Lena Savoie
Smoking and alcohol consumption are two highly debated topics when it comes to the appropriate legal age limit. While some argue that individuals should be legally considered adults and be allowed to make their own decisions regarding smoking and drinking once they turn 18, others advocate for raising the legal age for these activities to 21. Proponents of raising the age limit highlight the potential health benefits, especially for vulnerable adolescents, and the positive impact on society as a whole. On the other hand, critics argue that young adults who are deemed responsible enough to vote, serve in the military, or make other important decisions should also have the right to choose whether to smoke or drink alcohol. This debate involves complex considerations, balancing individual freedoms and public health concerns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reduce the number of adolescents and young adults who start smoking | 95% of adult smokers begin smoking before they turn 21 |
| Reduce smoking-caused deaths | One in three regular smokers under the age of 18 will eventually die as a result |
| Improve the health of adolescents, young adults and young mothers | --- |
| Prevent young people from smoking | --- |
| Reduce healthcare costs | --- |
| Protect people who are not smart enough to protect themselves | --- |
| Reduce drinking in teens | --- |
| Reduce highway crashes, injuries and deaths caused by intoxicated drivers | --- |
| Prevent more than 1,000 deaths annually from highway crashes involving intoxicated young drivers | --- |
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What You'll Learn
Raising the legal age reduces drinking and smoking in teens
In the United States, the minimum legal drinking age has been a topic of debate. While some argue that it should be lowered to 18, matching the legal voting age, others advocate for raising it further to combat alcohol and tobacco consumption among teens. Currently, the legal drinking age in the US is 21, and this change has shown positive outcomes.
Raising the legal drinking age to 21 has been effective in reducing alcohol consumption among teenagers. In states where the drinking age was lowered, there was a significant increase in alcohol-related highway crashes, injuries, and deaths caused by intoxicated drivers aged 16 to 20. By contrast, maintaining a drinking age of 21 resulted in a notable decrease in drinking among high school seniors, with a 38% drop in overall drinking and a similar reduction in binge drinking. This indicates that a higher legal drinking age can help curb alcohol use among minors and mitigate the associated risks of drunk driving.
Similarly, raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21 aims to reduce smoking among adolescents. Tobacco and nicotine are highly addictive, and raising the legal age has been a successful strategy in preventing nicotine addiction in vulnerable teenagers. This approach is particularly important given the well-documented health risks associated with smoking, including lung cancer and other smoking-related illnesses.
While some argue that individuals who are legally considered adults should have the right to make their own decisions about smoking and drinking, the higher legal age limit for these substances aims to protect young people from the harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol. These substances have been linked to premature aging, both externally and internally, and can increase the risk of various health issues, including cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
In conclusion, raising the legal age for drinking and smoking has proven effective in reducing substance use among teens. While the debate around legal age limits continues, the ultimate goal is to safeguard the health and well-being of adolescents by delaying their access to these addictive and harmful substances.
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Alcohol and smoking can speed up biological ageing
While chronological age is measured by the time that has passed since one's birth, biological age is determined by the age of one's cells. As cells get older, they lose their ability to regenerate and repair themselves.
A Northwestern Medicine study published in the journal Aging found that consuming certain types of alcohol over long periods, as well as binge drinking, speed up biological ageing. The study examined beer, wine, liquor, and total alcohol consumption. Investigators found significant associations between biological ageing and the number of years one consumes liquor and total alcohol, as well as the frequency of binge drinking. Daily liquor consumption for five years was associated with a four-month acceleration in biological ageing. One episode of binge drinking was associated with a month and a half acceleration in biological ageing.
A genetic study by Oxford Population Health found that alcohol directly accelerates ageing by damaging DNA in telomeres. Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences that cap the end of chromosomes, protecting them from damage. Telomere length is considered an indicator of biological ageing, as 50-100 DNA bases are lost each time a cell replicates. The study found a significant association between high alcohol intake and shorter telomere length. Compared with drinking less than 6 units of alcohol a week, drinking more than 29 units weekly was associated with between one and two years of age-related change on telomere length. An increase from 10 units to 32 units per week was associated with the equivalent of 3 years of ageing.
Smoking and alcohol consumption have also been found to alter the rate of biological ageing. The effect of smoking on biological ageing is asymptotic, with the impact of increasing smoke exposure on accelerated ageing greater for those moving from no exposure to moderate smoke exposure.
Given the well-known negative health impacts of alcohol and tobacco, raising the legal age of purchase for these products can help prevent young people from engaging in these harmful behaviours.
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Drinking and smoking can increase the risk of certain illnesses
Smoking and drinking are two habits that are often intertwined, and both can have detrimental effects on the body. The dangers of smoking and drinking are well-known, and they can significantly increase the risk of developing various illnesses.
Smoking is the act of inhaling smoke from burning plant material, usually tobacco. The smoke contains thousands of chemical compounds, including tar, carbon monoxide, DDT, arsenic, and formaldehyde, and most notably, nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and creates a relaxing, pleasurable feeling, making it difficult to quit. The smoke from cigarettes dries out and inflames the skin, deepens wrinkles, damages nerve endings in the nose, reducing the sense of smell, and stains teeth and gums, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. However, the most significant risk is the damage to the lungs and the increased likelihood of developing lung cancer and other types of cancer. According to the U.S., tobacco smoking is linked to 90% of all lung cancers and can cause cancer almost anywhere in the body.
Alcohol, on the other hand, is a carcinogen and a cancer-causing agent. Dr. Lynch states that "the more you consume, the higher your risk." Alcohol enhances the carcinogenic effects of tobacco, increasing the production of certain enzymes that convert tobacco tar into carcinogens. When combined with smoking, alcohol also compounds the inflammation caused by the habit. According to the NIH, people who drink and smoke are 15 times more likely to develop cancer in the mouth and throat than non-drinkers and non-smokers.
The synergistic effects of drinking and smoking can lead to various forms of cancer, as well as other illnesses. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause high blood pressure, gastric problems, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, pancreatitis, memory impairment, alcohol dependence, and various psychological conditions. Binge drinking can lead to acute intoxication, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, impaired judgment, and alcohol poisoning. Similarly, smoking increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung disease, and other health issues. It can also damage almost any organ in the body, leading to leukaemia and cancers beyond the lungs, including the kidney, pancreas, bladder, throat, mouth, and uterus.
The combination of drinking and smoking exacerbates the risks associated with each habit, and the social nature of drinking often leads to smoking, as they are commonly intertwined. Therefore, raising the legal age for purchasing both alcohol and tobacco products can help prevent young people from engaging in these harmful habits and reduce the synergistic impact on their health.
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Smoking and drinking can negatively impact appearance
Smoking and alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects on one's physical appearance, providing strong incentives for individuals to refrain from these habits or seek timely interventions.
Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals and compounds, which, when inhaled, immediately reach the lungs and subsequently spread to other parts of the body, including the skin—the body's largest organ. This toxic exposure can lead to premature wrinkling and facial ageing, with smokers in their 40s exhibiting as many wrinkles as non-smokers in their 60s. The breakdown of collagen in the skin due to increased metalloproteinase (MMPs) enzyme production contributes to this accelerated ageing process, resulting in a greyish and wasted appearance.
Additionally, smoking disrupts sleep patterns, with smokers four times more likely to feel unrested after a night's sleep. Sleep deprivation can affect the physical appearance of the eyes, mouth, and skin, with faces appearing paler due to reduced blood flow to the skin.
The negative impact of smoking on appearance extends beyond the skin. It can cause discolouration of the fingers and fingernails on the hand used to hold cigarettes. In extreme cases, oral cancers can lead to severe disfiguration of the lips, tongue, and gums. Furthermore, smoking interferes with the endocrine system, leading to abnormal fat distribution, particularly around the waist and upper torso, resulting in a higher waist-to-hip ratio associated with increased risks of diabetes, heart disease, and other health complications.
While the impact of alcohol on physical appearance has not been extensively discussed in the sources provided, it is important to recognize that alcohol is physiologically addictive and can contribute to premature ageing and health issues when abused. Therefore, the negative consequences of alcohol consumption on appearance may be indirect, stemming from overall health deterioration.
In conclusion, the detrimental effects of smoking and alcohol consumption on physical appearance are well-documented. These range from premature ageing and skin discolouration to abnormal fat distribution and increased risks of disfiguring diseases. Recognizing these negative impacts can serve as a motivator for individuals to make informed decisions about their health and well-being, emphasizing the importance of refraining from or reducing smoking and alcohol consumption to maintain a youthful and healthy appearance.
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Drinking and smoking can affect the way medication works
Pharmacists play a crucial role in managing these interactions by providing appropriate counseling and dosage adjustments. They may also initiate smoking cessation regimens or recommend nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to help patients quit smoking. NRT can be particularly useful since drug interactions are caused by components of tobacco smoke rather than nicotine itself.
The negative impact of smoking on medication effectiveness is a compelling reason to raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco products. By delaying the onset of smoking, particularly during the transition from experimentation to regular use in young adulthood, we can reduce the likelihood of addiction and mitigate the harmful effects of smoking on overall health and medication interactions.
Raising the legal drinking age has also proven effective in reducing alcohol consumption among teenagers. While social and cultural factors influence drinking habits, establishing a higher legal drinking age can help curb underage drinking and reduce alcohol-related injuries and fatalities, especially in highway crashes involving young intoxicated drivers.
In conclusion, drinking and smoking can interfere with the effectiveness of medications, necessitating careful consideration and management by healthcare professionals. The potential for harm and the impact on overall health provide strong support for raising the legal age for purchasing both tobacco and alcohol, empowering individuals with more maturity to make well-informed decisions about these potentially unhealthy behaviors.
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Frequently asked questions
Research has shown that nearly 90% of adults who smoke daily had their first cigarette by age 18. Increasing the minimum sale age to 21 will help prevent young people from ever starting to smoke and will reduce smoking-caused deaths and diseases.
The age limit for alcohol exists to reduce the number of auto fatalities caused by intoxicated young drivers. A study has shown that raising the drinking age to 21 has resulted in a significant reduction in highway crashes, injuries, and deaths.
Some argue that it infringes on individual rights. If an 18-year-old is considered an adult and can vote and go to war, they should be responsible enough to make their own decisions regarding smoking and drinking.
In states where the legal tobacco age has been raised to 21, there has been a significant reduction in youth smoking prevalence. For example, in New York City, officials estimate that raising the age of sale to 21 will result in a 55% reduction in tobacco use among 18 to 20-year-olds and a 67% reduction among 14 to 17-year-olds.
