Drinking age limit 21 vs. 18

1. Drinking age limit21 vs. 18 Faith Atkins Hope Atkins

2. Introduction • Alcohol is made when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented (Alcohol). • Alcohol is one of the most highly used substances in America(Hanson, D.). • 80% of high school kids have tried alcohol (Alcohol). http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/UnderageDrinking.html http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/drugalcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html

3. Introduction continued… • When alcohol enters the body it is absorbed into the bloodstream. From there it affects the central nervous system(Cudler, E.). • Factors how alcohol affect a person is on the size, gender, physical condition, amount of food eaten, and other drugs or medicines taken (Cudler, E.). http://www.falculty.washington.edu/cudler/alco.html

4. Introduction continued… • In low doses of alcohol it slows reflects, gives a relaxing feeling, and/or reduces tension (Cudler, E.). • In medium doses of alcohol a cause a person to have slur speech, drowsiness, and/or stumbling while walking (Cudler, E.). • In high doses of alcohol will cause a person to vomit, go into coma, have breathing problems, and/or undergo unconsciousness (Cudler, E.). http://www.falculty.washington.edu/cudler/alco.html

5. Pros • If you are 18 years old, you are able to risk your life in the army. You should therefore be able to have a drink (Alcohol). • When you are 18 you have responsibilities of an adult. An adult should be able to make decisions about alcohol (ProCon.org). • If the drinking age was lowered there would not be as many people breaking the law (ProCon.org). www.kidshealth.org/teen/drugalcohol/alcohol/alcohol.htm http://www.drinkingage.procon.org/

6. Pros continued… • In many other countries, they had lowered the drinking age (ProCon.org). • In countries that let individuals drink at the age of 18 has fewer problems than we do with teen drinking(Alcohol). http://www.drinkingage.procon.org/ www.kidshealth.org/teen/drugalcohol/alcohol/alcohol.htm

7. Cons • Teens that drink would most likely start to hang out with the wrong people (ProCon.org). • Teens that drink has a higher chance of having trouble with school and their academic performance (Cudler, E.). • Younger people should not drink because it can make them more aggressive. In a study it stated that 95 percent of violent crime on campus is alcohol related(Hanson, D.). http://drinkingage.procon.org/ http://www.falculty.washington.edu/cudler/alco.html http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/UnderageDrinking.html

8. Cons continued… • 18 year olds might be adults, but they might not be mature enough to drink. In some studies it states that younger people tend to abuse alcohol(Cudler, E.). • Teens that drink are usually sexually active and are most likely to have un-safe sex, which could result in pregnancies and a raise in sexually transmitted diseases (ProCon.org). • More lives would be lost in drunk- driving accidents because teens are not mature enough to drink responsibly (ProCon.org). http://www.falculty.washington.edu/cudler/alco.html http://drinkingage.procon.org/

9. Cons continued… • States that have lowered the drinking age have had more car crashes in groups due to alcohol(ProCon.org). • The earlier a person drinks alcohol the greater chance they have to become an alcoholic(ProCon.org). • Since teens are simultaneously undergoing physical changes, peer pressure, and new situations and urges, allowing them to consume alcohol can make them more vulnerable to drug and substance abuse(Cudler, E.). http://drinkingage.procon.org/ http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html

10. Discussion Questions

11. Discussion 1: Do you think that having an adult drinking excessively in the house would encourage their teen to drink?

12. Discussion 2: Do you think teens are responsible enough to be exposed to alcohol?

13. Discussion 3: Since drinking is a problem with teens, should the driving age be increased to match the drinking age?

14. Survey Question Results

15. Question 1: Do you think the legal drinking age limit of 21 years old should be lowered?

16. Question 2: Do you think teens should be allowed to drink if supervised by a parent?

17. Question 3: Do you think teens are responsible enough to be exposed to alcohol alone? AdultSurvey

18. Question 4: Have you ever tried alcohol?

19. Question 5: Do you know any friends who drinks and how old they were when they had there first drink?

20. Conclusion • According to the results gathered, the adults and students had similar and different views on the drinking age limit. • Most people already know that drinking under age is against the law and is dangerous. • Almost all the people surveyed said that the drinking age limit should not be lowered. But, people have different opinions on whether underage drinking should be allowed in certain situations.

21. Conclusion continued… • Some students feel that there could be exceptions for teens to drink. For example, some students think that a teen can drink if supervised by a parent. • Unlike students, parents feel that drinking underage is unacceptable at all times. • Adults feel that if you are not 21 years-old or older then you should not drink at all.

22. Conclusion continued… • From the explanations of the surveys, it was noted that alcohol is not only used as a sense of pleasure, but it is also used for religious beliefs. • Some students have tried alcohol, although this is a small percentage of students. • As you can see, adults and students opinions varies when it comes to the drinking age limit.

23. Bibliography Cudler, Eric “Alcohol and the Brain” http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html Accessed on March 27, 2011. TeensHealth “Alcohol” http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html# Accessed on March 27, 2011. Hanson, D. “Alcohol: Problems and Solutions” http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/UnderageDrinking.html Accessed on March 27, 2011 ProCon.org “Drinking Age” http://drinkingage.procon.org/ Accessed on March 27, 2011.

24. Thank You!