Source 10

Bray, Kelsey. "Program targets underage drinking." Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (Cheyenne, WY) 19 May 2013: Points of View Reference Center. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

In Cheyenne, Wyoming the local PD as well as several volunteers have helped in the effort to curb underaged drinking. They use programs such as alcohol compliance checks. This program attempts to make sure that underaged drinkinrs don't get their hands on the alcohol in the first place. They have several volunteers as well as police officers in disguise going into places that serve alcohol and if they see alcohol being sold to underaged drinkers the employee may be cited. Businesses can get their licenses suspended if they have multiple citations so the program gives incentive to the sellers to prevent minors from getting their hands on alcohol.

I feel like this method of prevention of underaged drinking may be effective in the short term. However, the main issue that needs to be fixed is the adolescents' want to go to these stores and buy liquor in the first place. Although I for one think that the drinking age should be lowered, I do believe that if that is not an option, then it would be a much more cost effective to go to the source of the problem which is why do kids want to drink in the first place. Perhaps the issue of drinking is brought up by parents too late. Or maybe schools need to do a better job teaching about alcohol awareness. Whatever the issue is it likely won't be fixed by attempting to make alcohol less accessible.

Source 9

Whitehead, Travis M. "Power of Parents: They can make a difference in deterring underage drinking." Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, TX) 01 Sept. 2013: Points of View Reference Center. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.

So many times today we hear the excuse from kids when it comes to underaged drinking that everyone is doing it. However studies show that only 60 percent of people under the age of 21 consume alcohol. So why have those 30 percent of adolescents been able to resist the peer pressure? Of course this is not true in a few cases, but according to  Miryam Anderson of the Harlingen Police Department underage drinking can many times be prevented or made much less dangerous if the parent is involved in the adolescent's life. Too many times parents get overly occupied with their work and paying the bills and don't find enough time for their kids and to teach them about the dangers of drinking. 

This article makes a good point in saying that if parents were more involved in their kids' lives they would learn more responsibility. Unresponsible underaged drinking is obviously an issue that needs to be dealt with and there definitely need to be more conversations between parents and their kids about underaged drinking. Too many times parents shy away from "having the talk" because it isn't the most comfortable topic to talk about. I for one do believe, however, that if a kid will not learn something through their parents, then they will learn a much harsher lesson in real life. Unfortunately these consequences are the ones that make up all those terrible statistics on underaged drinking. I think parents should definitely try their best to help their children avoid drinking issues by being more involved then they are right now in their kids lives because many times parents naively believe in their child's innocence. 

Rogerian Rhetoric

  Rogerian Rhetoric is a useful tool for solving a conflict by finding a "common ground" instead of creating two poles of opinion. Using Rogerian Rhetoric works by considering the opposing viewpoint and  collaborating to find an area of shared experience. According to the author there are four steps to be taken in order to properly use this method of debate. First, the problem is introduced and two opposing sides emerge. Second, a discussion about when the opposing viewpoint may be valid must arise. Third, you introduce your own viewpoint and finally you try to figure out how the opposing viewpoint can be made more valid by using your own viewpoint.

This can be a good way to resolve a conflict provided that the two sides of the argument are open for compromise. I think this can be an effective tool for debate, however its effectiveness is definitely dependent on the situation and how far apart the two sides are.

Source 8

Bristow, Jennie. "Binge Drinking Is a Normal Impulse." Alcohol Abuse. Ed. Ronnie D. Lankford. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Rpt. from "A Bit of Bingeing Can Be Good for You." Spiked. 2005. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

This viewpoint does a good job at pointing out the reason why people binge drink and the benefits or rather lack of negative effects of having a liberal drinking society. Britain's citizens, according to this article, are living a longer and healthier lifestyle than ever under the liberal thinking system for drinking that the country uses. This points to the idea that a lowering of the drinking age here in the US would likely have no adverse effects on the young men and women of the United States.

This article brings a good argument to the table on why drinking, wether underage or not, is not something that's going to be affected by any laws. People are going to drink no matter what and the idea of a more liberal drinking society where young adults can drink like the one in Britain can be a good direction to head towards as it will allow for more opportunities for adults to teach adolescents how to drink properly.

Source 7

English, Erin M., Sara B. Oswalt, and Michael D. Shutt. "College Alcohol Use Is on the Decline." Student Life. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Decreasing Use of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs on a College Campus: Exploring Potential Factors Related to Change." Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice 46 (2009): 163-182.Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

This viewpoint aims to point out the reduced consumption of alcohol by young adults in the millennial generation. However, this shift has not necessarily been due to the legal age minimum for drinking being at 21, it very well may be because of the shift in social behavior that comes with a new generation of young adults entering the time in their life where many of the young adults in the previous generation started using alcohol or other substances. 

This viewpoint can be useful in making the case that the age minimum for drinking has no real effect on the use of alcohol among teens. The article can help support the claim that the lesser amount of underaged drinkers is the result of a shift in social culture rather than not the result of a minimum drinking age.

Source 6

Responsibility, Choose. "The Minimum Legal Drinking Age Should Be Lowered." Teens at Risk. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Debating the Issues." chooseresponsibility.org. 2007. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

This article does a good job at pointing out the many flaws with having the minimum drinking age at 21. He points out a few good arguments against the policy such as the fact that young men can go to war at 18 but cannot drink, the ineffectiveness of the minimum drinking age law, and the healthier attitudes European adolescents have towards alcohol use then those adolescents in the US.

This article is one that gives a number of sound arguments for lowering the drinking age minimum. This source can be useful when making a case against the zero tolerance policy for people under the age of 21. 

Source 5

Eastman, Donald R. "Lowering the Drinking Age: Let's Keep the Dialogue Open." St. Petersburg Times 25 Aug. 2008. Rpt. in Should the Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered? Ed. Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

This article uses a story of an 18 year old that got killed while in a car with her friend who was also under the influence. He points out that had the drinking age been lower, the student would not have had to resort to driving while intoxicated and he also goes over a few other ways the situation would have turned out differently if the drinking age was lower.

This article can be one that truly grabs a readers attention as a very sad story is involved and the theme of it is that had the drinking age been lower the situation where the two girls had to get in a car would not have happened in the first place.