However, in regards to if underage drinking is an ethical issue the debate, like most contemporary American ones, is split on a religious divide. Interestingly enough, the religious debate goes along with the categorical imperative argument, more so than many other issues today. With the formulation "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law," Being replaced with the St. Thomas of Aquinas principle that "civil law is an ordinance of reason for the common good, spread by him who has the care of the community." However this argument assumes that underrage drinking is an attack against our country, for by violating the laws of the nation, you are in fact, violating the nation. But, drinking laws are not always strongly enforced by authorities, which weakens the argument against drinking in the categorical imperative, even though it is believed that a boost of enforcement would cause fewer alchohol related problems. Because underage drinking laws are not so strongly enforced, it does not technically apply as an ethical generalization. However, because of the amount of social problems, negative impacts drinking has on an adolescent body, and a lack of responsibility held by some of my peers, underage drinking should not be done by anyone.
There are many strong arguments as to why the legal drinking age should be rolled back to eighteen. For example, during prohibition a simmilar problem and generalization arose; the officers who were to enforce prohibition often engaged in taking a drink themselves, as can be witnessed in the film the Untouchables. Today, the ban against drinking is argued to not be a universal one due to the lack of enforcement. However, this should not serve as a reason to push back the drinking age. Another strong argument is that An 18 year old in United States of America has the right to vote, and serve in the military. If an 18 year old can make up their mind as to who their political leaders of their lives should be and whether or not they will defend their country (or serve as aggressors elsewhere in the world), they should have every right to consume alcohol. Another strong argument made against the current legal drinking age is that many colleges and universities often argue that the legal drinking age should be 18 because outlawing alcohol consumption in colleges for those under 21 is making the problem worse. These colleges and universities say that allowing alcohol consumption legally might help cut down alcohol related deaths in colleges.
However, abstaining from alcohol until 21 is not necessarily moral, nor is binge drinking every other week immoral? Yet, drinking underage disregards civil authority and undermines the law of the land. Granted that nearly every single case of someone drinking underage does it for social reasons and most times avoids drunkenness, it does not mean it is necessarily right to do so. When society makes a law such as the age at which one can vote or drive, or even drink, it is, definitely, arbitrary. But this does not always make it unjust. There certainly are many people under the age of 21 who could probably drink safely, and there are those that argue that as we learn from our mistakes, we should have these mistakes happen earlier. But if we are to live in a successful democratic nation like the United States of America, how can we argue for the virtues of having a Natty Ice at 20 years old? Most of my peers would argue that the greater good comes above many things; I am simply arguing in regards to drinking, it comes before freedom. It is time for responsible students to lead by example, and refrain from drinking
Today, alcohol is widely available and aggressively promoted throughout society. And alcohol use continues to be regarded, by many people, as a normal part of growing up. Yet underage drinking is dangerous, not only for the drinker but also for society, as evident by the number of alcohol-related car crashes, homicides, suicides, and other injuries. People who begin drinking early in life run the risk of developing serious alcohol problems, including alcoholism, later in life. They also are at greater risk for a variety of negative consequences, including sexual activity and poor performance in school. But because it is in fact a law of the land, it must be followed by everyone, no matter the level of responsibility the person has.
