November 20, 2017
Walter Jones
1105-C Corporate Drive
Greenville, NC 27858
Dear Congressman Walter Jones,
As a citizen and new voter, I am concerned about the impact that current drinking
age has on the community. Based off of research on underage drinking, the number
of accidents and self-harm while under the influence of alcohol has increased
throughout the years. It has been proven that drinking is more harmful to teens than
adults because their brains are still developing throughout adolescence and well into
young adulthood. Currently the drinking age is twenty-one, I am writing you in hopes
that you would consider raising the drinking age to twenty-five.
My first reason for writing you is when it comes to the effect of alcohol is has taken a
huge toll on my life. I have dealt with many situations with my family/friends
drinking while under the legal age. I know multiple people that have nearly killed
themselves by driving into the ditch, hitting a deer, running into a light pole, and
even hitting other drivers. Also, I had to deal with a friend passing away from
underage drinking. He lost control of the car causing his car to get wrapped around
a tree and dying instantly due to the impact of the crash.
Secondly, as a college student living in a community where everyone drinks and
party you deal with circumstances, you think you would never have to. My biggest
fear when leaving a party is that a drunk driver will hit me because so many
students are drinking. I personally know multiple people that have either been