Monday, December 14, 2009

Conventional Argument

Decio Gomes

Holly Pappas

English 11

December 9, 2009

Should Alcohol become illegal?

Finding a conventional argument was somewhat difficult. Because an argument contains different points on view, I figured the legalization of alcohol should be argued. Alcohol can affect not only the people in a community, but also the community itself. Alcohol is a substance that can control your mind state, personality, and actions differently compared to a sober person.
Arguments always contain their pros and cons. Some people may look at the cons as pros, and some pros as cons. I found that people have not realized the affects alcohol has on a person’s health and appearance. Alcohol tends to increase depression, and also increases the chances of a person being aggressive. It can also cause crucial long term affects to your kidney, liver and other organs of your body you need to remain healthy, especially when aging.
Due to the aggression and depression increasing, violence becomes common to vulnerable people. Some people can drink alcohol excessively before without having problems. Then they are some which don’t know their limit. These people can go from having a great time, to wanting to get into a physical altercation with someone. This not only creates problems for the person who is under the influence, but it can also take the person far enough to breaking the law, without the individual being aware of his or her actions.
I did some research and found that alcohol is actually a very profitable product. It creates jobs for people in bars, clubs, liquor stores, and alcohol manufacturing companies. It also has a major impact on the economy due to the money flow of this substance. Having varieties ranging from a Mike’s hard lemonade to Ice 101, alcohol manufactures have developed drinks which will meet almost everyone’s standards. This causes alcoholic beverages to become a habit for some, especially college students.
Why is that a problem? It can become a problem various ways. You can be a responsible drinker, and be able to have your small dosage of alcohol. The people who abuse this substance are the ones who create conflicts. Again, you must know when the person is under the influence, they’re actions are a lot different from when they are sober.
Due to the affects alcohol becomes a “get away” substance. Some people drink to forget their problems. This can easily create an addiction which is very hard to conquer and get past. Families have been split up due to this substance. Couples who had potential in creating a family lose that because the affects it has on a unborn child. If the mother drinks while pregnant, the baby is also drinking. Alcohol interferes with the fetus’s ability to get enough oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development in the brain and other body organs.
The alcohol industry has dug enough into the community as a whole. College students have created events as common as once a week. One particular event is called Thirsty Thursday. On this day, college students attend parties and drink excessively. For the most part you are looking at violent outbursts, alcohol poisoning to individuals who abuse the substance, and an increase of drunk drivers.
If drugs such as marijuana, or other substances are illegal. I do not see why alcohol is not. It has a much deeper impact on a person. Drivers who have had more to drink have impaired coordination, slowed reaction time, and impaired judgment. Someone under the influence of THC has more control over their actions then a person who is drinking. Drunk drivers are a danger to not only themselves, but also for people who are sober.
There are laws which create resistance towards alcohol. Such as if you get caught driving under the influence, you can lose your license up to 5 years, but ask yourself is that it? Is that worth it when someone close to you is taken from you by a drunk driver or a drunk person’s actions? Laws should be established to enforce people to give up the habit. The popularity of alcohol is becoming stronger and stronger. It needs to be cut down at a certain point. Next thing you know children will be getting their hands on the substance. It is not hard to contain.
If Alcohol illegalization was a possibility and became successful, huge changes would be made. There would be a lot less fatalities in violent crimes, and also in car collisions. In my opinion, the biggest change would be for families who were affected by the addiction to get a second chance. With no where to obtain the substance, and a clear mind state, families would be able to experiences, the same way before the substance’s affect.