Role-Play Debate for course EngC 1015

Hello Everyone! My name is Kayla and I am the parent of a 19-year-old daughter named Megan. Megan is a freshman at the U of M and started to drink in high school. I was unaware that her and her friends drank until her senior year when she came and told me that either she was going to the party and driving home intoxicated or she’d spend the night! I of course told her to spend the night but was always worried that she’d do something she’d regret; maybe even get pregnant. Alcohol just has this way of interfering with good thinking that it’s normal for me to be a concerned parent. When I was growing up the drinking age was 18. However, when my friends and I went out we wouldn’t worry whether one of us would end up in the ER having our stomachs pumped or if we were going to crash into a car on the road. For some reason, throughout these past 10-15 years drinking has gone to the extreme. Kids don’t realize the dangers of drinking until it’s too late. The binge drinking that is killing kids is outrageous but there’s nothing we can really do to stop it. I think that if the drinking age would be lowered back to 18, more harm than good would be done to our society. Alcohol consumption has a whole new look, it’s not just to socially drink but it’s merely to see who can become belligerent.

Hello Senator Haukos!
BY the way, I read your background information but have not seen your latest article. What's it about and how will it relate to my stance on the issue? To try and verify your question that you asked, my friends and I drank on occassion. Kids will make bad decisions whether the drinking age is 18 or 21, but as long as the drinking age stays 21, the chance of alcohol entering high school functions and the number of underage drunk drivers will be lower. If the drinking age is moved down to 18, students that are 14/15 years old will think it's okay since they're not that far away from the age. Alcohol can cause brain damage, and at an early age it can be crucial, even at the age of 18 kids are still maturing. In the past, certain states have tried lowering the drinking age to 18 but when it was moved to 21, the number of teenage alcohol related crashes was lowered. The drinking age should stay at 21, whether or not my friends and I were able to drink at 18 is the past. We've learned from our mistakes in the past that 21 is the most reasonable age to have alcohol be illegal.
I hope this helps!

It was very rare to have a student end up in the hospital from alcohol overdose and the number of alcohol-related crashes has greatly increased since I was 18. I'm not sure why these changes have occurred, but due to this I don't think the drinking age should be lowered. Depending on what type of parents you're raised with, they may openingly talking about alcohol or they may not say much about it. For some parents, talking to their children about alcohol is almost as bad as trying to talk to them about sex. They become uncomfortable and would rather avoid the topic.
I found it on the website http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/MISC/driving/s18p6.htm.
I felt this was a very vital piece of information.

The increase in the drinking age to 21 has repeatedly been shown to have reduced alcohol-related traffic fatalities as well as other alcohol-related injuries and health and social problems among young people. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 14,000 lives have been saved since 1975 because of the increase in drinking age (NHTSA, 1995). In 1982, 31 percent of drivers under 21 years of age involved in fatal crashes had a BAC of .10 percent or higher. By 1993, that figure had dropped to 16 percent -- a 48 percent decrease. Certainly this policy change has contributed to the overall decrease in alcohol-related fatalities. In fact, the most precipitous decline in impaired driving fatalities has been in the 15 to 20 year age group

In the wake of the President's tragedy, I was wondering if you will continue your support of Senator Rothgard's "Increased Alcohol Rights for American Act" in light of the recent tragedy involving the President's Daughter.

Senator,
I am not going to lie to you because that is not the man I am. If the drinking age is lowered, I am sure my product's sales will increase. However, it is not all about the money to me as it is the right thing to do. I will stand by my belief that lowering the drinking age will be beneficial even if I did not make an extra cent of profit. In the long run, our country will be safer and more responsible if this bill passes.

Senator-
As you know, decisions you make and the outcomes of those decisions are key to your political success. Are you willing to risk your career on a gut feeling that there won't be a catastrophic effect on teens by lowering the drinking age?
Principal Justice

Due to the incidence of the Presidents daughter being killed and to the fact that 10 years ago my sister Krista was killed by a minor named Mike Vacanti, I was curious to where your thoughts on the stance are at the moment? Do accidents like this make you believe alcohol should be illegal to students until they are 21 or no? Also, I am curious to whether or not you are a parent? If so, are you going to let/want your kids drinking while they are in high school? Thank you for your time once again, it was greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Kayla Brenner

Senator-
I'm going to have to disagree. Lowering the drinking age to 18 will only make it more accessible to even younger students. Many more young adults know people who are 18 than those who are 21. If we lower the drinking age we only manipulating the age at which drinking illegally will be most abundant. Are you willing to give more 16 year olds the responsibility of alcohol?
Principal Justice

Senator-
In response to your comment about drinking with your parents, it is not illegal for any aged persons to drink with their parents. Having the drinking age of 21 gives them more time to learn before they are let loose. They are still learning under the "protective umbrella" of their parents, while they must wait until they have matured enough to consume alcohol by themselves.
Principal Justice

Dear Senator Haukos,
I just have a few questions and comments that I think you may be unaware about in regards to the drinking age debate. Kids can consume alcohol under their parents supervision and it's legal in majority of the states. How will it make a difference if alcohol is legal at age 18, (since they'll be drinking under their parents supervision supposively) or if it's at 21. Either way, kids can legally drink when they're with their parents!! The only difference would be that if the drinking age drops to 18, they could purchase their own alcohol and drink it whenever, wherever they'd like to. If you believe that parents are going to be the main "teachers" as far as how to consume alcohol, the drinking age could still be 21 and they would have the capability to gain ALL their knowledge from their parents since it's legal to drink with your parents!! If the drinking age lowers to 18, and you said that underage kids can get alcohol from their friends, instead of having 18-20 year olds getting alcohol from their friends, it'll most likely drop to 15-17 year olds who will want alcohol since their older friends can have it. Realisitcally though, if a student really wants alcohol, they'll get it. However if the legal age is 21, it's harder to get it since they either need to find a fake or friend of legal age to buy it for them. I just don't understand why you would want alcohol to be more easily accessible when drinking with your parents is legal. If parents are the main reason why you believe the drinking age should be lowered, you may want to rethink your decision for the good of the community.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Brenner

My daughter didn't tell me she was going to that party, however she does tell me what she does and I do know she drinks. And yes, I agree that not all students are going to be irresponsible. But all the irresponsible students could bring down the responsible students. For instance, high school students will now have an easier access to alcohol, more students might drive drunk and get in car accidents. I don’t think that that 18-year-olds are mature enough to drink. Students could go to clubs and get drunk and then what? How would they get home safely? At least with 21-year-olds they have been “around the block” and know the dangers of the cities. 21-year-olds have been a legal adult for three years, and that gives them a heads up on the dangers out in the real world.

Senator,
Yes I think I may be interested in running. I would first need some more information just so I can make sure I would be the right person for the position. I have always been a great supporter of you and your ideas and so It would be an honor for you to support me.

Senator Haukos,

To start things off, I was not involved in that drunk driving accident. I actually talk quite often with my parents about drinking and driving, and that is why I don't do it. Whenever I throw a party at my house, everyone is told to walk to the party, and no one can drive. If they show up with a car they are sent home. Also, when I go to parties my parents agree that I should spend the night. So, to get to the party I actually call someone sober for a ride to the party and then I'll either walk home the next day or find someone who didn't have anything to drink at the party to drive me home.

People need to start to realize that they can't believe everything they read. There are people out there that want to put a negative view on teenagers drinking, and they will go to any extreme to accomplish that task. There are MANY responsible teenagers out there that drink, and those are the ones that don't get any publicity BECAUSE it is illegal.

I hope this helps you with your questions,
Mike Vacanti
All-American Stud

Dear Senator Haukos,

I have talked to my parents about the dangers and consequences of alcohol actually. Right before I left for college, they sat me down and told me that they knew I was responsible and that they trusted me. They also told me about their college experiences, the good, the bad, and the downright devastating stories which really hit me hard. I've been a more cautious drinker at college and still believe that lowering the drinking age to 18 is still a good idea. I'm really glad you support the bill too. :-)

Sincerely,
Lindsay

Senator Haukos,

Thank you for believing in us teenagers. It is nice to have someone finally look at us as responsible adults. Also, I am definitely planning on voting for Mr. Shah to get into the Senate position. I have had several conversations with him, and we've formed a good relationship while arguing the issue. With his support and your support as well, we will be able to pass the bill to lower the drinking age no problem.

Thanks again,
Mike Vacanti
All-American Stud