While some tout lowering the drinking age, it is an extremely controversial issue. However, it is obvious to me that the legal drinking age should stay where it is: at 21 years old.

By creating a lowered drinking age, we would be giving people whose brains are not yet fully developed, despite legally being considered an adult, the opportunity to stunt their mental growth, act recklessly and hurt themselves. This is an absolutely preposterous idea.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), drunk drivers with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher killed almost 13,000 people (not including those severely or mildly injured) in 2007. By allowing younger people, who are for the most part uneducated about the effects of drinking and driving, to drink legally, we would only perpetuate this tragedy.

Drinking alcohol literally shrinks the brain. According to several studies and researcher Carol Ann Paul, there is a direct correlation between drinking and the brain?s size and ability to function.

The 1,839 test subjects were divided into five categories: non-drinkers; former drinkers; light drinkers who drank between one and seven drinks per week; medium drinkers who drank between eight and fourteen drinks per week; and high drinkers who drink fifteen or more drinks per week.

Paul’s research found that for each step up in category, the test subjects’ brains shrunk by .25%, according to a magnetic resonance imaging test (MRI).

Years and years of life experiences are required to make the right decisions regarding important issues. It is for this reason that we must be 18 years old before we are allowed to vote.

In the same way, it takes much time and thought for one to decided whether drinking is right for oneself. If the drinking age was lowered, we would be giving people who have not had sufficient time to consider this issue and really decide where they stand the ability and most likely pressure to make life-altering decisions.

Some will argue that most of the harmful drinking takes place by underage, irresponsible drinkers due to the enticing idea of breaking the law and being considered a rebel. However, few if any drink solely for these purposes.

During my freshman year at my old school, Edison High School, I became friends with several seniors. I would still consider myself acquainted with these people, and they have over the last two years shared with me many experiences from their college life. Despite being underage, they have told me stories of friends and themselves who drank. These friends have felt pressure to fit in by drinking and been curious as to the taste and effects of alcohol, but have never mentioned drinking for “rebellious” purposes.

According to the Fayette Front Page, the brain is not finished developing until the the low to mid 20s and premature drinking will cause harmful effects.

The drinking age is not hurting anyone where it is right now; it lets people begin to drink and buy alcohol at a time when most of the population’s significant brain growth has already taken place. Lowering the drinking age to 18 years of age would seriously hurt those who chose to drink, which is a risk nobody should be willing to take.