Drinking Culture and American Social Norms - 1318 Words

SPEECH #3 – PERSUASIVE SPEECH Name: DANIEL C. DILIGENT Title: Lowering the Legal Drinking Age Specific Purpose: To argue in favor of lowering the minimum legal drinking age in the United States. Thesis Statement: I will discuss 1) the current legal drinking age, 2) the effect that this drinking age has upon American social norms, and 3) the potential benefits of a lower drinking age. I. INTRODUCTION A. Hook: Alcohol is ever-present in today’s American society. Television viewers are constantly bombarded with advertisements promoting its consumption. Social events rarely take place without their attendees drinking some alcoholic beverage or another. However, young people in America are told by society that they are not allowed to†¦show more content†¦Alcohol would no longer be perceived as a forbidden fruit III. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the current law setting the minimum drinking age at 21 has failed in its effort to keep America’s young people safe from the dangerous aspects of alcohol consumption. In addition to being ineffective, the law impinges upon the rights of individuals to partake in activities which are otherwise pervasive in today’s American social culture. Though those who are 18 years old are considered adults in nearly all facets of the law, including voting rights and the ability to join the military, they are still treated as minors when it comes to drinking. If an 18-year-old is old enough to make those important decisions, then he or she is certainly old enough to decide whether or not he or she is ready to consume alcohol. Because of the current laws, young men and women are compelled to furtively experiment with alcohol. Rather than beginning their drinking experiences under the supervision of responsible adults, the young people do so in secret, bec ause the laws and the culture they have created refuse to allow them to explore their natural curiosities. By lowering the drinking age, the U.S. can begin to raise more responsible drinkers, who will not be as prone to alcohol abuse or addiction as today’s Americans are. Thank you. IV. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Tway, Kelley. â€Å"The Benefits of the Drinking Age.† Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 2004. 2. Seaman, Barrett. Binge. Hoboken: John Wiley Show MoreRelatedVerbal Mediums And Music And Song Provide A Holistic Reflection Of The Culture Of A Given Community963 Words   |  4 Pagesreflection of the culture of a given community. Songs are products and practices that are able to shed light on the philosophical, political, socio-cultural norms, and perspectives of a particular society.1 Thus, these products shape the worldview of a cultural group. 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