Should the legal age for the consumption of alcohol be...

Increasing the legal age for the consumption of alcohol to twenty-one is a topic that has recently sparked much debate, with many people endorsing the idea of increasing the age of alcohol consumption. This is because it is thought that implementing such a law may curb youth binge drinking and alcohol related road accidents (Drug Free Australia: 2008). However there are many reasons as to why the legal age for alcohol consumption should not be increased. These include the fact that young people will still drink regardless of any age restrictions, ethical issues and because there are other ways that could be more effective in lowering youth binge drinking and alcohol related road accidents. Currently the legal age for the consumption of†¦show more content†¦Increasing the legal age for alcohol consumption to twenty-one will not stop underage drinking; it will only increase the number of youths breaking the law and drinking illegally. There are also ethical issues to think about when considering whether the legal drinking age should be increased to twenty-one. Currently when an individual turns eighteen years of age the Australian government, as well as society, classes them as an adult. Being an adult in Australia gives you legal rights as well as responsibilities. Some of the things an individual can legally do as an adult include get married, get a tattoo, gamble, purchase cigarettes, enlist and serve in the army, obtain credit cards and loans, vote for the leaders of our country and change your name. Individuals in Australia are viewed as mature enough at eighteen years of age to make all of these decisions. Some of these decisions, such as getting a tattoo, are ones that can never be changed. Others, such as enlisting in the army, are ones that could be potentially life threatening. Increasing the age for the legal consumption of alcohol would mean telling individuals that they are mature enough to make life decisions, but not mature enough to consume and make decisions related to alcohol. This would create a very large outcry from society, especially from young people, who could see changing the legal age of alcohol consumption to twenty-one as unfair. AnotherShow MoreRelatedLegalizing the Drinking Age to 181624 Words   |  7 PagesLegalizing the Drinking Age to 18 When people turn to the age of eighteen, they are finally considered an adult. They can join the army, have the right to vote, buy cigarettes or tobacco products, get a tattoo and even die for our country, but they aren’t allowed to buy alcohol? A person can be responsible enough to live on his or her own, make money, pay bills, and yet they are not old enough to purchase or consume any type of alcohol. 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AfterRead More Alcohol and Drinking - Challenging the Legal Drinking Age Essay1260 Words   |  6 PagesChallenging the Legal Drinking Age         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Do the current laws involving the age at which adults can start drinking really make sense? There are many reasons why the government changed the legal drinking age to 21, but has this actually caused a decrease in the amount of alcohol consumed by persons between 18 and 21? Alcohol related crime and traffic accidents have gone down in recent years, but the source of this drop may not simply have to do with raising the drinking age, as the governmentRead MoreWhy The Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered1582 Words   |  7 PagesWhy the Legal Drinking Age should Be Lowered Ever since its creation in ancient times, alcohol has been used for many reasons and purposes. Since then, controversies have risen on the topic of alcohol consumption and production. Among these controversies is that of the legal drinking age. 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