Underage Drinking

Introduction

Underage drinking has affected many across the U.S. This topic has affected me personally in many ways, hence the reason I chose it. Throughout this project, I will discuss why underage drinking is such a problem, what my position is, courses of action, and possibly a visual to support the issue at hand.

This may show as an interest to others for many reasons, but it has a personal meaning to me and friends of mine as well. I was curious as to what others had to say about this subject, and what they had to say about this subject, and what they think should be done as a result. To those of us who have drank alcohol illegally, we don't fully understand the consequences and harm that alcohol has on us. If taken certain precautions, could there be too much harm?

Some may say that lowering the drinking age will make alcohol more available to an even younger crowd; replacing "forbidden fruit" with "low-hanging fruit", figuratively speaking. Because of the closeness in age between 15-18 years of age, the "younger" group looks up to 18 year olds. According to the law, 18 years of age is considered an "adult", modeling for the other teens. If the younger teens see the 18 year olds getting the "O.K." to drink, they assume that it's okay for them as well. The Age 21 to Drink laws may have resulted in some decreases in underage drinking, but it doesn't show the fact of friends, parents, and other influential people being over 21 distributing alcohol.

The whole point behind the "Age 21" laws was to keep young people healthier, happier, and safer; but by now it's obvious that the law hasn't succeeded in preventing the minors from drinking. This may be cause of serious riots by students who want to do their boozing unhindered. Some of the melees such as those at Ohio University, University of Colorado, and Penn State University, have involved significant injuries, arrests, and deaths due to these laws.

1. Source Citation: "Age Restrictions on Alcohol Do Not Reduce Teen Drinking" by Andrew Stuttaford. Teens at Risk. Auriana Ojeda, Ed. Opposing Viewpoints Series. Greenhaven Press, 2004. Andrew Stuttaford, "De-Demonizing Rum: What's Wrong with 'Underage' Drinking?" National Review, vol. 53, June 25, 2001. Copyright 2001 by National Review, Inc., 215 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Reproduced by permission. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 21 December 2006.

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Andrew Stuttaford's viewpoint argues that age restrictions on alcohol are ineffective and counterproductive. Andrew believes that using other deterrents than using age restrictions and laws as the only solutions. This article describes what actions were taken to lower the rate of underage drinking and how some of the laws were ineffective and how some new resources can be very useful.

This article shows how underage drinking is still a major concern, and how some of the the laws were ineffective. Some were affected, and new laws that are being incorporated to help curb underage drinkning.

2. Source Citation: "Arguments for Lowering the Drinking Age Are Misguided" by Center for Science in the Public Interest. Teens and Alcohol. James D. Torr, Ed. Current Controversies Series. Greenhaven Press, 2002. Reprinted, with permission, from "Talking Points/Arguments: Answering the Critics of Age-21," by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, February 1998, published at www.cspinet.org/booze/mlpatalk.htm. Reprinted with permission. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 21 December 2006.

http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/OVRC

This article is stating that lowering the legal drinking age to 18 will create more problems with the younger population than there already is. Stating that the practices and behaviors of 18 year-olds are particularly influential on 15-17 year olds. This, as in the article, would ultimately make the younger population think that it is okay to drink.

This article showed me that the viewpoints of people who are against lowering the drinking age think that 18 year olds are neither responsible nor mature enough to drink. They want stricter enforcement to make Age 21 laws more effective.

3. Source Citation: "The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered to 18" by Michael Clay Smith. Teens and Alcohol. James D. Torr, Ed. Current Controversies Series. Greenhaven Press, 2002. Reprinted, with permission, from "Treat Students as Adults: Set the Drinking Age at 18, Not 21," by Michael Clay Smith, Chronicle of Higher Education, March 12, 1999. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 21 December 2006.

http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/OVRC

This article talks about some of the failures of Age 21 laws, such as death and actions of underage teens. It also states some of the harmful effects on campus life from these laws.

I learned how the failure of these laws had harmful effects on campus life and the college experience.

4. Source Citation: "The Extent of Underage Drinking Is Exaggerated" by David J. Hanson. Teens and Alcohol. James D. Torr, Ed. Current Controversies Series. Greenhaven Press, 2002. Excerpted from permission from the author. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 21 December 2006.

http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/OVRC

This article is about how underage drinking is exaggerated by false facts and how the media tens to spin stories in a negative light. This article also gives ways to a better approach to reduce alcohol abuse.

This article showed me how underage drinking is exaggerated by false facts and how the media doesn't accept it. It also showed me that these are better ways to approach underage drinking.

5. Source Citation: "Law Enforcement Strategies for Reducing Underage Drinking" by Bobby Little and Mike Bishop. Teen Addiction. Shasta Gaughen, Ed. Contemporary Issues Companion Series. Greenhaven Press, 2002. Reprinted from "Minor Drinkers/Major Consequences: Enforcement Strategies for Underage Alcoholic Beverage Law Violators," by Bobby Little and Mike Bishop, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, June 1998. Endnotes in the original have been omitted in this reprint. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.