Some people may be surprised to know that the legal drinking age in the United States is 21-years-old. Compared to most countries, in which 18-years-olds are already legal to buy and consume a drink, the U.S. has a more strict law when it comes to drinking. Do you think it benefits young adults?
In China, the drinking law is reportedly "largely unenforced." So when the underage drinking regulation got passed in 2006, the legal drinking age became 18-years-old.
But things are different in the U.S. According to the South China Morning Post, the legal drinking age in the country has been 21-years-old since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act got passed in 1984. The U.S., along with Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and Samoa, is the only country that has this legal drinking age.
The law gets strictly enforced in every U.S. state, but there are some states that let below 21-year-old young adults drink alcohol. In 29 states, 18-years-old and above can drink in private places, where alcohol is not for sale. But they have to have parental consent. In eight states, minors are allowed to consume the said drink at places selling alcohol, but with parental consent and not in their possession.
Also, underage young adults can drink alcohol for religious purposes in 26 states. They can also have a drink for educational purposes in 11 states. The only time youngsters under 21-years-old can drink is with parental consent.
Some young adults complain about the legal drinking law in the U.S. Some of them even sneak to have a drink or two, resulting in underage alcohol consumption.
The Badger Herald reported that starting drinking at a young age has a negative effect on a young adult's body. Experts from American Academy of Pediatrics, American Journal of Public Health, and Office of the Surgeon General reportedly all agreed that early consumption of alcohol could have a great impact on "brain development in the frontal lobe." It can hinder the development skills linked to "emotional regulation and decision making."
Young adults who drink early are also at risk to have chronic mental health difficulties like addiction, depression, and the tendency to be violent. The legal drinking age in the U.S. also helps lessen alcohol-related accidents and fatalities in the country.
In a report made by National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, it noted that since the 21-year-old drinking law got enforced, it lowered the rate of alcohol-related traffic fatalities by 13 percent. This move saved about 28,765 lives since 1975. Hence, drinking alcohol at a young age can impose a great danger to the lives of young adults.
