Julia Gonzalez, 16, drank 16 glasses of whiskey in one hour, then died of acute alcohol poisoning a few hours later (T, Buddy). It's a common story these days: about 5,000 teenagers die each year from alcohol-related deaths (NIH Fact Sheets - Underage Drinking). Supporters of lowering the drinking age say the age of 21 forces young people to drink in unsafe environments and often to excess. They believe that lowering the drinking age will teach young people to drink responsibly. Supporters of the current legal drinking age argue that lowering the legal drinking age would result in many more alcohol-related deaths. They claim that early alcohol use leads to a higher risk of addiction later in life. Additionally, these advocates also point out that countries with lower drinking ages have serious problems with binge drinking among young people. Despite claims that the drinking age should be lowered to 18, the current age of 21 better controls underage drinking and saves lives. Some argue that underage drinking is already a reality and that the current drinking age makes alcohol a "forbidden fruit", making it more desirable (Tamburello) . There is a common misconception that lowering the drinking age will cause teenagers to drink less, but Europe serves as an example to the contrary. Most European countries set the drinking age at 18 and report a much higher percentage of 15- to 16-year-olds having consumed alcohol in the past 30 days. Additionally, in the majority of European countries, a higher rate of “binge drinking,” that is, drinking five or more drinks in a row, is reported (U.S. Department of Justice) . Additionally, when 29 states lowered the drinking age in the 1970s, more teens started drinking. This caused a tra... middle of paper ......s, 2008. In question. Rep. from “Clean and Sober”. Timesunion.com July 15, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Internet. March 22, 2014.T, buddy. “Teen’s death exposes dangers of excessive drinking.” About.com Alcoholism. Np, September 14, 2013. Web. March 23, 2014. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The minimum legal drinking age should not be lowered.” Adolescents at risk. Ed. Christine Watkins. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Views. Rep. Excerpted from “Underage Drinking: Why Do Teens Drink, What Are the Risks, and How to Prevent Underage Drinking?” » 2006. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Internet. March 22, 2014. U.S. Department of Justice. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Comparison of alcohol consumption rates and problems: European countries and the United States. By Joel Grube, Ph.D. Calverton: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 2001. Print.