My name is Derek, one of the 5 U of M students working on this blog assignment for our communications class. Unlike the rest of the group I’m the only student over 21 years old and I still support lowering the drinking age to 18. This is important to not only me but the rest of the group because the responsibility that comes along with drinking is important to instill at a younger age. There is no better way to show this then actual experience. Without getting into major debates, stay tuned for further arguments.
CHELSEA
Hey Readers!
I am Chelsea Pettit, a freshman undergraduate at the University of Minnesota. Our public speaking class has given us the assignment of creating a blog in support of a current issue. Our group has chosen to explore the issue of drinking age laws. Being a 19-year-old freshman in college clearly makes this topic relevant to my life. I am certain that most students in my current situation have had the chance to take part in underage drinking. A higher drinking age does not stop young adults from drinking, but in fact encourages them to drink under unsafe conditions. Besides, if we are considered adults at 18, why don’t our rights include drinking? This is why I have chosen to argue in support of lowering the drinking age. I want you all to understand that I am not encouraging a change in the drinking age just so I can start partying or anything. I truly do believe that the advantages of the change outweigh the disadvantages. As we dive into the information behind drinking age laws, please follow along with us and share your thoughts on the “21 and over” regulation.
KELLAN
Hey Guys,
I am Kellan Johnson, and I am a junior at the University of Minnesota. I am in the group with the other bloggers here, and am in support of lowering the drinking age. I am an agreement that lowering the drinking age will be beneficial, not because I am under 21 and would like to be able to buy booze, but because lowering the drinking age, I believe, would reduce binge drinking and other alcohol related injuries/incidents. I feel that I am in a unique position in that over the course of this project I will be turning 21, and will blog about the differences I notice from before and after turning 21. When it comes to drinking age debates I always hear the statement, "We can send our sons and daughters to kill or be killed in the military, but they can't have a beer." And this always makes me think that our laws are ridiculous and should coincide with each other.
MACKENZIE
Hi Bloggers!
My name is MacKenzie Misel, and I am currently a freshman at the University of Minnesota. In our public speaking class we have been braced with the challenge of blogging about an issue in our current society. We decided as a group that lowering the drinking age is a controversial topic as well as very interesting. I find this topic intriguing because being a freshman and having my first college experiences I have found so far that a lot of the situations revolve around alcohol. Alcohol is all over in college and for the most part the users are under age. As a young child I was raised to be an individual who obeys and respects the laws of our nation. My father who is a part of law enforcement in stowed those values in my life. My mother raised me to be a positive individual that is true to my morals and values. I have not spent a lot of time of the topic of *lowering the drinking age* before strictly because it was easy for me to remove myself from the situations involving alcohol in high school. However, in college I have a new found understanding of how alcohol brings people together. It has also brought to my attention that the change would not be bad and I find more and more reason every time that I think about it based on the people I have encountered so far in my college career. In my following post I hope to give you positive, assertive, and informative reasons on why the drinking age should be lowered. Look forward to hearing from the bloggers!
TYLER-JAMES
Hi Bloggies.
...Yes, Bloggies, because the word “blogger,” is so dated, circa 2006. I am blogging, not as a collegiate, stereotypical, social alcoholic, in fact, I am not a alcohol drinker. I always found it dumb, how many of my fellow students and friends, in high school, were all about drinking and getting drunk. Perhaps to them it was the thrill of getting intoxicated when they were not legal to do so. Underage drinking is a risk and therefore there is a level of thrill a minor gets when under the influence. To me, it’s no different from an infant girl trying on her mother’s high heels. The idea of underage drinking is feeling older more mature and established. I feel like lowering the drinking age will take away the hype of drinking and therefore decrease the number of causalities that are alcohol related. Furthermore, as an avid traveler, I would like to see the United States at a level culturally equal to that of the culturally advance, such as many countries in Europe. Meaning to say, I like to see America view alcohol consumption equal to what most of the world views it: A glass of wine at an elegant dinner, like in France, or a dark bottle of beer at a futbol match in Britain, as opposed to a couple kegs of the cheapest beer student loanscan buy over a fraternity party that has no particular reason for being a party what so ever. Finally, I’m also interested to learn how lowering the drinking age will affect the economy. Perhaps one day I won’t be shewed away, or branded with the notorious “X” on my hand, just to see an awesome band at a bar.
