Drinking Age: Lowered, Raised, or stayed the same!

By law, you are not eligible to drink until you are 21 years old. Also, when going to the liquor store you must have an eligible license. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention, was great for drinking and driving statistics.  According to the CDC, 30 people die in car crashes involving alcohol almost every day. I have heard that the brain isn’t fully developed until the age of 25. In my personally opinion, I feel like the drinking age should be raised to 25; to benefit everybody.

According to American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, teenagers usually get their first drink at 12 years old. At 12 years old, most children are in 7^th grade. For parents, there are many warning signs to watch out for. There are physical, emotional, and social problems involving alcohol. The AACAP physical problems involving alcohol are fatigue, health complaints, red and glazed eyes, and a lasting cough.  The emotional problems according to the AACAP, are personality change, irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem and poor judgement. Some school problems include decreased interest, negative attitude, drop in grades, and discipline problems. All of these problems are alcohol related.

 Most teenagers drink illegally, because of peer pressure, its fun, social media, it’s an escape, and of rebellion. Most if not all don’t realize that they are not only putting themselves at harm; but also the other drivers on the road. Teenagers don’t realize the repercussions of their actions and are unaware that they can be brought upon serious charges.

Drinking and Driving is a very serious crime.  Drinking and Driving can lead to some very serious charges and a DUI. A DUI can leave a person with a suspended or revoked license for up to a certain amount of time. In some states, community service or driving prevention classes can be used instead of serving jail time.

For example, I was watching Beyond Straight and there was a young girl locked up behind bars and the officer putting her in jail every day and night was the same officer telling her to stay out of trouble in high school. This officer looked out for her and wanted her to keep her head out straight. In her story, she said after partying with her friends she drove to the store and got arrested and is not serving up to a year in jail time.