actually caused more harm than they have good.

A. According to research performed by national renowned Applied Health Sciences professor of Indiana University, Ruth C. Engs, there has been a decrease in per capita consumption and vehicle crashes there has been an increase in other problems related to under aged drinking.

1. 46 % of student had reported vomiting after drinking. After 1987 this number jumped to 50%.

2. Skipping class jumped from 9% to 12%.

3. Skipping, because of a hang over went from 26% to 28%.

4. Being in a fight while drinking went from 12% to 17%.

B. Today's drinking laws clearly are not working.

1. The positions paper of the NYRA states that in a government survey given in 1996, 51 percent of high school seniors and 26 percent of eighth graders admitted to drinking in the last 30 days.

2. In 1998 the Michigan Review stated that the new drinking laws have driven drinkers underground away from any adult supervision and has increased the death toll caused by binge drinking.

3.