I know what you are thinking: here is another ignorant kid who wants to lower the legal drinking age in order to have easier access to alcohol.

I am not proposing lowering the drinking age just to oblige with the status quo or to reward those who engage in under-aged drinking. Rather, there are a host of arguments in favor of lowering the drinking age to 18, as well as flaws within the opposing arguments.

One of the biggest arguments against lowering the legal drinking age is that those who are under 21 are not responsible enough to handle the effects of alcohol. The problem with that is the inconsistency of responsibility allocated at different ages in the U.S.

For instance, when you are 18, you are judged mature enough to vote, serve as a juror, fly an airplane, sign a contract and, most importantly, serve in the military. How is someone said to be mature and responsible enough to go to some of the worst places in the world and risk his or her life for their country, but isn’t mature enough to drink a beer?

Raising the drinking age led to less alcohol-related deaths for people aged 18-20. Although I am not saying those numbers aren’t correct, an in-depth study conducted by Peter Asch and David Levy showed raising the drinking age merely transferred lost lives from the 18-20 bracket to the 21-24 age group.

The point is raising the minimum age doesn’t have a significant (or even a perceptible) factor when it comes to overall fatalities.

Some say at 21 the brain is not developed enough to withstand the effects of alcohol. But the body and mind improve throughout life. A 21-year-old is different from an 18-year-old, just as a 41-year-old is different from a 38-year-old.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism pointed out that children who begin to drink at a very young age (before 12) often are disruptive, hyperactive and aggressive, and drinking at this age could cause severe problems in brain development. But it also explains that in between the ages of 18 and 21, it is unclear if there is a difference in the long-term development of the brain.

I am not advocating we immediately change the laws in all 50 states, so the minimum drinking age is 18. If these changes were to be made, there would need to be changes made in regards to teaching minors about drinking in moderation as opposed to binge drinking, which those who are under-aged are notorious for.

According to an article from BBC Health, alcohol consumed in moderation is thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease. This, of course, is different than consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time.

Although many of you might label me as someone who wants to lower the drinking age just so I can get into bars and drink legally, I hope you take into consideration the flaws with keeping the legal drinking age at 21.