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College presidents: Lower drinking age

Abstract:
College presidents at many top universities around the nation are asking lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, according to a wire services report....

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CoastalDawg

posted 8/19/08 @ 11:00 AM EST

How absurd and ridiculous to even consider lowering the drinking age back to eighteen. All one has to do is look at statistics, even right in Athens, to know that eighteen year olds for the most part do not have the maturity to drink responsibly. There is, of course, nothing magic about the age of twenty-one either but at least three years have passed between eighteen and twenty-one and there has been at least an opportunity to develop some maturity. Already in the last couple of years drinking alcohol has cost some athletes their scholarship and possibilities to develop into professionals. At least one Gainesville State student is accused of a fatal incident (not an accident because when one drinks alcohol and gets behind the wheel anything that happens is no accident) in which a boy on a bicycle was hit and killed. The accused drove away. Even ONE incident like that isn't worth all the alcohol in the world. Citing that the drinking under age law is often ignored is no reason to simply change it - look at all the druggies who ignore those laws; does that mean that we should do away with laws that prohibit the possession and use of certain drugs? College presidents pressing for this repeal is astounding because they are the ones who probably deal with offenders the most. I suppose that they, like Pilate with Jesus, just want to wash their hands and feel clean if their "children" get into trouble because of alcohol.
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Kerry Lightenburg

posted 8/19/08 @ 1:11 PM EST

Originally posted by

CoastalDawg

 How absurd and ridiculous to even consider lowering the drinking age back to eighteen. All one has to do is look at statistics, even right in Athens, to know that eighteen year olds for the most part do not have the maturity to drink responsibly. There is, of course, nothing magic about the age of twenty-one either but at least three years have passed between eighteen and twenty-one and there has been at least an opportunity to develop some maturity. Already in the last couple of years drinking alcohol has cost some athletes their scholarship and possibilities to develop into professionals. At least one Gainesville State student is accused of a fatal incident (not an accident because when one drinks alcohol and gets behind the wheel anything that happens is no accident) in which a boy on a bicycle was hit and killed. The accused drove away. Even ONE incident like that isn't worth all the alcohol in the world. Citing that the drinking under age law is often ignored is no reason to simply change it - look at all the druggies who ignore those laws; does that mean that we should do away with laws that prohibit the possession and use of certain drugs? College presidents pressing for this repeal is astounding because they are the ones who probably deal with offenders the most. I suppose that they, like Pilate with Jesus, just want to wash their hands and feel clean if their "children" get into trouble because of alcohol.


I know that you're a "graduate" of the University of Georgia, but you sound like a moron. These instances of alcohol abuse have very little to do with the age of those consuming alcohol. I didn't notice half the problems we have now a days back when the drinking age was 18.

The illegal element of drinking underage almost forces binge drinking among college students. Because alcohol is "illegal" kids are not taught responsible drinking habits or how to control oneself. I point to Europe as an example of how lower drinking ages and a culture that is more tolerant of alcohol. You don't see a lot of the problems we have across the pond. Thats because these kids are taught right from wrong AND they live in a culture which doesn't eye drinking as some moral evil.

MADD is a backwards organization. Not once have I ever heard them come up with an argument which passes any semblance of logic or reasoning. They're idiotic to think that raising the drinking age to 21 has done anything to prevent fatal car accidents. The reasons for decline have had little to do with drivers on the road way, but safer cars.

If anything, the higher drinking age actually put more drunk drivers out on the road. Kids under 21 are to worried about being arrested to call for a ride home after a night out drinking... what do they do? They drive, which is dangerous for all of us.

Drinking is not some moral evil. There is nothing "sinful" about a 19 or 20 year old kid having a beer with his friends. We should have tougher laws on the books for DUIs (they actually put other people's lives at risk)... but for no reason should we be trying to criminalize people who aren't doing anything that wrong.
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c

posted 8/19/08 @ 7:19 PM EST

Originally posted by

CoastalDawg

 Drinking is not some moral evil. There is nothing "sinful" about a 19 or 20 year old kid having a beer with his friends. We should have tougher laws on the books for DUIs (they actually put other people's lives at risk)... but for no reason should we be trying to criminalize people who aren't doing anything that wrong.


that pretty much sums it up perfectly.
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susan

posted 8/19/08 @ 11:24 AM EST

finally some one is making some sense!! And college presidents no less---Micheal Adams please get behind this!
Everyone one is afraid to jump on this band wagon--because it is not politically correct. I am so impressed that the former president of Middlebury is speaking out--I saw him interviewed on the evening news and he was incredible. He was not afraid to say what most of us have been saying for so long--this 21 year old drinking age is not realistic and is encouraging kids to binge drink and just having them get out of college with a record.
Finally someone that is not afraid to speak the truth.
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Jordan

posted 8/19/08 @ 6:44 PM EST

The immediate effects of lowering the drinking age to 18 would be quite devastating; there would be an immense surge of binge drinking nation wide...for a day or two.

And then once the rationality of the common 18 year old kicked back in, everything would be back to normal. In fact, placing this responsibility in the hands of younger people might help ease them in to the adult world in some way.

The major problem I see with underage drinking is the accessibility. Alcohol is highly profitable and many businesses will cater to the full wallets of thirsty young people. I can think of quite a few places downtown...

But this battle of age is old and boring. I think we should come up with some other ideas. How about if we just lowered the age for beer sales to 18 (similar to german law)? Or better yet, a merit system for young people. Seeing as how this is a widespread concern among the collegiate society, what if students could apply for alcohol permits? Maintain a certain GPA, keep a clean record, and you could qualify for a drinking permit. There could be limitations on allowed days as levels of privilege. I have witnessed many friends drink away their GPA, and this would be a great alternative motivation, while keeping this battle within the collegiate society.

One reservation I hold about changing the drinking age is high school students. Just as people of age 21 supply alcohol for those who are younger, I feel that 18 year olds may supple much younger high schoolers with alcohol as well. But this is just a minor concern.

All in all, I think this issue needs to be resolved. Although there is not current national legislature about the issue, I enjoy driving on nice roads (govt funding). We should find a happy medium and soon. If we wait too long, I will have turned 21 and the issue will become moot.
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James

posted 8/19/08 @ 11:49 PM EST

This just shows that the inmates (college administrators) are running the asylum! Why don't we have bars on campus also?

This is quite incomprehensible but nothing coming out of academia surprises me anymore ..............
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Hellie

posted 8/19/08 @ 11:50 PM EST

Laura Dean-Mooney, national President of MADD, say's that those college presidents in the Amethyst initiative "are not enforcing the drinking age," on their campuses! Wow! How did she know that? Perhaps its the same way she "knew" and MADD knew, that their best chance at a new "Prohibition," was to start with adults between the ages of 18 and 20. I know they are real sad that the Carrie Nation tactics of fake data and emotionalism has NOT led to a reinstitution of Prohibition for the entire nation! Tsk, tsk! So now it's the college Presidents paving the way for new "blood borders!" Ha, MADD's another pressure group of misfits and control freaks whose only power has been the ability to extort the states by denying them highway funding when they demurred from the hallowed and sanctimonious bilge. Cut this very tiny string, and wiser heads can and will prevail, and it's about time, I say!
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I'm not MADD

posted 8/20/08 @ 8:43 AM EST

Until MADD can show me that European and Australian kids are having worse problems than we are on account of their drinking age, I'll continue to think that they're a bunch of loons.

These folks are worse than PETA.
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