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Debate Info

23
16
Yes No
Debate Score:39
Arguments:26
Total Votes:40
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Argument Ratio

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 Yes (13)
 
 No (13)

Debate Creator

DeanN(201) pic



Should the drinking age be increased to 21.

Well i think it should'nt i mean as long as teenagers dont get out of control.

And as long as they dont get caught up with like drugs and all that shit.

Yes

Side Score: 23
VS.

No

Side Score: 16
3 points

It is at 21. Most 21 year olds are not responsible enough to drink, but 21 seems like a resonible age to be able to drink.

Side: yes
3 points

Ya, pretty much. I prefer the study that was done in... one of the European countries... they have no drinking limit and because of it, it shows a lower rate of irresponsible drinkers and so forth.. I think the main reason teens are so retarded with alcohol is because it's illegal, and if it's illegal, they want to rebel, because if they rebel, they actually get some friends who think they're cool. So, really, maybe society is just retarded as a whole.

Side: yes
3 points

If you have any more questions relating to why the drinking age should remain at 21 (or increased in other countries), this website is very helpful.

Supporting Evidence: why21.org (why21.org)
Side: yes
2 points

It already is at 21.... and there are legitimate health reasons for this.

At 21, most people have finished developing mentally. One of the last things that stops during mental development is mylein composition. On every nerve cell, there are these myelin sheaths that are deposited around the axon, the longer part, and form what are called Schwann cells. These cells are very important in motor functions and rapid thought because the nerve impulses do not pass through them, but skip over them, thus making a reaction to a stimulus much quicker than if they were not there. They also help people to think quicker and have better motor functions. By 21, all men should have finished this process and the Schwann cells should be harder to hurt. This can go until 23 is some girls as well. Anyway, once this process is completed, any amount of alcohol will not slow any deposition of the myelin. Before it is finished, alcohol slows this down and it will not be completed to full size or efficiency. This is why the drinking age is 21.

Side: yes
gwood76(1) Disputed
2 points

Yeah people finish developing mentally but at 18 they need to learn to take responsibility not only with drinking but with their own lifes so if they screw it up and end up doing something they regret it is their doing and they need to learn that it is their fault so yeah it is for health reasons but people at 18 need to learn that

Side: No
MKIced(2511) Disputed
2 points

Although I agree that an 18-year-old needs to take on more responsibility and everything, lowering the drinking age is just piling it on. I think they could wait another 3 years- it's really not that long. I mean, suddenly, you reach that magical little day, where you aren't any more mature than you were the day before and now you can drive less restricted, vote, and serve in a war. Isn't this responsibility enough?

I'm turning 18 in a few days, so I'd love to be able to drink to celebrate, but I understand that it is bad for me, so I won't. I've drunk before in my life and I had fun doing it, but I'm sure if it was legal I would have done it more often. The same can be said for most of my peers, I'm sure. The drinking age is at 21 for the same reason a driver's license is not issued to a 10-year-old - lack of responsibility and developmental milestones. A 10-year-old just isn't big enough to drive a car and can't handle it like a 16-year-old can. Just like an 18-year-old is not developed enough to drink alcohol and is not responsible like a 21-year-old. And I know a lot of 18-year-olds. :)

Side: yes
1 point

In australia its 18 is it 21 in th

The minimum length for an argument is 50 characters. The purpose of this restriction is to cut down on the amount of dumb jokes, so we can keep the quality of debate and discourse as high as possible.e usa.

Side: yes

It is in many states and those that don't follow suit probably have a high teen drinking/accident ratio. I really think it should be a blanket age for all states. It would prevent crossing state lines to drink more that you ought to in the first place on a week-end night and it puts you farther from home in the end. More miles, more potential for wrecks and DWI's.

Side: yes
2 points

I know this used to be a state by state thing, but I think it's federally mandated to be 21 now.

Side: yes
3 points

No.

What needs to change is this unhealthy attitude towards drink. The more you ban it and make it look like an enemy, the more problems you are causing.

In the Mediterranean countries, young teenagers and sometimes children over 12 are allowed to have a little bit of wine with their meal. That way, young people learn how to have it the healthy way, with food and in moderation. Alcohol doesn't look that important when you have been raised to have it sat around a table with other people, while enjoying food and company.

If your own family doesn't introduce you to alcohol in a monitored and healthy way, then you will probably be overwhelmed by it when you are finally exposed to it.

Changing the law of the drinking age will achieve nothing, because it all boils down to how you were raised.

Side: No
1 point

Well, I see two flaws already, 1) teenagers DO drink out of control, period. And not just teenagers, but young adults. Aka, people legal enough to drink but they still choose to do it irresponsibly and as if it's the most amazing thing in the world. and 2) a ton of people are doing drugs, and in my view, if they drink, they're probably doing at least marijuana too, or at least smoking cigs and that dumb crap (would should be considered a drug because there's no cleaner word for a cigarette).

Should it be increased though? No. I mean, first off, the legal age is already at 21, so I dunno where you live or if somehow you think it's at 18. The fact that alcohol is so prohibited until you're 21, makes it more tempting to teenagers because it is something to rebel against. and somehow, rebelling is seen as a cool thing. And they have nothing better to do.

Side: No

I'm not the best candidate for my argument, but I'll go ahead anyhow.

I come from Sweden, where young adults can purchase beer with 3.5% or less alcohol at 18 and can purchase everything else at 21. A very sensible system. It is absolutely ridiculous that in the States, a person can go off and die for their country, but they can't have a sip of beer before they do it. Absurd.

Why am I not the best candidate? I had my first drink at twelve and developed a drinking problem at age fifteen, following in the footsteps of my alcoholic parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Make of this what you will. If a teenager has to wait until 21 to drink, they're more likely to just say fuck it and drink now. But if they know that at 18 they can drink, they may be more likely to wait.

Side: No
Nichole(689) Disputed
1 point

"It is absolutely ridiculous that in the States, a person can go off and die for their country, but they can't have a sip of beer before they do it. Absurd."

I absolutely don't understand how everyone is starting to put these two together as if they belong together. What does drinking alcohol have to do with protecting a country? It's almost like everyone is saying if you can fight, you deserve to get trashed out of your misery. It's not a healthy mindset whatsoever, not to mention, no one forced these military people to sign up in the first place.

But really, I feel like I'm the ONLY person in this universe who doesn't see the need for alcohol and getting trashed. I don't see any fun in it whatsoever (and i have been drunk twice, 6 yrs ago). If you want to drink something, what's wrong with water? If water is bland, eat a sandwich. Is everyone REALLY this depressed? I'd almost rather just commit suicide because of how depressing society is, is making me depressed. It's annoying.

Side: yes
1 point

Alcohol isn't necessarily a means for inebriation. Beer, wine, and liquor can be fantastic companions to food. A glass of wine with dinner? That makes a person "depressed"?

Side: No
1 point

WHo cares about when peple drinks.

If they die, it;s their responsibility, it's not like u actually care about their well being -.-

Side: No
0 points

..right... keep thinking that way when it's your own children, family and friends dying from it....

Side: No
SupremeLord(44) Disputed
1 point

The problem is . they won't.

If you worry about your friends, family from dying from drinking, then u should get REAL friends/family.

Side: yes

No, the drinking age should be repealed.-----------------------------

Side: No
1 point

Drinking age shud be lowered to 18-20yrs, b'coz if u r allowed to join a military at the age of 18 and cannot drink beer until your 21, thats a bullshits! that is the craziest thing I've ever heard. i disagree with this increasing age of drinking to 21

Side: No