Role-Play Debate for course EngC 1015

I think if the drinking age was lowered to 18, kids would start drinking earlier in high school and lie about it. I lied when I was a kid, whether legal or illegal parents don't appreciate hearing the fact that their son/daughter is drinking. Drinking involves brain damage, temporary blackouts if you drink enough, and irrational on the spot choices that could change your life. If you know your kid is drinking, you'd find out either way if something bad happens. It's hard to find alcohol and places to party if the drinking age is 21. I don't know many 18 year olds that regularly hang out with people that are 21. It's a parents job to grow up raising their children with advice. I've always told my daughter that excessive drinking is dangerous and there are many other fun things to do besides drink!
During college, all the advice a parent has said to his son or daughter is in the back of their mind. It's officially their turn to be a grown up and make decisions. Whether or not those decisions are good or bad, consequences will come up and they'll have to deal with the decisions they've made. Usually if a kid drinks, it's not with their parents either so how will they become responsible drinkers if they're 18 or 21? Kids are going to drink regardless of the age factor. The only way I believe our society can become social drinkers is to incorporate a drinking system such as Europe. Even thouh Europe tends to have such a good reputation when it comes to drinking, I think you'd be surprised at a website I came across stating some facts about how alcohol use has gotten out of control.

I think if the drinking age was lowered to 18, kids would start drinking earlier in high school and lie about it. I lied when I was a kid, whether legal or illegal parents don't appreciate hearing the fact that their son/daughter is drinking. Drinking involves brain damage, temporary blackouts if you drink enough, and irrational on the spot choices that could change your life. If you know your kid is drinking, you'd find out either way if something bad happens. It's hard to find alcohol and places to party if the drinking age is 21. I don't know many 18 year olds that regularly hang out with people that are 21. It's a parents job to grow up raising their children with advice. I've always told my daughter that excessive drinking is dangerous and there are many other fun things to do besides drink!
During college, all the advice a parent has said to his son or daughter is in the back of their mind. It's officially their turn to be a grown up and make decisions. Whether or not those decisions are good or bad, consequences will come up and they'll have to deal with the decisions they've made. Usually if a kid drinks, it's not with their parents either so how will they become responsible drinkers if they're 18 or 21? Kids are going to drink regardless of the age factor. The only way I believe our society can become social drinkers is to incorporate a drinking system such as Europe. Even thouh Europe tends to have such a good reputation when it comes to drinking, I think you'd be surprised at a website I came across stating some facts about how alcohol use has gotten out of control.

Dear Mr. Shah,
My name is Olivia Borges-Nunez. I work for FOX News and we are currently working on a story about the president daughter's death by an intoxicated minor (see "Breaking New Story" from 11/15/06). There has been some information floating around the newsroom that a 24 pack of your product "Beer-a-Licious" was found in the car of the intoxicated minor who was driving the car that stuck and killed the president's daughter. I wanted to contact you to see if you had any official statement to make about your product being found in possesion of a minor, a minor that will more than likely be charged with manslaughter.

Any words you can provide on the situation will help me to present all sides to the story.

Sincerely,
Olivia Borges-Nunez
FOX News "We take the 'P' out of "SPIN"

Parag.
To answer your question we have to look at the past performance of students. There are, yes, students that learn well and put it into good use. A lot of students, however, listen, or pretend to listen, and do not apply the information to their lives. Now, we have to think about the percentage of the top notch students who would benefit from a lower drinking age by learning to be more responsible. I do not believe that the majority of students would become mature drinkers by lowering the drinking age and preaching them the ethics of drinking. Furthermore, the top notch students I was refering to earlier generally make better decisions than those near the bottom. The information we could give them in many cases would not effect them because they would make the right decisions regardless.
Parents, teachers, and other mentors could also teach teens the dangers and responsibilities of drinking without lowering the drinking age to 18. I realize the amount of high school students that drink already, but there are those who do not drink because it is against the law. Also, if the drinking age is lowered the accessibility of alcohol to minors would greatly increase. There are a lot more high school and middle school students who know people 18 years of age that are willing to buy them alcohol than 21 year olds that would do the same.

Parag,

You really think that creating a better tasting beer will create responsibility? Doesn't a better tasting beer just make it easier to get drunk? The thing about college is that there are very many irresponsible kids that drink too much and make stupid mistakes. Forty-four percent of students at the U of M have had 5 or more drinks in one sitting, in the past two weeks, and half of those people have gone on to drive a car. Does that sound responsible, and do you honestly think a better tasting beer will actually make those kids reseponsible? I think not.

Mr. Shah,

I know that you are for the bill to reduce the drinking age and by reading your bio you seem to want the bill lowered for the right reasons. However, one of the questions that I wonder about is how much will your company benefit from this bill being passed. That is a fairly large demographic that would be ready purchasers of your product.

Dear Mr. Shah,

My name is Mike Vacanti and I am a Senior at Jefferson Xavier High School in Minneapolis, MN. Recently, I heard that you were a lobbyist/owner for the beer company Beer-a-licious and the President's daughter was killed in a car accident involving your beer in one of the cars. I'm sorry that they are trying to blame Beer-a-licious now and putting everything on you. However, I feel that I could be of some assistance. The kids involved in the accident were irresponsible and did not know how to drink at all. But I, along with my friends, on the other hand are the total opposite. We know our limits, and yes, we do drink, but we do it responsibly. If anyone drinks they can't drive and they spend the night. And, if they are at their limit of drinking for one night, there supply is taken away.

What I'm trying to get at is together, you and me, we can be a powerful team, able to convince people that beer isn't that bad and the drinking age should be lowered to 18. Myself, being a high school senior, will not get as much attention as someone of your status. However, if we were to combine, I will be able to show people what you are trying to say (beer isn't all that bad and kids can be responsible) and you can help me with my goal (lowering the drinking age to 18).

Thank you for your time,
Mike Vacanti
All-American Stud

Mr. Shah,
I am not quite sure if you are aware of this, but one of the senators has decided to resign his post. As you know the drinking age bill has been an extremely hot topic of debate lately on the media outlets. I feel that you would be an excellent representative for this senator position. If you were to decide to run for this position, I would offer you my full endorsement. I think that you and I both feel that the teens of America are responsible enough to decide whether or not they want to consume alcohol.
Thank you, I will be awaiting your reply
Senator Haukos

Thanks Mr. Shah,

It's great to finally find someone that will work with me. I feel that we can really make a difference if we work together. We are going to have to keep in touch and stay on top of things if we want to make things work.

Take Care!
Mike Vacanti
All-American Stud

Mr. Lobbyist-
Would it be unfair to say that people consume more of a product they enjoy? If so, isn't it a bit contradictory to say producing a better tasting beer would actually promote responsible drinking?
Principal Justice

Mr. Shah,
I am curious to see whether or not you still plan on running for a spot on the senate, let me know if I can help your campaign at all.
Senator Haukos

Mr. Shah,
I am pleased to here that you will be running for the position, I am sure that we will make an excellent team. With our combined efforts, we will surely be able to get this bill passed.

Mr. Shah,

I think what you're saying is quite wrong altogether. Creating a better tasting beer will not make young people start drinking just to enjoy the taste of it. It will simply make it much easier to drink a lot more beer, thus creating more problems with underage drinking in our country. With underage drinking comes damage to the developing brain, which actually continues to develop into a person's early twenties. I think it would be wise for you to rethink your stance on lowering the drinking age to 18.

Sincerely,
Dr. Deale

Mr. Shah-
People don't binge drink soda because they have nothing to gain by drinking more. If someone likes something and get something out of drinking more, like intoxication, they are more likely to drink more of it. What kind of price tag are you going to put on your new beer? Students often don't care about the taste of beer, they care about the price. So unless your beer is going to be the best tasting and cheapest it may be hard to succeed.
Principal Justice