On Campus: Legal Drinking Age Is Flunking the Reality Test

[NewsCopy]

  Lower Drinking Age Is Criticized

On the face of it, the notion seems counterintuitive, but to the presidents of some of the nation's most prestigious colleges, it makes a lot of sense: Lowering the legal drinking age might get students to drink less.

But any chance for the academic leaders to begin a public discussion of their theory -- that allowing people as young as 18 to drink legally might promote moderation -- has been lost in a wave of criticism from health experts, transportation officials, government leaders and opponents of drunken driving.

Safety advocates say the legal drinking age of 21 saves about 900 lives every year. And Laura Dean-Mooney, president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said: People look to college presidents "for their leadership role on their campuses. It just seems like they didn't do enough homework to look at the science on this."

Other critics said the university leaders are trying to avoid being held liable for enforcing the drinking age and are kicking the problem to others. "I'm an alumnus of Dickinson College and can't believe they signed on to this initiative," said Jonathan Adkins, a spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association. "They are really just punting on the issue and leaving the high school principals to deal with it. Very disappointing."

As parents ship their children off to college this month, university officials are bracing for a round of alcohol-fueled parties and binge drinking. They say they have tried banning keggers and have promoted alcohol counseling, but problems persist. It's time for a new approach, they say.

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Washington Post

[Cajunbander]

It seems odd, but honestly, now that I'm legal to drink, I find I drink less now than I did before. It's like a game when you're illegal, its like, "Can I get away with it?" And 99% of the time you can. I'm all about making everything legal at 18. If you can go off and fight for your country, and if you can have the ultimate right given to people (the right to vote) at 18, why not be able to gamble and drink at 18?

[TuffGuy84]

I think its a good idea, it makes no sense to keep the drinking age at 21. Studies have shown that European cultures have a much lower rate of binge drinking and the reason for this is that they are exposed to alcohol at a young age. When you are continuously taught to drink responsibly, you are much more likely to grow up and drink responsibly. Besides, as long as we keep telling kids "no, you cant drink" the more kids will do exactly the opposite.

Tuffguy

[DaddyCajun]

I do not believe it is so much that we tell them, "do not drink", but in how people tell them do not drink and then those same people drink in front of them."

There is nothing wrong with drinking so long as it is done responsibly. I think we should have beer sold at UL football games and stop serving in mid 3rd quarter. I personally do not drink and neither does my wife, my kids may end up drinking, I just hope they do it in a responsible way.

People often learn more from what they see us do than what we say.

But if I am old enough to die for my country and do so respectfully, then I should be able to drink and do so respectfully.

[derf]

Studies have shown that European cultures have a much lower rate of binge drinking

Tuffguy

This is correct. They also have a lower overall alcohol related fatality rate than the US. Of all the countries which have drinking ages of 18 or lower, only France and Denmark have higher death rates in these accidents. (at least by the last statistics i have handy) However, this also has a lot to do with the fact that these countries also have a higher required age to get a drivers license.

For instance Germany has legal drinking at 16 for beer and wine. But you can't get a license until 18. And even then a German driver’s license costs about $1500-2000, after a minimum of 25-45 hours of professional instruction plus 12 hours of theory. So they follow the logic of being responsible drivers is paramount to safety, not telling people that a higher drinking age is.

So I for one am all about lowering the drinking age. But it will have to come at a cost of raising the driving age and placing tougher restrictions on how to obtain a license. Basically, let our citizens learn about responsible drinking, then once they learn of the consequences of alcohol and the finality of death, let them apply for a license. Instead of the way we do it which is here is a 2 thousand pound car, flash forward a few years to ...So you think you can drive well, ok now try it with alcohol. Just stupid.

JMO

[derf]

And just another thing....said Jonathan Adkins, a spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association. "They are really just punting on the issue and leaving the high school principals to deal with it. Very disappointing."

How about getting parents off their collective arses to be part of the solution. This is a prime example of the bigger picture. Underage drinking is not a problem for high schools or colleges to deal with. It is a matter of parents raising their kids right. If your kid feels they can break the law, then that's on you not the educational facility.

ACTIVE PARENTING!!!

[RaginFan2]

And just another thing....said Jonathan Adkins, a spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association. "They are really just punting on the issue and leaving the high school principals to deal with it. Very disappointing."

How about getting parents off their collective arses to be part of the solution. This is a prime example of the bigger picture. Underage drinking is not a problem for high schools or colleges to deal with. It is a matter of parents raising their kids right. If your kid feels they can break the law, then that's on you not the educational facility.

ACTIVE PARENTING!!!

Hey! There's a novel approach. Why don't we try that? Well said, Derf!

[CajunNation]

The fact that someone could get married, have children, graduate college, own a business, join the military, legally kill people, and die for their country, YET NOT BE OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE DECISION TO DRINK A BEER is one of the most asinine things this country has ever done.

The problem is not the alcohol.

The problem is people not being taught responsibilty at an early age.

The more we treat them like "kids", the more thay will act like kids.

[bmcollect]

I grew up when 18 was the legal limit. I have always had a problem with the age being 21. You can ask a kid to go fight for his/her country at 18 (17 with parental consent) but they can't have a drink. That makes no sense to me, and I am not discounting anything MADD or other organizations say. If you are of legal age, then you ought to be legal for everything.

[wisconsincajun]

All the 21 drinking age does is force the kids to drink in unsupervised situations such as cars, houses, parties, etc.. away from a experienced/trained bartender who will "cut them off" and hopefully call a cab. People are just kidding themselves if they think that kids under 18 cannot find someone to buy it or a store that will sell it to them. This country is becoming a country ran by the minority not the majority. That said, I'm done with my political ranting for the day. Geaux Cajuns!

[leeman]

http://www.wluctv6.com/news/story.aspx?id=177934 .......... here are some responses to the age debate.....

[NewsCopy]

  A group of more than 120 college chancellors and university presidents is igniting a national debate by speaking out against the current legal drinking age.

The Amethyst Initiative, launched in July, gathered leaders in higher education around the idea that the current legal drinking age of 21 is no longer working.

Instead, they say, it is creating a culture of binge drinking on college campuses.

In the initiative's official statement, the current drinking age of 21 is noted as a cause for an increase in off-campus clandestine binge drinking by underage students - drinking that can lead to accidents, alcohol dependency or even death.

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Cody Daigle • cdaigle@theadvertiser.com • August 24, 2008