Reduce The Drinking Age

I believe the drinking age should be reduced from 21 years old to 18 years old. In July of 1984, the United States banned anyone under the age of 21 to consume or purchase alcohol. In most countries, 18 year olds are considered adults and able to consume and purchase alcoholic beverages. Canada and Mexico, two countries that border the United States, allow drinking at the age of 18. What confuses me about this drinking law, is when kids turn 18 years old in the United States, they can serve in the military, they are able to vote, and buy tobacco products, but not allowed to drink until they turn 21. An 18 year old is considered an adult and can be tried in court if he or she commits a crime. I believe if an 18 year old can serve their country and be able to vote for our country, they should also be allowed to consume and purchase alcohol.

Today, partying at college is a typical routine among students. Students tend to work their asses off during the week and relax on the weekends and have a little fun. Alcohol is very easy for students under the age of 21 to obtain at college because they become friends with kids that are 21. From personal experience, playing on a sports team at college, I interacted with kids that were 21 when I was a freshman. Being a member of a college sports team, hanging out with your teammates and bonding with them is crucial to a team’s success. Not only sports teams, but fraternities and sororities are known for their parties at universities and colleges.

Has anyone ever heard the line, “Party School?” I remember applying to colleges when I was in high school and people saying to me, “That is a real party school.” In my opinion, every school is a party school. Colleges and Universities now have dorms known as a “Wet Dorms” and “Dry Dorms.” “Wet Dorm” meaning alcohol is allowed and “Dry Dorm” meaning alcohol is not allowed. But do students really follow these rules? Do you really think students are walking in with books in their backpacks on a Thursday night? It would be much easier if the drinking age was 18 and colleges would not have to worry about students drinking under age and have to deal with "wet" or "dry" dormitories. Colleges and Universities could therefore monitor students drinking with campus police and Resident Assistants, and not have to sniff around trying to busts “ under-agers” and guessing if the student had been drinking or not.

I believe the drinking age should be reduced to 18 years, since an 18 year olds carry out a lot of responsibilities that consider them adults. With 18 year olds able to vote, and serve our country, and purchase tobacco products, I believe 18 year olds should be able to purchase and consume alcohol.