Perils Of Prohibition

3 Pages 643 Words

At eighteen years of age, a person can die fighting for their country, but cannot drink alcohol. The article found in Newsweek, May 1995, “Perils of Prohibition” , discusses this fact. Further, author Elizabeth Whelan talks about the effects of “binge” drinking at college and in high schools, and why the drinking age should be lowered to eighteen years old. She gives many insights, compares the U.S. to Europe where the drinking age can be as low as 12, and shows many good ideas on how to regulate teen drinking. I agree with Elizabeth Whelan’s positions on lowering the drinking age in her article “Perils of Prohibition”, that the drinking age should be eighteen.
Whelan discusses why people should be able to drink at a lowered age of eighteen by showing all of the things that her eighteen year old daughter, Christine, is allowed to do at that age. “Christine and her classmates can drive cars, fly planes, marry, vote, pay taxes, take out loans, and risk their lives as members of the U.S. armed forces.” (Whelan, 14). Under federal law, at eighteen we are consenting adults, and we are legally responsible for our actions. So why are we not seen as responsible enough go out to a bar?
Whelan also brought up the idea that if the age was lowered, then people would go to college at least knowing their limits and not “binge” drinking too much at one time. “Last year, a young friend with no drinking experience was violently ill for days after he was introduced to ‘clear liquids in small glasses’ during freshmen orientation. We want our daughter to learn how to drink sensibly and avoid this pitfall.” (Whelan, 14). Elizabeth and her husband have been inviting Christine to have a glass of wine with dinner to teach sensible drinking. She also gives valid points about other countries in the Western part of the world where “moderate drinking by teenagers and even children under their parent’s supervision is given”...