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Why should people 21 and over care?
One of the largest obstacles in the way of lowering the age is this question. For laws to be passed, they must gain support from constituents. This is a problem when most of the voting population is already over twenty-one years of age. Therefore, to get the legal drinking age lowered, people who are already free to drink must understand its necessity.
The truth is that although people over twenty-one can drink freely, they are still affected negatively. The National Youth Rights Association lists multiple reasons why this is. Legal drinkers are still carded and this can be a hassle. Perhaps the biggest factor is that they list is the “social segregation” that drinking causes. There comes a time in everybody’s life when their group of friend consists of some that are legal, and some that are still underage. This means that they can’t hang out at the same places.
Another troubling situation is when parents who recognize the “inevitability of underage drinking” try to provide safe places for their children to drink. It is a controversial issue, as is the punishment that these parents can receive. The National Youth Rights Association lists one specific event: “In February 2003 Elsa and George Robinson were sentenced to 8 years in prison for providing alcohol at their son's birthday party. That's right, 8 years. The harsh drinking age ruins more lives than it helps.”
Works Cited
“Frequently Asked Questions.” National Youth Rights Association. 11 March
2007.
