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Should the drinking age be 18? Should the drinking age be 18?
Yes, the drinking age should be 18. Yes, the drinking age should be 18.
No, the drinking age should be 21. No, the drinking age should be 21.
The ideal drinking age depends on the jurisdiction. The ideal drinking age depends on the jurisdiction.
There should be no drinking age. There should be no drinking age.
Adults should have the right to decide to drink Adults should have the right to decide to drink
18 is the safest minimum age for drinking 18 is the safest minimum age for drinking
A minimum age of 18 normalizes responsible drinking A minimum age of 18 normalizes responsible drinking
Drinking alcohol is medically risky Drinking alcohol is medically risky
Younger people are too immature to drink Younger people are too immature to drink
A higher drinking age reduces drunk driving A higher drinking age reduces drunk driving
Cultural and religious beliefs vary widely about drinking Cultural and religious beliefs vary widely about drinking
Historically, there were no drinking age laws Historically, there were no drinking age laws
Young people drink regardless of the drinking age Young people drink regardless of the drinking age
Underage drinking is not a priority for law enforcement Underage drinking is not a priority for law enforcement
Debate Mini Map

Should the drinking age be 18?
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No, the drinking age should be 21.

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Drinking alcohol is medically risky

Young adults are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of alcohol consumption on brain development, and are at greater risk of alcohol poisoning.
Marisa Silveri Lindsay Squeglia Alcohol.org
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The Argument

Young adults are still developing physiologically and neurologically, and the consumption of alcohol can have deleterious effects on this development. Early adult brain development includes changes to the brain's frontal lobes which, if disrupted, can lead to profound behavioral and psychological issues. Risks of addiction and suicide can be increased by alcohol-related neurological problems. Young adults are also more prone to excessive binge drinking, which leads to alcohol poisoning and medical treatment for many younger drinkers.

Counter arguments

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Drinking at too young an age people can have a negative impact on brain formation. [P2] The state should not sanction this by having the legal drinking age at 18.

Rejecting the premises

References

This page was last edited on Wednesday, 7 Oct 2020 at 07:25 UTC

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