The minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) should be modified. The limit should be raised to an age higher than 21 years. A study conducted by on the impact of MLDA on alcohol-related complications demonstrated that the restriction minimized chances of contracting various cancer conditions such as that of the liver, oral, pharynx, and other diseases by percentages as high as 6-8% (Plunk et al., 2016). The study noted that those who attended college but took alcohol had even lower possibilities of catching cancer. This study is proof of the benefit of having MLDA. Therefore, restricting adolescents from consuming alcohol reduced their chances of developing alcoholic tendencies once they were 21 years of age and above (Plunk et al., 2016). Therefore, from these observations, it can be deduced that MLDA is effective in promoting youth education and constructing a healthy society. If raising the MLDA from 18 to 21 were effective in preventing cases on diseases and school dropout, raising the age limit to 25 would even work better since at that point most college students are out of school where their peers could influence them and are seeking to establish themselves in life. Lowering the age limit would have adverse effects on the users and the nation. Much money will be spent on health services, security maintenance, and the economy will succumb to insufficient labor force overtime. A country like Australia is also seeking to raise its minimum age to 21 years (Toumbourou, Kypri, Jones & Hickie, 2014 ). Studies by Australians have indicated that people exposed to alcohol drinking at puberty level risk losing the cognitive abilities engage in unprotected sex and with multiple partners. These dangers have great consequences for a nation as already stated. Some of the ethical concerns are that people old enough to take care of t hemselves are capable of deciding for themselves (Toumbourou, Kypri, Jones & Hickie, 2014). The cultural argument should be approached realistically.
On the use of marijuana, the substance should be restricted to medicinal use only. This should be granted after several FDA tests and the determination of curative elements in the substance. The states of Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska have legalized the consumption of the substance for recreational purposes (Leyton, 2016). The substance is harmful causing cognitive defects and resulting in 15% of its users becoming an addict. This threat cannot and should not be assumed. Those who support its use for recreational use are aware of the danger they pose to society but are assuming the facts. The effect may not be realized today, but once the culture is established, population destruction follows. However, the substance has medicinal values such as management of nausea, pain management, and clinical treatment of multiple sclerosis (Leyton, 2016). These benefits should be exploited and should be made the only use of the substance as opposed to making it recreational.
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References
Leyton, M. (2016). Legalizing marijuana. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience: JPN, 41 (2), 75.
Plunk, A. D., Krauss, M. J., Syed‐Mohammed, H., Hur, M., Cavzos‐Rehg, P. A., Bierut, L. J., & Grucza, R. A. (2016). The impact of the minimum legal drinking age on alcohol‐related chronic disease mortality. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 40 (8): 1761-1768.
Toumbourou, J. W., Kypri, K., Jones, S. C., & Hickie, I. B. (2014). Should the legal age for buying alcohol be raised to 21 years. Med J Aust, 200 : 568-70.
