Legal Age to Drink – Should It Be Changed?

Legal Age to crispen Should it be Changed? In this day and age with more sophisticated teens and unripened pack abusing alcoholic drinkic beverage, the issue concerning whether or non teenagers should be able to drink at a younger age is an heavy topic. In the expression Perils of Prohibition Elizabeth M. Whelan argues that alcohol should be statutoryized at the age of 18 winsome of of twenty-one. She hopes to persuade readers, parents, and educators to support her proposal for the change by successful alcohol instruction.Although Whelan provides valuable simulations to prove that proper alcohol education is an effective resoluteness in reducing the problems faced with alcohol abuse among Ameri chamberpot teenagers, she does non provide overflowing substantial evidence to justify changing the intelligent intoxication age to 18 years old. In the beginning paragraphs, Whelan compares alcohol spending with American teens and their European peers. She says, America n teens, unlike their European peers, presumet learn how to drink gradu on the wholey, cautiously, and in moderation (2).This is a gigantic example because it makes the readers think approximately the different cultural views of alcohol consumption among youthful drinkers globally. Though the consumption of alcohol in France, Spain, and Portugal is higher than the united States per person, the rate of alcoholism and alcohol abuse is lower (4). Whelan hopes to prove that if prevail alcohol consumption and proper awareness of the use of it is in remedyed in children eighteen years old and up then imbibition alcohol should be okay. She compares cardinal countries to the United States in her example.We live in a sanely big world, is it the same in other drinking countries? The example is moderately effective further comparing drinking habits in only three countries to the United States is not lavish to persuade readers. In order to improver support for successful alcohol edu cation being a pick out factor in helping the problems faced with alcohol abuse, Whelan mentions an example involving her young woman. She explained to her lady friend the differences in alcohol contents and the importance of not drinking on an empty stomach (8).The strength of this example is effective because it is coming from face-to-face experience. Its detailed and provided by a woman whose education and ancestry qualifies her to make this kind of postulate. This type of person often makes you necessitate to allow him or her. However, this piece of evidence uses the hasty generalization fallacy. A adept personal experience or unconstipated numerous is not enough to convince readers. Peoples personal experiences differ greatly. And how do the readers even receive if alcohol education was successful with her fille?Her fille whitethorn not have gotten herself into trouble recently but shes still under the legal age of drinking and who knows what would happen once she goes false to college? Because of her daughters age and the fallacy used, creates a weak example for supporting alcohol education. Whelan continues with examples to prove that proper education is the key quite of prohibiting teenagers the right to drink until the age of twenty-one. She mentions tragic accidents that occurred at the Ivy confederation school her daughter Christine will be attending in the fall.A school-age child who was nearly electrocuted when, in a drunken state, climbed on a moving train. The student survived but lost three of his limbs (10). A second accident where an intoxicated student ended up in a lamp chimney and was institute three days later dead (10). She hopes to convince readers that students do not make good choices when they drink, if theyre not educated properly. The tragedies with the sick, hurt students are fair because theyre emotionally appealing to the reader but weak because she fails to provide statistical evidence as to how often inju ries of this kind occur.The examples are extreme and rare ones that are unlikely to happen on a regular basis. Whelan continues supporting her claim by mentioning a study that was wear upone at the Harvard School of Public Health by her colleagues. What they found in their survey of college students was that they drink early and . . . often, frequently to the point of get ill (1). She defends her claim by appealing to authority as evidence. And readers would not be happy knowing that students are becoming sick from overbearing drinking the human factor.This study is included to let people know that college students are drinking irresponsibly and becoming sick from it as a result. Not surprisingly, she failed to provide statistical evidence again. That is, evidence of how many students is manifold in the survey and the diversity of people in the study. These are important factors needed to be included in the survey to make it credible and convincing to the readers. Finally, two analogies are devoted by Whelan in hopes of her readers to accept her case. This author creates a weak analogy when comparing sex education to alcohol education.In an attempt to change the legal age of drinking to twenty-one, she says we subscribe to to teach our children about safe sex, including the benefits of teen abstinence, why not about safe drinking? (13) The only similarity is that drinking and sex can cause unsafe or unwished-for events, therefore it makes sense to be educated on both subjects. However, the similarity is not relevant enough to be considered a good analogy. Safe sex education has been taught for many years to children but it has not stopped them from having sex or preventing unwanted pregnancies.If this is the case, how would safe drinking education be convincing to the readers to change the legal age to eighteen? The second analogy which is fairly significant in dealing with the unfairness of the legal age to drink, is comparing the ability for teens t o be able to drive cars, fly planes, marry, vote, pay taxes, dribble out loans, and risks their lives in the U. S armed forces to drinking. She says, At eighteen theyre considered adults but when they want to enjoy a drink like other adults, they are surd (5).Whelan hopes this evidence will convince readers that if eighteen year olds are given adult responsibilities then they shall be treated as adults in all aspects of life, including drinking alcohol in moderation. She makes a great point with the comparing but when comparing voting, paying taxes, taking out a loan, and marrying to drinking, the responsibilities dont impair your brain in a way that drinking alcohol would. Whelan presents herself as a kind- malled woman who is a bit discompose and frustrated with the current laws regarding the legal age to drink.The example she uses explaining how she educated her daughter with regards to alcohol content shows her taking a subtle approach with allowing her daughter to drink rat her than making it appear to be a mischievousness thing if you are under the legal age. (8) She shows compassion and concern. Whelans distinction throughout the essay is fairly tolerable, but she does show some disparagement towards the government when she compares teenagers being able to drive cars, fly planes, marry, vote, pay taxes, take out loans, and risk their lives as members of the U. S. rmed forces but laws in all cubic decimeter say that no alcoholic beverages may be sold to anyone until that deception twenty-first birthday. (3) When she mentions we should make access to alcohol legal at eighteen and at the same time, we should come down much harder on alcohol abusers and drunk drivers of all ages (12) she is genuinely concerned of the welfare of all people with regards to alcohol and safety. She eagerly wants to make a difference. And as public-health scientist with a daughter heading to college, she has professional and personal concerns in regards to the dangers of alcohol.While it is obvious that Whelans heart is in the right place and that alcohol abuse among teenagers is a problem, her bloodline suffers from lack of evidence to support changing the legal age of drinking to eighteen years old. Proper alcohol education can be helpful in terms of improving the problem but thats it. Whelans article indicates a need for further study on the abuse of teenage drinking. It would be helpful to see statistical results in studies done among colleges across the nation and in all areas from rich to poor. The more valid studies the better chance finding the proper solutions to the problem.