Of course almost every student at this school would agree that the drinking age should be lowered to 18 years old, but when all the facts are laid out, it begins to be made clear as to why the legal age is 21.

“Drunk driving automobile accidents are the #1 teen killer among people aged 15-20 years of age”, explains the Center for disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Here at Perry, we have been extremely fortunate not to have any deaths associated with drunk driving, however several students have been affected by car accidents involving a drunk driver; seniors Kolt Kessler, and Derrik Smith are only two of these victims. Luckily, they both sustained only limited damage, and were able to come back to school as soon as possible even after these life changing events.

Aside from these treacherous accidents, a 2007 Gallup poll of the nation found that  nearly 77% of Americans would oppose a federal law that lowers the drinking age in all states to 18.

This figure exhibits America’s common consensus that kids who are 18 make uninformed decisions, drive hazardously, and distribute alcohol easily to other students on campuses around the nation.

Now, we have all seen the movies, and we realize the way Hollywood glorifies the lifestyle of alcoholism, and the actions which “lead to adventure.” Popular movies such as, 21 and Over, The Hangover, and the American Pie films have all impacted the lives of their viewers, maybe even inadvertently.

According to the renowned English publication, The Guardian, German researchers  have found that out of a sample of 16,000 people, those aged 10-19 who had watched scenes from Hollywood movies featuring alcohol use were 14% more likely to drink (rising from 11% to 25%), and 9% more likely to binge drink (rising from 4% to 13%).

At such a young age, youthful adolescents are still developing the brain, and this continues on until the early twenties, letting them take advantage of all the “YOLO” moments in life at an earlier time, before they fully comprehend the consequences of their actions.

According to an alcohol awareness website, procon.org, “Alcohol consumption can interfere with development of the young adults brain’s frontal lobes, essential for functions such as emotional regulation, planning, and organization. When alcohol consumption interferes this early in development, potential chronic problems such as greater vulnerability to addiction, dangerous risk-taking behavior, memory loss, depression, violence, and increased suicide rates become a reality.”

A great deal of people under 18 would argue, fight, and contest with the set drinking age as it stands at 21 years old, but when we stand back, and look at the whole picture, we realize that the law is actually saving us from ourselves.