Today in my blog I would like to talk about a very controversial subject which is in fact the consumption of alcohol in those who are under the age of 21. Alcohol has an intense effect on the complex structures of the brain. It blocks chemical signals between brain cells, leading to the immediate display of regular symptoms of intoxication, including the impulsive and somewhat irrational behavior, slurred speech, and delayed reflexes. A common misconception is that alcohol consumption in individuals past the 21 year old threshold are at virtually no risk. While it is true that young adults are at a greater risk of serious alcohol induced harm because the brain has been proven to continually develop into the mid twenties, conditions like liver damage, brain damage, cancer, and high blood pressure all have an increased risk with continued alcohol consumption, even at older ages. I am going to introduce arguments from both sides of the spectrum on the topic of absolute legalization of alcohol for all individuals.
(Cracking one with the boys)
Pro
There is a lot of research suggesting that the over consumption of alcohol is incredibly detrimental to individual health. The fact is that the over consumption of almost anything is detrimental to personal health. The over consumption of water, something almost every living thing on earth needs to survive is deadly in too high volumes too quickly. Vitamin A, an essential micro nutrient important for healthy vision, immune system health, and reproductive health, is toxic in high doses. There are numerous studies that show that moderate alcohol consumption includes reducing your risk of developing and dying of heart disease, possibly reducing your risk of ischemic stroke and possibly reducing your risk of diabetes. Now it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that alcohol isn’t a healthy food and the calories would be much better spent in a nutrient dense food like lean meat, whole grain, or a fresh fruit or vegetable, but the fact is that alcohol is inevitable for most people. The majority of people will consume alcohol at least once in their life, and many more times after that. I’m not saying we should be giving our babies a Weiss beer instead of water or mothers milk, but moderate alcohol in teenagers might be helpful for introducing healthy habits surrounding alcohol. Take Germany for example. 16 years by themselves, but with a parent almost no restrictions are in place. The Germans have a lot of fun with alcohol but the amount of DUIs per year in Germany is much lower than the United States, taking population into account. With a culture that is so heavily immersed in their beer, this is information that the United States and other countries alike could maybe learn from.
And Con
Now this point is not going to be very long because for the majority of my readers the understanding of why alcohol is not readily available for those under 21 is relatively common knowledge. If alcohol was made legal to all, (Those under 18 would obviously have to consent their parents in their presence) there would definitely be abuse of alcohol. More abuse than there is right now. Probably. We don’t know all the facts about how a country like the United States would respond to the full legalization of alcohol but the fact is that alcohol abuse is a problem in the United States and there are a lot of young people affected by it. The legalization of alcohol would make those who are susceptible to alcohol abuse at a young age much easier. And that is the fact Jack.
Thanks for tuning into my blog and making it this far, I know that these are troubling times for everyone, just know that you are not alone and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
