Maturity defines adulthood, but where is the line drawn? Apparently, there is a greater “assurance” when a person becomes 21, they will be more mature, says the Dallas Morning News. Legitimately, it is known that when a person turns 18 they are considered a legal adult. They are forced to take on all the responsibilities and freedoms of an adult. They are allowed to be recruited into the Army, they can be lawfully married, they can own land and be tried as an adult in a court setting. But they cannot drink? They can buy cigarettes and smoke the whole carton, but they can buy a six-pack for a tailgating party?

An online poll at MSNBC.com, consisting of 177,091 unanimous voters answered the question, “Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered to 18?” Twenty-nine percent said no because they think that it could lead to an increase in drinking problems and car accidents. Fifty- seven percent said yes because if they are old enough to serve in the military, they are old enough to drink. Thirteen percent said yes, but only if they obtain a “drinking license” by taking mandatory alcohol education classes. The other one point three percent simply said, “I don’t know.” 

If the government says that a person is an adult on their 18th birthday, they should be allowed to act as one. They can make their own choices, whether it would be negative or positive. People are drinking illegally everyday, and America knows this fact. There is no such thing as a “federal legal drinking age.” Many states have different laws due to religious acts or alongside a parental figure or guardian.

The government is scared to face the fact that Americans should be able to drink when they become an adult, because they believe that they will have to face vast legal liabilities when it occurs. They believe that an adult cannot have the ability to restrain impulsive behavior that you may acquire while drinking. That’s what an eighteen year old is right? An adult?

Personally, I believe that the government is too scared to take a risk and let these newborn adults drink alcohol. There are a number of people in this world, who are more mature than several 21 and older people, and numerous of them are younger. So, I say, let them drink.