The argument has been made that to cut down on teenage drunk driving we should increase the federal excise tax on beer. Such a measure, however, would almost certainly fail to achieve its intended result. Teenagers are notoriously insensitive to cost. They gladly accept premium prices for the latest style in clothes or the most popular albums. And then, those who drink and drive already risk arrest and loss of driving privileges. They would not think twice about paying a little more for a six-pack. Finally, the situation is not as bleak as it has been made to appear. The fatality rate for teenage drivers is lower today than it has been in years.

The following arguments gradually increase in difficulty. Use the method presented in this section to construct argument patterns. If a statement is redundant or plays no role in the argument, do not include it in the pattern.