Debate in Favor of Raising the Legal Drinking Age from 18 to 21

Although the youth in the United States consume more alcohol than the youth aged 18-20 in Canada, illegal underage drinking in Canada begins at an earlier age than it does in the United States. In general Canadian youth have significantly higher rates of life-time alcohol use. Alcohol abuse among Canadian underage students is significantly higher than underage drinkers in the United States . The percentage of underage drinkers in the US (17 and under) is 60.1 % where as the percentage of underage drinkers in Canada is 75.1%, that is a 15% difference between the 2 countries. It is easier for a 16 year old underage drinker in Canada to ask their 18 year old friend to buy alcohol for a party than it is for a 16 year old underage drinker in the US to ask their 21 year old friend to buy alcohol for them. …