Logic..

The reasoning for the assignment of the age of 21 has almost legendary roots, but the real reason is simply this: A person’s brain does not stop developing until his or her early to mid-20s. Over consumption of alcohol while the brain is still developing can lead to long-lasting deficits in cognitive abilities, including learning and memory.

Here are some interesting facts from the CDC website:

• 11% of alcohol is consumed by ages 12-20; 90% of which is consumed in Binge Drinking.
• 45% drank some amount of alcohol.
• 26% binge drank.
• 11% drove after drinking alcohol.
• 29% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.
• In 2005, there were more than 145,000 emergency rooms visits by youth 12 to 20 years for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol.

It is a fact that many rights and privileges all have different ages of initiation. For Example, You can get a hunting license at age 12 (but can hunt before then), a fishing license at age 16 (some states have Jr. Licenses—but no license is required until those ages are met), I can drive at 16 with a full license but with someone else as a supervisor as young a 15 in some states. I must be 25 to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives , but for U.S. President, I must be 35. Other regulated rights include the sale and use of tobacco, and legal consent for sexual intercourse in states where prostitution is legal. Vendors, such as car rental facilities and hotels, also have set the minimum age for a person to use their services—25-years-old to rent a car and 21-years-old to rent a hotel room.

However, this said, I am still a supporter of a Drinking Age of 18. Why, you might ask? Several reasons.

1. I learned at a very early age about responsibilities associated with various things—guns, alcohol, driving, etc. Consequently, I’ve made my choices based on that instruction. While I will admit to more than one instance of drinking FAR too much—I also have never driven after consuming more than 2 drinks—EVER. Unlike the socio/psycho pundits out there, I do believe that you can instruct your children on responsibility and they will learn from it.
2. People are no more responsible at 21 than they are at 18, if they haven’t been instructed in responsibility. It’s not something that appears magically at a certain age like puberty.
3. The Brain Development argument doesn’t hold water if drinking is done in moderation. Aren’t we complaining now about overweight kids? In perspective, this is far more frightening to me.
4. At 18, I am allowed to marry, take out most kinds of loans (not sure about mortgages), or serve in the military without Parental Consent.
5. My biggest reason—and one that arguably carries MORE responsibility with it: I can VOTE at 18.