1. The Legal Drinking Age Debate
Conrad Olszewski

3. Brief History 1934 – Legal Drinking age was set at 21 years of age.
1974 – Legal Drinking age for beer was lowered from 21 to 18 years.
1983 – Legal Drinking age for all sales of beer raised to 19 years
1987 – Legal Drinking age for alcoholic beverages raised to 21 years
Today – The legal age to purchase, consume, and possess alcohol is still 21 years.

4. The Problem
The debate over what should be the legal drinking age has been going on for years.
Should the drinking age in the United States remain at 21 years?
Should the drinking age in the United States be lowered to 18 years?
Several pros and cons for both sides of the argument.
Should be analyzed in order to come up with appropriate mediation.

6. Pro Number 1
Lowering the drinking age would teach responsibility to teenagers
Would educate them on the matter
Would allow supervision from adults
Would avoid sneaking around and irresponsible behavior

7. Con Number 1
Lowering the Drinking Age would lead to more accidents and fatalities
Leading cause of death of teens are traffic accidents
28 % of these traffic accidents are alcohol related
Teens in the U.S are allowed to drive at a young age, more likely to drive drunk

8. Pro Number 2 Gives adults a basic right they should have at this age.
At 18, people can do many new things…except this one
People feel that it is unconstitutional
Teens feel like they can’t be trusted by adults
“Our society's age-specific approaches often boil down to curbing the freedoms of the young -- and increasing their punishments...”
-Froma Harrop, national columnist

9. Con Number 2 It would lead to teens making bad decisions.
Can lead to unwise choices such as unprotected sex, violence, drugs, etc.
Drinking and driving would be a major concern
This puts their life in danger as well as others on the road

10. Pro Number 3 The current law does not work.
Teens under 21 drink regardless of what the law says
Police could spend more time doing more productive things
More time could be spent educating about alcohol instead of preventing it.
"It's time to rethink the drinking age… Twenty-one is not working.”

11. Con Number 3 “Trickle Down Effect”
Would give high schoolers and middle schoolers easier access to alcohol
Most common source of alcohol for years are their year old friends
More kids would be getting in trouble at younger age

12. The Solution
The Legal Drinking Age in the United State should be lowered to 18 years and the legal driving age should be raised to 18 years
18 year olds would have to complete an alcohol education test before obtaining their drivers license
People under 21 would not be able to operate a vehicle with any traces of alcohol in their system

13. Benefits of Mediation
Would teach teens responsibility through education on the topic in schools.
Would give people the rights they deserve.
Would prevent many alcohol related traffic accidents.

15. Works Cited
1.) "Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered from 21 to a Younger Age?" National Institute of Health, 9 Feb Web. 28 Mar <
2.) Harrop, Froma. "Pro and Con Arguments." 4 June Web. 28 Mar
3.)"The Debate on Lowering The Drinking Age." 1 Mar Web. 3 Mar html?pageNum=4&tag=contentMain;contentBody.
4.) Minton, Michelle. "Lower The Drinking Age For Everyone." Apr Web. 27 Mar < drinking-age-everyone-michelle-minton>.

16. Works Cited (continued)
5.) Cauchon, Dennis. "Zero-tolerance Policies Lack Flexibility." 13 Apr Web. 23 Apr
6.) "Should Parents Give Alcohol To Their Kids?" 22 Mar Web. 23 Apr <
7.) Schlesinger, Robert. "The Drinking Age Debate." 23 Feb Web. 24 Apr from-21-to-18-but-its-not-an-easy-call. 
8.) "Under-21 College Students More Likely To Binge Drink" 19 June Web. 29 Mar parties-bars-and-on-campus-parties-henry-wechsler.
9.) Figueroa, Alyssa. "Amethyst Initiative and Underage Drinking." 4 Nov Web. 18 Apr <