Hanson vs. DeJong

David J. Hanson and William DeJong both had some great point of views regarding to their side of the argument. Hanson, as you can read in the second paragraph is for lowering the legal drinking age in America to 18-20 years old. DeJong, in the first paragraph you can already infer that he is against the whole idea of talking about the topic. The question is “Do you believe the legal drinking age in America should remain at 21 or should it be lowered to 18?” I agree and disagree with both Hanson and DeJong. I believe that the drinking age should not be lowed as low as 18. I agree with DeJong as for at 18 you are considered an “adult” but not yet reached to your full maturity. Some young adults are just barely getting their drivers licenses at this age and now you want them the legal right to consume alcohol? How does that sound reasonable in one’s head?

Here’s where I agree with Hanson. He agrees with lowering the drinking age to 18-20 years old. Although I don’t agree with 18 or 19 years of age. I do think his logic and idea is what makes me love his article compared to DeJongs’. Hanson was explaining the ways we young adults where taught how to drive as well as be educated on the importance of what we do on the road before even getting behind the wheel. He suggests that we take that effort and put it towards alcohol consumption. Hanson claims making a specified alcohol-education course for young adults to take when they turn 18-20 years of age as they do for driving, would help a huge part in young adults who are alcohol abusers. Only those who have never broke the law or violated any of the state’s alcohol laws are to be allowed to take this course and receive their drinking licenses at an early age. I believe if we just gave this method a try then it can work. It will not only educate young adults that abusing the right to consume alcohol is wrong doing, but to also reduce the number of underage drinkers that can’t wait to turn 21 consuming as much alcohol before going out.

William DeJong doesn’t like the idea of us even discussing the topic because he states that “The age-21 law is working for us. Let’s leave it alone” I Disagree on this because what makes 21 a good age to start drinking? Does it just mean that you are out of the teen stage and not a newly 20-year-old? Does this mean when you turn 21, you are at your full maturity to handle alcohol in your system?  I don’t think those are valid reasons to keep the legal age that high. DeJong states facts about what happened when we lowered the drinking age and the amount of traffic crashes increased. However, times have changed between now and 1970. DeJong also states facts about New Zealand in 1999, Yes although these are great facts about 15-19-year old’s getting into accidents and becoming intoxicated with alcohol. We aren’t talking about lowering the legal drinking age to fifteen-year old’s that would be obscured.  

I believe if we use Hanson’s movement then we can really see a difference in college students. Lowering the legal drinking age to 20 and have young adults from 18-19-year-olds take a specified alcohol-educated course allowing their mind and body to mature out of the teen years and fully understanding the importance and critical conditions to alcohol and if its abused.