The minimum age to consume alcohol in the United States is currently twenty-one. Some believe this minimum age is too high and others feel that it is just right. This topic is one that has been debated for years and still a unanimous consensus has yet to be agreed upon. Throughout history, the minimum drinking age in the United States has fluctuated. In 1984 it rose to twenty-one, but many events took place prior to this change being implemented. Changes began when the United States made an attempt to slowly ban alcohol in every state, for every person; this was known as National Prohibition. Prohibition began in 1919 and discontinued in 1933. When Prohibition began, the Constitution added the 18th Amendment. This amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, transport, import, or export of alcoholic beverages ( ). However, the 18th Amendment was repealed in 1933 and replaced by the 21st Amendment, which legalized beer and other alcohol. Once National Prohibition ended, each state was given the task of individually deciding upon a minimum drinking age. Some minimum ages were twenty-one, others were eighteen, and several were in between. This lasted for almost five decades, but in 1984, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was executed. This act forced all states to change their minimum drinking age to twenty-one or risk forfeiting their portion of the Federal-aid highway funds ( ). In conjunction, states were also expected to pass laws to help combat drunk driving. As a result, the minimum drinking age was set, and still remains, at twenty-one years of age. The current minimum age to consume alcohol is not best for our country. National Prohibition and safety issues, like underground drinking, are all factors that must be thoroughly considered in making this decision. Because of these factors, the national drinking age of the United States should be lowered from twenty-one to eighteen years of age.
Ponder for a moment the number of minors that...