Underage drinking has been a problem for decades. One big solution included raising the legal drinking age to 21. However, with growing concerns for America's youth, the question of underage drinking is put on the spotlight. Research has shown that "underage drinking is the nation's largest youth drug problem, killing 6.5 times more young people than all other illicit drugs combined" (Justice Department and MADD). Society needs to utilize resources to reduce underage drinking among teenagers because it costs society a lot of money, destroys lives, and gets teens in trouble with the police.
Instead of all these people concentrating their efforts on America's youth, perhaps they might consider larger issues that affect all Americans. Poverty and social welfare is an area which needs to be resolved so that hard working citizens do not feel a sense of alienation since lethargic transients leech off welfare programs. A big problem involves the Y2K bug which causes computers to think it's 1900 when in actuality, it's the year 2000. More time and energy put into this problem will ensure that when the year 2000 arrives, businesses can run smoothly to serve the public. Another consideration might be to increase productivity in the workplace so that the economy gains more strength and stability when America moves into the Millennium.
The costs associated with underage drinking "totals more than $58 Billion annually" (Justice Department and MADD). This is a large sum of money to burden society since these funds could be spent elsewhere. "The Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has broken down the costs of alcohol use by teens: traffic crashes (18.2B), violent crime (36.4B), burns (459M), drownings (771M), suicide attempts (1.51B), fetal alcohol syndrome (493M), alcohol poisonings (948M), and treatment (1.01B)" (Justice Department and MADD). The point is that this problem is getting out of hand. Costs are skyrocketing, increasing the burden onto citizens and their precious tax dollars. Even with monetary arguments, no one places a life over money.
With underage drinking, the government feels that this issue is paramount since alcohol destroys lives. We are the future of this country, and understand that this substance is a potentially detrimental problem for all teenagers, especially those who fall through the cracks. In 1995, President Clinton advocated legislation that would toughen drunk driving laws for minors. "His remarks focused on the need for "zero tolerance" laws that make it illegal for those under the legal drinking age of 21 to drive with any alcohol in their system" (Zero Tolerance Laws). He wants to ensure that young adults to realize the need to follow this law because ultimately, this will allow for teenagers to make wise decisions and save their own lives. "The U.S. Surgeon General reports that life expectancy has improved in the U.S. over the past 75 years for every age group except one: the death rate for 15-to 24-year-olds is higher today than it was 20 years ago" (Underage Drinking Info). We need to clean up our act and stop the destruction of teenage lives.
Police officers have one of the most difficult jobs out there. They work nerve-racking hours, deal with people of all tempers and personalities, and try to be fair all at the same time. Most teenagers despise cops because we have the idea embedded in our minds that they always come after us. Well, the reality in that is most of the time; we're the ones causing the trouble. Once we get our driver's license, we feel invincible. Sadly enough, that luster fades quickly in this world. We are in a society full of opportunities and new experiences, both good and bad. A few years back, cops didn't think much about underage drinking because of all the "legal obstacles associated with processing juveniles and the unpleasant paperwork and special detention procedures required for minors"(Bishop, Little). However, with new trends associated with the Generation X'ers, underage drinking has become the main concern. Everywhere you go alcohol is readily available and tempting. Cops may have a solution to this problem. "Sting operations are conducted to determine the stores and establishments selling alcoholic beverages to minors. The Cops 'N Shops program is different from the sting operations in the manner that it arrests the violator rather then the vendor" (Bishop, Little). The Cops 'N Shops is just one of many types of sting operations they use to apprehend teenagers who try to illegally purchase alcohol. Another program aimed at "promoting traffic safety messages to teenage drivers" (Murdo) is the Police Department's Chief Operator Teen Driver Program in Albany, California. This program, available in high schools, stresses to young adults that they should not drink alcohol. Students who pledge to become Chief Operators must abide by four guidelines; ensure that all teens buckle up, safely drive a carload of teens, obey all traffic laws, and never drink and drive. In addition to following these guidelines, these students must "perform original traffic safety songs and skits" (Murdo) which will educate fellow classmates. There are many incentives that accompany this program. Students who answer questions about traffic safety questions correctly receive prizes such as free food at local restaurants, tickets to professional baseball games, and movie passes. This program lasts for 3 years, and at the end of the term, research tells that there was an "18.9 percent" (Murdo) decrease in alcohol-related accidents. Another option police have for teens that drink illegally is to enforce the administrative license revocation laws. "Administrative license revocation (ALR) laws are based on objective chemical tests (blood, breath, or urine), similar to "illegal per se" criminal laws against impaired driving. Administrative license revocation allows police and driver licensing authorities to revoke the driver's license swiftly, without long delays while waiting for a criminal trial, and protects the offender's right of due process through an appeal system. ALR is similar to "implied consent" laws in states which automatically suspend a driver's license for refusing a BAC test. ALR automatically suspends the license for failing the BAC test" (NHTSA). Another thing about ALR's is that suspending or revoking a driver's license for driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs has proven to be a most successful deterrent" (State Legislative Fact Sheet). Going back to the part on how teenagers feel invincible with their driver?s license, losing one's license would not be very enjoyable. Taking away the driver's license will persuade teens to stop drinking, which in turn, would help them stay out of trouble with the police. The police continue to work hard at decreasing the underage-drinking trend to save the lives of teenagers.
Society should curb underage drinking since it costs a lot of money, destroys lives, and gets teens in trouble with the police. It is ultimately up to you to make the right choices. Death and self-destruction are the grim realities associated with drinking. It's not worth pain and suffering to indulge in a substance that impairs your thinking and causes you do act with stupidity. Also, alcohol "impairs a young person's memory systems much more than an adult's" (USA Today), signifying this as a major issue that needs serious attention.
