Everyone knows that it is illegal to consume alcohol until the age of 21 in the United States. There are five or six developed nations in Europe that have a minimum drinking age of 16. With the focus on education about safe drinking instead of restriction, as these other countries do, they claim many problems are avoided. Though the per capita consumption of alcohol in countries like France, Spain, and Portugal is greater than in the U.S., the rate of alcoholism and alcohol abuse is lower. This comes from education of gradual drinking, which leads to less incidents of young adults getting drunk and wasted.

Drinking learner permits have been proposed as a way to reduce alcohol abuse among young adults. Proponents of alcoholic beverage drinking learner permits argue that they should be available to adults age 18 to 21 so they can drink with parental or guardian permission after successfully completing an alcohol education course and written tests. The permit would restrict the locations, times, and amounts of alcohol that could legally be consumed. The permit could be revoked immediately at any time by the parents or guardians or any law enforcement officer upon coming across anyone that is drunk.

American teenagers, unlike European teens, do not learn how to drink gradually, safely and in moderation, as is taught in the European countries. We should educate our friends, families, and our kids, about alcohol abuse, and teach them how to drink safely, instead of punishing them for drinking. With a little education, people that party might be less inclined to get drunk and wasted.

Over 40% of college students binge drink (5 drinks in a row for men and 4 for women. College students that binge drink also have many disruptions, such as missing class because of a hangover or not getting enough sleep the night before, not studying for a test, and because alcohol affects ones judgment the person may get into an altercation with someone else.

For most people, alcohol is a pleasant accompaniment to social activities. Moderate alcohol use is not harmful for most adults. Nonetheless, a substantial number of people have serious trouble with their drinking, they are drinking at parties to become drunk and wasted, as you can see in these drunk and wasted party pictures . Currently, nearly 14 million Americans--1 in every 13 adults--abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. Several million more adults engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems. In addition, approximately 53 percent of men and women in the United States report that one or more of their close relatives have a drinking problem, and are either drunk or even wasted on a regular basis.