Dear Donald Trump:

Our laws are set to protect the people of this great nation. But if that law is not being abide-ed by the ones it pertains to, what exactly is it doing? If it is happening in secret how is it keeping children, other non-drinking partiers, and pedestrians safe? Lowering the drinking age to that which you are considered to be a legal adult, 18, would fix many of these harmful possibilities. To me, it makes since to change a law if it would protect more people from having clean police records lost, dignity lost, and lives lost.

The Law states that at the age of 18, a person becomes a legal adult; yet by saying that it is contradicting itself because of the lack of freedoms that are restricted until that 'adult' is 21. True, at the age of 18 you gain multiple rights such as voting, serving your country, and smoking. Also if a teen had any record while they were a minor that record is closed and he or she starts over with a clean slate as an adult under the law. They may also get married by themselves, and do not need the consent of their parents; and a multitude of others. Though, one you do not get is the ability to drink alcohol. But I thought now that you’ve turned 18, you’re a legal adult? But if you are an adult, shouldn’t you be allowed to do things that almost every “adult” does? Also, let’s not forget about the safety hazard that drinking causes.

Many teens today, 20 and below, have started to find ways to get around the age-21 laws and drink in secret away from the eyes of concerned parents, guardians, family and all those that love them. This makes these them also feel alone, and that they have no one to turn to in times of desperation. Instead, they make idiotic decisions; such as driving while under the influence, walking by pedestrians while intoxicated, etc. These decisions are not only stupid, but can be life-threatening. Many people, when intoxicated are easy to anger, what if one person was to bump them in the wrong way? Talk to them in the wrong way? They could end up getting severely beaten by said intoxicated person. There are multiple deaths that are caused by drunk drivers. Whether the intoxicated driver is killed, or a passenger in their vehicle, or even a random stranger that they run over or the stranger in the car they just slammed into. If only the drinker had not felt alone and cornered, maybe they would have called their parents or a guardian. But age-21 laws have so many kids scared and terrified of what may happen to them, that these things happen because of them.

Drinking is not as it once was. Everything must change in due time. Once, the law was that you could drink at 18, then to 21 only to follow what was happening and protect its people. Now once again, it must change, even if only to do the job of a law, protect. Kids don’t view drinking as a small part of a social event, like it was meant to be; they see it as the keystone to what is needed to be social. They view it as the fountain that holds the waters of youth. They believe one cannot be without the other. That view needs to change. It must change. Otherwise, the safety of the generations to come, the generations present is gravely endangered.

Sincerely, 

Jack

Bibliography

Dailey, Ruth Ann. "Lowering the Legal Drinking Age Will Reduce Alcohol's Allure." Should the Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered?, edited by Stefan Kiesbye, Greenhaven Press, 2008. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=false&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010520211&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=&source=Bookmark&u=lafa43079&jsid=c998e138b7bd34adf805a10090b21224. Accessed 11 Nov. 2016. Originally published as "Lower Legal Drinking Age to 18" in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 22 Mar. 2007.

David, Hanson J. "Education on Drinking Responsibly Must Replace Neo-Prohibitionism." Should the Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered?, edited by Stefan Kiesbye, Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=false&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010520227&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=&source=Bookmark&u=lafa43079&jsid=625ccf3ec4e790c07da2d7504dca99d4. Accessed 11 Nov. 2016.

John, Richards. "States Should Be Allowed to Experiment with the Legal Drinking Age." Should the Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered?, edited by Stefan Kiesbye, Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=false&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010520228&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=&source=Bookmark&u=lafa43079&jsid=57de95a76cc86ef59ae9d1c75cd50ca2. Accessed 11 Nov. 2016.

Smith, Michael Clay. "The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered to 18." Teens and Alcohol, edited by James D. Torr, Greenhaven Press, 2002. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=false&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010215230&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=&source=Bookmark&u=lafa43079&jsid=58bff42de95e99c4b6d54304fc5a616e. Accessed 11 Nov. 2016. Originally published as "Treat Students as Adults: Set the Drinking Age at 18, Not 21" in Chronicle of Higher Education, 12 Mar. 1999.