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... od results t b obtained which can prove the hypothesis being presented in this paper. The table below named Table # 1 shows the results gathered by the surveys. These results were gathered by different methods but they were all from anonymous sources assuring to write correct and true facts. Question: Under-Age Over-Age Under-Age Over-Age Home Country Drinking Age -- - 18 18 21 21 Average drinks per week? 6 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 20 11 to 15 Ever driven after drinking? 22. 2 % 61. 1 % 38. 8 % 50. 0 % Ever used a fake-ID? 22. 2 % 33. 3 % 77. 7 % 77. 7 % Ever missed class due to drinking? 11. 1 % 38. 8 % 33. 3 % 33. 3 % Ever gotten behind in school due to drinking? 22. 2 % 27. 7 % 27. 7 % 27. 7 % While drinking, done something you later regretted? 50. 0 % 27. 7 % 44. 4 % 38. 8 % Ever gotten in a fight due to drinking? 27. 7 % 33. 3 % 27. 7 % 27. 8 % Engaged in sexual activity due to drinking? 27. 7 % 38. 8 % 27. 7 % 33. 3 % Engaged in Sexual activity without protection under the influence? 5. 55 % 16. 6 % 11. 1 % 11. 1 % Damaged property or committed a crime under the influence? 16. 6 % 11. 1 % 5. 55 % 11. 1 % Gotten in trouble with the police due to alcohol? 5. 55 % 11. 1 % 16. 6 % 22. 2 % For these results to be effectively analyzed, they must be first parted into their respective groups.
As the table # 1 above shows, all of these four groups are described in percentages which come from the total amount of surveys distributed to each of the groups. That is, the percentage is obtained from the total of eighteen surveys per group. The most straight forward and at the same time effective question asked in these surveys is that of the amount of drinks consumed per week by each of the groups. Most people however, do not have a very precise count for the amount of drinks they consume in a week, this is why it is rather difficult to arrive at a precise number for the average amount of drinks consumed by the people being surveyed.
For this reason, these averages are not described with precise numbers but rather with simple ranges in which the average is expected to lie. Another factor worth noting about these ranges is the fact that they do not go into individual detail. Because the values are nothing more than an average of the whole, the amount of people who abuse or drink responsibly cannot be determined. Still however, the results can be used in a very effective method to compare the alcohol consumption in different ages and from the different countries. When these ranges are juxtaposed between each other as in the graph labeled graph # 1, it can be seen that the countries with a drinking age of 18 have a more favorable consumption of alcohol. The output is that even though for those overage the amount of alcohol consumed in all countries is in the same range, the amount consumed by those underage is less for those in a country with a drinking age of 18.
This may be due to the fact that those underage in a country with 18 are younger than those from a country of drinking age 21 where the range of ages goes all the way up to 20 years of age. The important point to highlight however, is that no matter what ages are contained in the ranges, the amount of alcohol consumed will still be less for a drinking age of 18. Thus it will still be favorable to have a drinking age of 18. It is very important to mention as well that because this survey did not include those who refrain from drinking in totality, the amount of alcohol consumed overall might be larger in a Latin or European country, but the amount of alcohol consumed by those who actually do drink at least one drink per week is less. One of the most fearsome results of drinking is the inability to drive ensuing in a car crash, generally, concluding in death. Drinking and driving, all over the world, constitutes for one of the largest contributors to death of human beings.
This is why it is extremely important to take into consideration the effect of a change in legal drinking age on the amount of people driving under the influence. In the survey at hand, the difference in the amount of people who drink and drive between countries with different drinking ages is very high. The survey shows that in the United States almost half as much people drive drunk when compared to people from countries in Latin America or Europe. This impressive difference however is not mainly due to a low drinking age. This survey was administered to a total pool of 32 people from a country with a drinking age of 21 where all of them where from the United States of America. Therefore, the difference here does not come mainly from the drinking age but rather from law enforcement.
In countries outside of the United States, the police officers do not enforce drinking and driving laws nearly as harsh. For that reason people are less scared and in the same way more prone to driving under the influence. The use of false systems of identification is seen in all parts of the world as an illegal act. These systems however, are still used with the interest of changing a persons identity or age. In the United States, as well as in countries outside its borders, the use of these very well known fake-IDs is somewhat common throughout the young population. In the survey administered, the difference in the amount of people who use fake identifications in different countries is remarkably large.
The difference between the amount of people in the United States who use fake IDs is extremely large when compared to the amount of people who use these in Latin or European countries. The reason for this is very simple- Because a person underage is in need of using a fake-ID to get into a public location where the minimum is the same as the drinking age, most under age adolescents use these. As well, because the age range and maturity level for people to start going to public institutions such as bars is 18, those between 18 and 20 years of age in the United States need the use of a fake-ID for this purpose. It is in the interest of a country however, to have the least amount of people committing illegal acts such as the use of fake-IDs, for this reason, it is better to have a low drinking age where the use of fake-IDs is very low. In counterargument, a country will also like to keep youngsters off the bars and streets; In reality however, the adolescents will still go to the bars and streets no matter what age is the minimum, except with a drinking age of 18 the use of false identifications will be smaller.
As well, the cash phenomena will come into effect and help lower the amount of alcohol consumption. Due to the high prices of alcohol in bars and such institutions, even though these adolescents will go to the bars, they will not drink as much. Consequently, having more fun and less alcohol. In conclusion, as far as illegal actions and illegal identifications go, a drinking age of 18 is more favorable for any country. This survey was administered with the purpose of judging very delicate sides. This is because it does not judge small things but rather, it judges large countries with large amounts of people.
Therefore, there are many factors involved which cannot be controlled in the questions and by the survey. These factors include, most of all, the difference in customs between the countries. As well, the difference in age ranges between the groups. Customs of a country include everything from what people do to the type of law enforcement that takes place in the city or nation.
As far as the survey results, even though some of the questions yielded very different results between the countries, these are mainly due to the factors named above. One of the questions in the survey questioned sexual activity due to alcohol consumption. The difference in the results for this question may be different simply because of the customs of the countries. Because women from one country may be overall more prone to having sexual interaction than those from other countries simply because of the difference in customs, the results might be affected. This simple factor can alter the results in a very large way. Another question was that which addressed trouble with the police and people committing small crimes such as small damage to properties.
This as well, may be very easily due to customs of nations as far as law enforcement goes. Because the police officers are much more lenient in Latin American countries and European countries than in the United States, these results are expected to be different. The most usual results would include the United States having a larger number of people who have had trouble with the police and a smaller number of people committing small crimes; This is simply because the police force has a much stronger enforcement of the law. As well as the difference in the amount of people who have missed class due to drinking.
For this question, the amount of people who missed classes due to drinking in Latin and European countries was much lower. This is mainly due to the fact that this group does not include students in college but only in high school and under 18 years of age. Therefore, because of the parents and attendance requirements, they will be forced not to miss class. Overall, these small changes due to customs and age groups of a country are not due to alcohol and therefore are to be ignored.
This is not to say that the survey failed in provide good results because it did in fact provide good and somewhat predicted results. Going to a college or a University is a major step in the lives of thousands of people all over the world. Usually, the very high percentage of these go out of home and even overseas for this opportunity. As well, most of these adolescents enter school at the same age, 18 years of age. If the maturity level of a person is to be evoked, a persons maturity level can be over all other characteristics determined from the ability of a person to survive alone and with help from no on except for maybe monetary help.
For this reason, if a person is able to go to college, without a doubt, this person is mature enough for anything. This type of person deserves the privileges and responsibilities that should come with being mature. Therefore, as well as having the privilege and responsibility to go to college, they should be able to pay taxes, go to war, fly a plane, and most of all, drink alcohol- responsibly and with maturity. One of the only countries to still instate a drinking age of 21 is the United States. The United States is also said to be the largest and most developed. As proved in this report however, it can be said that as far as drinking age goes, the most developed and civilized seems to have the largest problem as well.
Bibliography: Wood, R. Substance Abuse: The Nation's Number One Health Problem, Key Indicators for Policy. Johnson Foundation Report. Princeton, NJ; October 1993.
Presley C. A. , Mailman P. W. , Cash J. R. , Lyerla R. Alcohol and Drugs on American College Campuses: Use, Consequences, and Perceptions of the Campus Environment Vol IV: 1992 - 94. Carbondale, IL; 1996.
Rogers J. D. , Greenfield T. K. Beer drinking accounts for most of the hazardous alcohol consumption reported in the United States.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 1999 Eng's, R. Why the drinking age should be lowered: An opinion based upon research Professor, Applied Health Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; 1999
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