Should the drinking age rise to 21?

I firmly agree with rising the drinking age to 21, because many 18 and 19 year olds have been exposed to the toxic drink, that it has affected their health mentally, emotionally and physically. When drinking alcohol, the drink starts to affect their human organs e.g. liver, the brain, even when drinking and driving. However one drink could prevent diseases like coronary heart disease, but once you have a drink this toxic drink can easily become addictive.

Alcohol at 18 and 19 years of age can affect human organs, when a large amount has been consumed. Sources say that at 18 or 19 years old, the body is still developing to protect you from particular illnesses. One of the common organs that can be affected quickly is the liver. The liver stores sugar (glucose) for the body, and breaks down all the fat and protein from the food in the stomach. When the liver is affected by a large amount of alcohol consumed, one of the conditions is called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a disease in the liver, which causes bruises and internal bleeding. If the bleeding is not stopped in time, this could cause death. But if it is stopped in time, there is a slight chance that you may have a liver transplant.

Secondly the toxic drink can affect young nervous system, because the brain is also developing at this age. Our brain is one of the important organs from the human body, because it sends messages to move different parts of the body e.g. lifting your right hand up. When a large amount of alcohol has been consumed, the drink starts to affect our brains by removing previous memories, known as a black out. The toxic drink also effects our emotions where the brain cannot control them. But there is a slight chance that part of the brain that can be damaged, for a long period of time depending on how much is consumed.

Thirdly most of the car crashes caused, is by young drivers who have been drinking and driving. When the brain is not funtioning properly by the toxic drink, the brain will shut down in a matter of time while driving. This could mean loosing your vision, concerntration, coordination and crashing into objects or people. This could causing physical or menatl injuries e.g. broken bones or brain damage. Statistics show that over 1900 deaths were caused from drinking and driving.

However alcohol can prevent particular diseases from occurring. Coronary heart disease is a common disease in New Zealand, Russia, Australia and other countries. This disease is when the coronary circulation has failed; leaving narrow blood vessels to the heart with the blood flow decreasing. But this disease is only preventable if a small amount of alcohol is consumed. Another disadvantage of drinking at the age of 18 and 19, is how it affects family members by putting them through the stress of your health, and violence in New Zealand.

In conclusion I firmly agree with rising the drinking age to 21, because of the amount of harmful effects and activities caused by the toxic drink, on 19 and 18 year olds. Alcohol can ruin and effect human organs mentally, emotionally and physically, that it worries many family members. Not to mention that it has a major impact on our health that could affect the liver and brain. However there is a small possibility that diseases like coronary heart disease, can be preventable. But still a huge risk of drinkers at the age of 18 and 19 to put there life on the line.