Age of Responsibility Reformation

Running Head: RESPONSIBLE REFORM 1

Age of Responsibility Reformation

Christopher Kemmett

COM 323: Persuasion and Argumentation

Instructor Danielle Doud

February 16, 2015


Age of Responsibility Reformation

This paper presents an alternative approach to an existing dynamic which moderates adult

development in America. There are currently at least six years of controversial ages when a citizen in

America gains certain rights and liberties: the ages of 16 to 21. A vigorous topic of debate has long been

lowering the alcohol drinking age to coincide with the age of eighteen, the acceptable age of U.S.

military enlistment. The focus of this paper is present a more equally favorable government system

which promotes adult development by reforming legal adulthood, and from this point will be referred to

as “the age of responsibility”. In America, the rights of the child and adult have been separated to

encourage a responsible undertaking of citizenship. Although, the current laws and policies dictate that

the rights and liberties of each person between the ages of 16 and 21, are essentially six separate levels

of freedom. To ensure that every person in America who has reached the age of responsibility is treated

equally, there must be a standard age by which each adult can be granted full rights of U.S. citizenship.

Reforming the age of responsibility includes employing a community wide, interdisciplinary, multilevel

effort to better educate, support, and moderate the mediation of citizens from childhood to adulthood,

especially regarding the responsibility of alcohol use.

Voting for laws and lawmakers, politicians and policy makers is the American way of life; this

right is granted at the age of eighteen and should be exercised to further the age of responsibility

reformation. United States Senator Ted Kennedy gave compelling testimony on March 9, 1970, which

aided in the age of voting to be lowered to 18 (Kennedy, 2015). Kennedy testified that America has

grown since medieval times, where “the age of maturity” was considered 21 (when a young man could

carry armor), and that our country has seen a fascinating increase in the rate at which children develop

(Kennedy, 2015). Since this time, 45 years have passed, and the rates of high school and college

graduation have increased even more substantially than in 1970. Kennedy stated, “fifty years ago, only

17% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 21 were high school graduates” (Kennedy, 2015). Today,


at least 81% of Americans graduate high school by the age of 18 (National Center for Education

Statistics, 2014). The motivation behind Ted Kennedy’s opinion, and this paper is to create a more equal

society and country where competent adults can participate and engage in the full rights and duties of

being an adult in America.

Average senior class graduation rate compared to freshmen enrollment four years prior.

Image Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/figures/images/figure-coi-1.gif (National Center

for Education Statistics, 2014)

Ironically, the legal age to drive a motor vehicle in America is most often guided by State

statutes, allowing children to drive unsupervised and alone at the age of 16. This inconsistency in policy

has created a heinous reality for the eldest children within America. Twenty three percent of 16 year

old drivers and 20 percent of 17 year old drivers are in accidents every year (Census Bureau, 2012). It is

also important to note that the percentage of drivers per age group decreases with every year of

experience (Census Bureau, 2012). There is substantial evidence supporting that these numbers will


increase detrimentally if the alcohol drinking age is lowered, which is why reforming the driving age to

18 is absolutely necessary in this process. Coincidentally and directly connected to the same issue is the

increase of accidents and binge drinking in the 18 to 20 year old age group. A study from “The American

Journal of Public Health” shows that although the priori sentence is a direct effect of lowering the legal

drinking age, in areas where there are “strong policy enforcement” the reality of binge drinking is

lessened (Wechsler & Nelson, 2010). These facts in sum divide the attention of this paper from the

notion that the age of responsibility reform includes only the act of passing age related laws and that

the idea encompasses a responsibility of government and other policy enforcers to cohere and engage

in policy enforcement.

Please click this link for the entire set of data provided by the Census Bureau

In a review of 13 peer reviewed studies, “Effectiveness of School-Based Programs for Reducing

Drinking and Driving and Riding with Drinking Drivers a Systematic Review”, six PHD researchers from

the “Task Force on Community Preventive Services” found several correlations between law

enforcement tactics and the reduction of alcohol related driving problems (Elder, Nichols & Shults et al.,

2005). In addition, there is a direct connection between educational institutions and communities

effectively initiating programs to inform young students and the reduction of alcohol related accident

“riders” (Elder, Nichols & Shults et al., 2005). The priori sentence goes to further the theory that people

are becoming more educated and more importantly more capable of higher intellectual competency at

earlier ages.

In 2008, a community of college and university Presidents created an initiative known as the

“Amethyst Initiative”, centered on lowering the alcohol drinking age to 18 with more appropriate means

of accessibility. There are currently 136 Presidential signatures on the draft which includes an

addendum of proposals offering a supplement to the current system of regulation, one of which states:

https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1114.pdf


“An alcohol education curriculum that includes study of history, culture, law, chemistry, biology,

neuroscience as well as exposure to accident victims and individuals in recovery would attach a

seriousness and comprehensiveness now lacking in the preparation of young adults to make

responsible decisions about alcohol.” (The Amethyst Initiative, n.d.).

Once again, this evidence supports the notion that a complete reformation is eminent, and not just a

change in the legal age of drinking alcohol. With the support of highly esteemed educational experts

and figures, the proper implementation of an “age of responsibility” reformation is and will be an

effective and necessary partnership between policy makers, policy enforcers and citizens alike.

Evidence from global studies indicate drinking and driving has decreased in general (United

Nations, 2004). Although, there are no direct links in causal influencers for this global change, besides

having a systematic and interdisciplinary initiative, which is why comprehensive reform is necessary. If

left unchecked, driving for everyone will become more dangerous with a lower drinking age. Also, the

privilege of driving will be left to the discretion of parents who will levy responsibility and character

judgments of certain children against others. The job of the parent, to raise responsible adults, should

not be burdened with the eminent arise of discrimination where other parents are inadequate. To

avoid, any further age discrimination and ensure safer streets with a lower drinking age the driving age

must be increased to meet the same “age of responsibility”.

Currently 45 States allow exceptions for underage drinking for various reasons: educational,

religious and with parental consent (Procon.org, 2014). Also, 90% of the world allows drinking for ages

18-19 and 25% of those countries have lower drinking ages or no drinking age (Procon.org, 2014). With

the world increasingly becoming a globalized economy and culture it is only a matter of time before the

United States lowers the legal age for alcohol use. It is best understood, and best accomplished, by all

United States citizens to be prepared for the eventual change with an informed population ready to


adapt to a new environment and implement the strongest methods of controlling the unavoidable.

With the statistics provided from countries under the reality of lower drinking ages coupled with the

domestic studies discussed her or elsewhere, it is clear Americans have the capabilities and competence

to reform the age of responsibility.

Comparison of 83 countries and the legal drinking age.

Image Retrieved from http://www.procon.org/files/1-drinking-age-images/proportion-of-83-countries-

mdlas-from-ages-14-to-21.jpg (Procon.org, 2009)

Aside from the strategic and comprehensive change required to successfully change the drinking

age, there will be an increase in cooperation and development among citizens. By promoting equality

through the “age of responsibility reform” all U.S. citizens will benefit from a more sound society and

culture. It has been proven that in countries or areas with unequal rights cause detrimental effects to

the inferior groups, in this case the 18-21 year olds currently deprived of their full rights as adults

(Miller, 1984). Miller writes that “superiors label the inferiors as defective or substandard” and that

these labels “accrete rapidly” (Miller, 1984). By reforming the age of responsibility the American

population of 18-21 year olds will become part of the superior group and therefor be exonerated of

psychological burden.


In sum, the experience and observation of the effects regarding lower drinking ages are an

absolute reality where a public health risk is to be assessed and prepared for. By increasing the age of

driving privileges to 18 and including this act as a complete age of responsibility reformation many of

the negative effects are immediately diminished. Studies of policy enforcement and community

involvement regarding driving safety and education have proven to counteract and even eliminate these

additional issues. It is then clear, that a responsible society with respect to the greatest and most

prosperous development for its’ future must not sacrifice the challenge of eliminating age discrimination

for reasons which have been discussed. In totality, the correlating side effects of this reform will lead to

an even safer country and more productive culture with a higher standard of equality. The only decisive

method to achieve this goal is to have partnered initiatives and programs settled in conjunction with

lawmakers and policy enforcers as they interact with all citizens young and old, which will greater

promote adult development.


References

Census Bureau (2012) Table 1114. licensed drivers and number in accidents by age: 2009 [PDF] Retrieved

from https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1114.pdf

Census Bureau (2012) Table 1114. licensed drivers and number in accidents by age: 2009 [JPG] Retrieved

from https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1114.pdf

Elder, Nichols & Shults et al. (2005) Effectiveness of school-based programs for reducing drinking and

driving and riding with drinking drivers a systematic review. Retrieved from

http://www.thecommunityguide.org/mvoi/mvoi-AJPM-evrev-school-based.pdf

Kennedy, E. (March 9, 1970) Lowering the national voting age to 18. Retrieved February 16, 2015.

Retrieved from http://tedkennedy.org/ownwords/event/voting_age

Miller J. (1984) The effects of inequality on psychology. Springer, U.S. Springer – Verlag US

National Center for Education Statistics (May, 2014) Public high school graduation rates. Retrieved from

http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_coi.asp

Procon.org (2009) Legal drinking age in different countries. [JPG] Retrieved from

http://drinkingage.procon.org/

Procon.org (2009) Legal drinking age in different countries. Retrieved from

http://drinkingage.procon.org/

The Amethyst Initiative (n.d.) Why sign? Retrieved on February 16, 2015. Retrieved from

http://www.theamethystinitiative.org/why-sign/#newideas

United Nations (2004) World report on road traffic injury prevention. Retrieved from

http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2004/9241562609.pdf


Wechsler, H., & Nelson, T. F. (2010). Will increasing alcohol availability by lowering the minimum legal

drinking age decrease drinking and related consequences among youths? American Journal of

Public Health, 100(6), 986–992. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.178004

Age of Responsibility Reformation

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