Drinking age: Canadian VS American

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topic: Be it resolved that the legal drinking age should be raised from 18.

The early onset of drinking is associated with the increase of violence and increased impaired driving and accidents. Currently in Manitoba the legal drinking age is 18 years of age. In the United States, the decision was taken in 1987 to raise the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21. This showed clear evidence of a decrease in road traffic fatalities amongst young people and benefited the social and public society. The reason for this raise of legal age was driven largely by the desire to decrease traffic fatalities associated with alcohol consumption. Based on statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration traffic fatalities for people under 21 dropped by 43% (from 5,062 alcohol-related fatalities to 2,883). We have to remember the victims in these fatalities. These victims are not only the youth who have been drinking. They are your family, friend's neighbours and children. As you all know, in Winnipeg, there is much controversy pertaining to violence in bars and night clubs. Most of these violent crimes involve adults age 18-21. Here is one example, Jonathan Tan, 19 years old, was leaving Vertigo night club on May 10th of last year, he was leaving the bar when his friends got into a fight. He was beaten repeatedly and died by repeated blows to the head. His mother was told the news on mother's day that her only son has been killed. The people involved in this crime were also within the ages of 18-21. A free press carrier was killed last year after being hit by a car driven by an 18 year old woman, who was leaving the bar after she had been drinking. Be a hero and save the lives of your friends and family. It is not only for the good of our youth today, it is for the safety and for the good of society.

Although the youth in the United States consume more alcohol than the youth aged 18-20 in Canada, illegal underage drinking in Canada begins at an earlier age than it does in the United States. In general Canadian youth have significantly higher rates of life-time alcohol use. Alcohol abuse among Canadian underage students is significantly higher than underage drinkers in the United States . The percentage of underage drinkers in the US (17 and under) is 60.1 % where as the percentage of underage drinkers in Canada is 75.1%, that is a 15% difference between the 2 countries. It is easier for a 16 year old underage drinker in Canada to ask their 18 year old friend to buy alcohol for a party than it is for a 16 year old underage drinker in the US to ask their 21 year old friend to buy alcohol for them. The 21 year old would assume greater responsibility for their actions. 21 year olds are not in the same peer group or cohort of a 15 or 16 year old underage drinkers. Youth in the united states consume more alcohol than youth in Canada due to the fact that in the US 67% of students go to college and live at university residences. Statistics show that youth who live with their parents are less likely to binge drink and consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Most students in Canada live off campus with their parents and consume less amounts of alcohol, yet start an earlier age. Underage youth and youth ages 18-21 who drink are usually more likely to become victims of date rape, sexual abuse, violence, traffic accidents, impaired driving and alcohol poisoning due to the fact that they, experiment with drugs and alcohol and drink more than they can handle. The Americans may drink more but we drink earlier. A drunk is a drunk, but which person would society more likely accept: A drunk Canadian 15 year old? Or a drunk 21 year old Amercian?