The Drinking Age: Problems with the American System

At the age of 18 young men and women alike are considered legally independent. They have total financial and legal freedom from their previous legal guardians. With that freedom they have increased responsibility to society. Men are required to register for the draft. Jury duty becomes a civil duty. Defendants are tried with adult status rather than as a minor. And for the first time these new independents have the right to vote for public officials. So why are they restricted from a culturally accepted activity of drinking?

Alcohol has historical roots in every major civilization from 10,000 BC to present day. Rice wine appeared in China as early as 7,000 BC. Egyptians made offerings of beer and wine to the gods as early as 4,000 BC. The famous Code of Hammurabi from ancient Babylon dealt with the fair trade of alcohol. Nearly all Christian religions consider alcohol a gift from god. The Catholic Church serves wine to represent the blood of Christ. Puritans brought over more alcohol than water on the Mayflower. So again, why are legal adults prevented from engaging in a cornerstone of human history?

Today the drinking age of nearly every major western civilization is 18. On a backpacking trip to Europe I was shocked to discover that European youth are not alcoholics. In fact the only drunks roaming the streets of Europe turned out to be travelers, most of which were Americans. So I asked myself, how is it possible for countries with lower drinking ages to have fewer problems with alcoholism and unsafe binge drinking?

The answer is a fundamental difference in the way our cultures treat alcohol. European culture embraces alcohol as a part of heritage. They teach their children at an early age to enjoy but also to respect alcoholic beverages. In America we have a system that views the drinking of alcohol underage as taboo. Breaking the legal boundaries of alcohol consumption is often met with harsh consequences for young adults. This forces teenagers into a culture of underground drinking, known as partying. American youth will often participate in mass binge drinking on a weekly, even nightly basis. In response to this illegal activity law enforcement will often increase the penalties associated with drinking, and consequently drinking becomes more secretive and dangerous. It’s a simple law of reality that legislators don’t seem to grasp, youth rebel against the control of authority. So how can Americans stop this downward spiral of abuse? By lowering the drinking age and changing the way we view alcohol in American Culture.

Our current system is flawed. The drinking age was set in place to prevent America’s youth from becoming alcoholics later in life. However, rather than reducing the abuse of alcohol we have created a culture of lies and secrecy that does nothing to protect the youth of this nation. Allowing our young adults to feel included in this socially accepted activity while teaching them at a young age to respect alcohol and to limit its consumption in mass would dramatically reduce abuse in our society. I predict that the drinking age will be lowered within the next twenty years, and that we will see a generally better quality of life and a cultural shift towards moderation.