Role-Play Debate for course EngC 1015

Hi Sergeant Thatcher,
I DO strongly believe the drinking age should be lowered. And yes we COULD get our alcohol and have a splendid time! Who would clean up the mess you ask? Whoever hosts the parties, they should be aware of their responsibilities and deal with the consequences should there be any at all. I may not understand what it's like to lose a good friend to alcohol, but that's not the case for everyone. My friends and I look out for each other and we always have at least 1 designated driver. We're responsible and just because not every single person is, it shouldn't mean that everyone gets punished. People break the law all the time, yet you're not punishing everyone living in America for the bad bunch. Besides, a little partying never hurt anyone...

To add on to what Lindsay said: I too am a responsible host to the parties I throw. We don't even let people drink and drive. They have to show up by foot, and if they show up in a car they are sent home and told to walk back. I know that bad things happen when people who have had alcohol get behind the wheel, and I'm sorry for your loss and the experience you've went through. However, did you notice how I did not say the people in my parties are drunk? I said they drank some alcohol. I make sure that if anyone even remotely has any amount of drinks that will ruin there night, they are cut off. All I am trying to say is there are responsible teenagers and students out there, and they should not be punished for the few students that are irresponsible and decide to "party hardy." Just give us a chance.

Your's Truly,
Mike Vacanti
All-American Stud

Hello Sgt. Thatcher.

The newsroom is crazy with the breaking news of the recent killing of the president's daughter by a drunk driver (see link of story in next comment). I was wondering if you could provide an official statement on behalf of both the police force and your organization AWKE.

Any words you might have to offer to the situation would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Olivia Borges-Nunez

P.S. I was wondering if your investigation of the accident crime seen found any alcolhol products in the minor's car.

Death of the President's Daughter

Dear Sgt. Thatcher,
I'd like to respond to the recent letter you wrote to me. I'm taking a firm stance on the issue by not only opposing lowering the drinking age, but in fact raising the drinking age to 25. How can we let our children attend colleges where their older, of age classmates can purchase alcohol for them? All a minor has to do is attend any given college campus party. I believe this would not only prevent teen drinking and drunk driving, but also a whole host of unreported and overlooked problems that arise from immature people consuming alcohol.
I'll be announcing my platform shortly, but I feel there should be time to grieve for the President's loss as not to use it as a means for political gain. As a respected member of the constituency I'd be honored and privledged to have your support and your thoughts.
-Senator Victor Eremita

Sgt. Thatcher,
Yes I do believe a better tasting beer will cut down some of the obsessive drinking kids do. From many college students I hear the same answer regarding excessive drinking. Many of them say what is the point of drinking if you are not going to get drunk since it does not taste good. Most people say beer is an acquired taste. With beer actually tasting good, at least some of the kids will now have a different reason to drink, because it tastes good, and not just drink it to get drunk. I am by no means telling you it will fix the problem completely, but anything that can help should be implemented. It will be a process and we cannot afford not to start now.

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

Yes, I do drink, and I do play sports. But it's people like you who make us teenagers look like such bad people. Your negative view causes for everyone to look at us teenagers in a bad way. Why can't you look at the positives?

This country needs to improve in a lot of aspects. Underage drinking is one of them. To add to that, if people were to look at how us teenagers can handle ourselves while we drink, they would see just how much teenagers can mature. Once more and more people accept teenagers being able to handle this responsibility, they will see that they can trust us. Also, when we are more accepted, teenagers won't feel the need to binge drink and cause mischief. AND with Mr. Shah's new improved taste beer, kids won't have to drink so much to get over the terrible taste of beer. So many kids drink to get wasted just because beer tastes so bad. There is another improvement that will help the country improve a great deal. So in a way I feel that we are making the right choice while making the choices that we do.

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

Sergeant-
I am sorry for your loss. I too have seen many accidents involving young individuals as I have spent nearly my entire life either in school, teaching, or where I am now, principal. Many of those accidents have involved alcohol, and I am deeply concerned about the effects that lowering the drinking age will have on high school students. Lowering the drinking age would introduce new "sources" of alcohol for even younger students. Younger people are often effected by alcohol more and are more inexperienced behind the wheel. The two combined can be catastrophic as you already know. We need to do our best and work together to stop this bill from being passed.
Principal Justice

You know, you can't always believe data. Most of the time it is skewed and focused on a specific group of people, especially like the 87% of all senior statistics. I don't believe that for one second. They had to have given a survey to a 100 people out of the whole nation and most of them they probably asked if they had drank before. If they said yes, then they told them to fill out the survey. People rely on data way too much sometimes. They need to look at the source of the information, where it was taken, how it was taken, and many more different aspects before they should consider it to be true.

Sgt. Thatcher,
I think if I were elected to the Senate, there would be an improvement. I do not honestly believe kids would drink more if the beer tasted better. There is no proof or similarity to anything else for that statement. I would implement more education programs in school that would teach kids about responsibility not only for alcohal but also for the other freedoms they will be granted. Also, parents will be educated on how to better their kids responsibility and trust. I believe these programs will start changing the culture around alcohal and at the same time make kids better citizens. If you want this for our country, I hope to have your support.