Evidence is mounting about the harmful effects of alcoholic beverages—even consumed in moderation. More about this is mentioned later in this article.
I
support prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages to those under age 21
permanently—even after they reach the current legal age of 21 to buy them.
It
might be better to prohibit the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages to all.
However, the millions of persons who currently consume them legally might seek
to buy them illegally, as happened during the Prohibition of the 1920s and
1930s that is discussed in the next section.
Prohibition
of 1920-1933
The
United States tried totally banning the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages
in the 20th Century. The passage of the 18th Amendment to
the United States Constitution led to a ban on the manufacture and sale of
alcoholic beverages from early in 1920 to the ratification of the 21st
Amendment to the Constitution in December 1933. During the Prohibition years substantial
illegal alcoholic beverage manufacture and sale took place, as well as other accompanying criminal activity. Accurate records of how many illegal purchases occurred probably don’t exist.
Permanently
Prohibiting Sales to Those Now Under 21 Is Different
Preventing
persons from drinking alcoholic beverages before they start is easier than helping
alcoholics or even occasional social drinkers kick their habit.
Many
under age 21 currently drink illegally, occasionally at least. But even those who do so lack the years
of addiction that alcoholics in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and older often have. Furthermore, the percentage of underage persons who drink such beverages is declining significantly, as reported by Responsibility[1] and other sources. A National Institute on Drug Abuse survey was cited as the source of the information on the Responsibility website.
Why
Prohibition Is Beneficial
A
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) article [2] states: “If you don't
currently drink, don't start for any reason.”
The
same CDC article goes on to add: “Some past studies had suggested that moderate
drinking might be good for your health. But scientists highly debate these
findings. More studies now show that there aren't health benefits of moderate
drinking compared to not drinking.
“Many
past studies did not consider other factors that could have influenced the
results.”
Similarly,
a Mayo Clinic article [3] states: “Drinking alcohol
in any amount carries a health risk.”
TheAmerican Heart Association states [4]: “If you don’t drink
alcohol, don’t start.”
Worse
is the fact that many who seek to only drink moderately end up binge drinking
at least occasionally or become chronic alcoholics.
Virtually
everyone I’ve asked who drinks alcoholic beverages admits to having overindulged
at least once—often far more frequently. Some have vomited, driven motor vehicles
drunk, forgotten what they did when they were drunk, etc.
A
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism article [5] discusses numerous
harmful effects from overindulging.
Personal
Perspective and Closing Thoughts
Personally,
I am a teetotaler. But I have many friends who drink and/or have drunk
excessively. During my college years I saw lots of other students drunk and
getting drunk. I disliked seeing the vomit in dorm hallways and on sidewalks. I
disliked seeing beer cans, beer and bourbon bottles, etc., littering up areas. Glass
from the broken bottles is a problem, but drunken driving and chronic diseases
from alcohol abuse can be much worse.
Below is a photo of a beer can I picked up from a roadway and then photographed in a safe place.
I
sympathize with persons who overindulge in alcoholic beverages. I’m grateful
for organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous that seek to help with the
addiction, as well as various recovery centers.
However,
I’d prefer persons never get started drinking alcoholic beverages. Let’s seek
to spare the next generation from the alcohol problems experienced in the present
and in the past.
[3] Mayo Clinic Staff; “Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits”; Mayo Clinic; June 21, 2024; webpage accessed November 2, 2025; https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551
[4] “Is drinking alcohol part of a healthy lifestyle?”; American Heart Association; last reviewed September 30, 2025; webpage accessed November 2, 2025; https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/alcohol-and-heart-health
[5] “Alcohol’s Effects on the Body”; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health; updated June 2025; webpage accessed November 2, 2025; https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body
NOTE:
I work part-time at a retail store that offers beer as one of the numerous products it sells.
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