21. That should be all I need to say, but unfortunately it isn't. For some reason, the government has decided that for all intents and purposes, we are adults at 18. However, we are not allowed to drink and gamble until the age of 21. Why is this. Well, there is an explanation and it has nothing to do with maturity level.
Now, the Federal Government is not the ones who think that 21 is an appropriate age to begin drinking. And they are also not the ones who decided that the military should not be able to drink if they are under the minimum drinking age. Who came up with this idea? MADD (Mother's Against Drunk Driving). In 1984, after significant pressure from MADD, the federal government caved and enacted the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 (23 U.S.C. § 158). This law did not mandate a federal drinking age, but, if a state did not raise their minimum drinking age to 21, they would lose 10% of their federal highway money. As far as gambling goes, casinos serve booze, it's easier to not allow people under the drinking age to gamble than to worry about having a minor at the table. Although, if you are an adult at 18, why are you considered a minor before the age of 21?
I love these arguments, awesome one grammar thing though: the phrase is "for all intents and purposes" not intense. it is not extreme nor forceful. Other then that one COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE grammar error you are very articulate and illustrate your points well. great blog.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like I've been singing that song wrong for years. It does make more sense now. Thank you, and I have edited appropriately. And thank you for being my first blog commenter.
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