In July of 2008, 135 presidents and chancellors of American colleges and universities launched the Amethyst Initiative calling for an open and honest debate on the current 21-year-old drinking age. Typically, one would expect such an initiative to take a step towards a specific action rather than simply suggesting a discussion. However, the legal drinking age in America is unique in that the federal government has managed to stifle all such conversations due to the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which threatens to reduce federal highway funds by 10% to states that did not adopt a 21-year-old drinking age. The Supreme Court ruled in South Dakota v. Dole that the Act did not violate the 21st Amendment as States still have the right to enact a lower drinking as the disincentive is not “coercive as to pass the point at which “pressure turns into compulsion.”” However, in practice this is not the case as seen most recently in South Dakota where the Department of Transportation successfully testified against a bill to lower the drinking age citing the inevitable loss of $17.5 million in highway funds.
The opinions of university leaders should be taken to heart as they currently have a first hand view of the most critical alcohol related threat facing today’s youth; binge drinking. Opponents of lowering the drinking age tend to point to lower rates of drunk driving fatalities to argue the success of the current law. However, the majority of underage alcohol related deaths are no longer related to driving. Of the 5,000 people under 21 who die every year from alcohol, over 60% die off of the roads.
Meanwhile, the new drinking law has had no effect on curbing binge drinking among college students. A recent study shows that college men binge drink just as often as they did in 1979 while the rate for college woman has increased by 40%. Furthermore, as students know they often will not be able to get alcohol throughout the night they tend to focus on getting as drunk as possible in short “pre-gaming” sessions, typically with hard liquor. This bears a striking similarity to America’s failed Prohibition that forced all drinkers underground leading to a roughly 150% increase in the potency of alcoholic drinks.
The reality is that nearly the entire world recognizes an 18-year-old as an adult and allows him to drink. In the United States an 18-year-old is told that he is responsible enough to drive a car, vote for the President, get married, purchase a gun and die for his country but he can not be trusted to buy a beer. It is time that we teach our 18-year-olds one last facet of responsibility by treating them as the adults they are and allowing them to drink.
Ok, I’m 56.
My first speeding ticket was on the George Washington Bridge, going to pick up alcohol for NJ friends. We used to play our basketball games, then drive into the city for diner and beers. There are many memories of post party driving! this was a long time ago when penalties were much less than today. Penalties given for irresponsibility.
I grew up, and realized the dangers of negligent drinking. I enjoy a drink or two, now and then, but have learned to avoid any excesses.
Alchohol is a drug, and must be used in moderation. It’s effect are well known, and these effects are brain altering. The laws were put into place to protect both the drinker and the victims of his/her altered state of mind. Those effects can kill!
Three of my friends from my youth have died from these effects.
Responsibility in ones
decisions on how much, how often and how long one drinks becomes moot when the adictive actions of alcholol take there toll. You loose controll over your rational decision making abilities.
It is also known that certain individuals are prone (genetic?) to alcohol addiction, and no one knows who or when the hook will take effect.
So these facts are known. And college students, those under 21, are known to enjoy alcohol. the powers that be cannot stop it, but can, in effect, place limits.
If the law gets you to think about it, gets you to occasionally question the amount and frequency of your drinking, gets you to a point of responsibility that will keep you alive, healthy, and a productive citizen…then keep it as is.
The last place your mother and father want to visit is your grave site.
And remember, till your 21….you can kill terrorists, vote for any president, marry any woman/man, purchase a gun….and die for his country…but can’t do it drunk…legally.