Personal Opinion

When discussing these three different laws, I have varied opinions on each. People should fully understand what it means to have responsibility before they are given certain rights or the option to make certain decisions. I agree with the age requirement in relation to purchasing tobacco and purchasing and consuming alcohol. I believe that the set ages give adolescents enough time to develop a sense of responsibility and good decision-making skills. By the time a person turns 18 years old, I feel that they have the option to choose whether or not they want to smoke. In regards to alcohol, I think 21 is a good age because studies have shown that this it’s the age when the brain is fully developed. Most people are much more responsible at the age of 21 then when they are 18 or younger.

            Although I agree with the set ages for the drinking age and the age to purchase tobacco products, I disagree with the age requirement to be able to drive. I believe that being 15 to receive a learner’s permit and being 16 to receive a provisional license is too young. If the age requirement was raised I think it would give teenagers more time to grow and become more mature before learning how to operate a vehicle. I also think that allowing people at these ages to drive conflicts with alcohol consumption in a way. Many teenagers are exposed to alcohol before the age of 21. This leads to more choices and responsibilities that teenagers are having to face. When exposed to alcohol and driving, many issues can evolve such as driving under the influence, which in return lead to more car accidents on the roads. If the driving age was raised then it would spread out these new responsibilities and allow people to become mature enough to handle both.

Drinking

The current law in Georgia according to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 says that no person under the age of 21 may purchase or consume alcohol. This law affects people who want to or choose to consume alcohol, especially if they are younger than the age of 21. I believe the age is set at 21 because, just like buying tobacco, people need a sufficient amount of time to develop a sense of responsibility and the ability to make responsible choices. More information can be found on the drinking age laws at http://www.youthrights.net/index.php?title=Drinking_age.

This graph shows the percentage of people in different age groups and sexes who consume alcohol normally, heavily, or binge drink. In all three categories the percentages are highest for males from the age of 18-25. 

This video is an advertisement for Dos Equis which is a brand of beer. This ad is targeting an older audience by having the main character be an older man. It underlines that he is a brave man with many good qualities. It then illustrates that this man drinks Dos Equis. This ad is suggesting that if one wants to be like this man than he must drink Dos Equis as well.

This video shows a few different perspectives of people and why they believe the drinking age should stay at 21. Statistics are also given during the video to further support its argument.

This topic can be compared to both The Corporation documentary watched in class and the United States Constitution. The US Constitution organizes different laws and restrictions on people living in the United States. Just as this document describes what people can and cannot do, this law acts as a restriction allowing only people over the age of 21 to purchase or consume alcohol. The topic of the age requirement for alcohol also connects to The Corporation. In the same way that marketing can be viewed by companies in the tobacco business, advertising their products to a specific audience can also be seen by alcohol companies. As illustrated earlier, the commercial by Dos Equis is targeting an older audience were as other advertisements by other companies might target a different or younger audience.

Tobacco

The law concerning tobacco control in Georgia adopted by Parliament on July 6, 2003 states that no person under the age of 18 may buy any type of tobacco products. This law mainly affects young adults, as it opens up a choice that must be made by the person, the choice of whether or not to smoke. I believe that this law was created to give adolescents enough time to develop their minds to be able to make choices on their own. By the age of 18, it is believed that a person has the right to make the choice of whether or not they want to smoke tobacco. This law does not affect me because I do not smoke, nor do I have any desire to smoke. It would affect someone who either does smoke or who wants to smoke who is not yet 18 years of age. For more information on the smoking age, http://www.youthrights.net/index.php?title=Georgia_Smoking_Age can be accessed.

This is an advertisement by the cigarette company Camel. It displays Joe Camel, Camel’s cartoon character, as suave and cool by having him stand next to a flashy red car while wearing sunglasses. The underlying message this ad is making is that if someone smokes Camel cigarettes, they will be cool and suave just like Joe the camel.

This graph shows that 35.7% of smokers come from the group of people between the ages of 18-20. This age group is one of the largest contributors to the smoking population.

These Truth videos are used to spread the word about tobacco and the affects it has on people. They are trying to reach people and inform them so they will make responsible choices and live healthy lifestyles.

This topic can directly connect to Henry Bracton’s On the Laws and Customs of England and the movie The Corporation viewed in class. Just as the law the laws relating to the dinking age and the driving age separate people into different categories, the law on purchasing tobacco separates society into groups of people who smoke and people who do not smoke. This law creates these groups further defining a modern definition of the person. Bracton wrote about division in society and people who made up these different groups. I believe The Corporation directly connects to this topic from the aspect of marketing. A large portion of the movie illustrated how companies market themselves in a way to a specific audience. Just how this film described, tobacco companies advertise themselves in specific ways as tactics to sell more of their products. For example, the tobacco company Camel advertises their cigarettes to a younger audience by using their cartoon Joe the camel. If they can convince young people that Joe is cool by smoking cigarettes then this will create potential customers for the company. Also, if they get people addicted to cigarettes early, then they will possibly have those customers for their entire lives. This is all a tactic to be successful in the business world and to sell a product whether or not it is good for the public or not.

Driving

The law in Georgia under the Georgia Department of Driver Services' Driver's Manuel states that a person must be 15 years of age to receive a learner’s permit. It also states that a person must have their learner’s permit for exactly one year and one day before they are eligible to receive their provisional driver’s license. I agree with the overall process of obtaining a license, but I believe that being able to drive at the age of 15 and 16 is much to early. This law is targeted towards and mainly affects teenagers, as they have to wait until they are old enough to drive. Because this law is targeted towards teenagers it also greatly affects their parents because they must make the decision as to whether or not they will allow their children to receive a driving permit. This law personally affected me because I had to wait until I was old enough in order to be able to learn how to drive and then drive by myself. For more information on this law or other related driving laws the Georgia Department of Driver Services website is available at http://www.dds.ga.gov/.

These two graphs show that the average number of killed or injured drivers between the ages of 16-19 are greater than the average number of killed or injured drivers 65 years old or older.

This graph also shows that more property damage and injuries occur from drivers between the ages of 16-19 when compared to middle-aged and older drivers.

Texting has become a growing trend within the last decade and is most prevalent around teenagers or young adults. Many people who text have began texting while operating a vehicle which has led to many injuries and casualties. This has become such a large issue that it is now illegal to text while driving.

This video displays Senator Carl Marcellino’s position on texting while driving. He notes how many casualties occur each year by young adults and how many of those admit to texting while driving. Marcellino shows his support for the bill to ban texting while driving, which has now become law.

When connecting this law to other works we have read in class I believe it best coincides with Henry Bracton’s On the Laws and Customs of England and Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Men. In Bracton’s work, he describes society by subdividing people into different categories that are based on the laws of the society. This relates to this topic because one of the divisions of our current society is based on people who can drive and those who cannot drive. This in the same way divides society into different groups based on law. This topic also connects with Mary Wollstonecraft’s work because she believed that everyone should have equal opportunities. This law allows everyone the opportunity to operate a vehicle once the age requirement is met.