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st. john fisher college
Why the Drinking Age Should be Lowered to 18
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The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 changed the drinking age from 18 to the now legal age of 21. Over the past couple of years, there have been debates as to whether this makes sense anymore (see my colleague Joshua Sharp's take here). This will also be the topic of discussion on 60 Minutes on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
One of the major subjects will be Gordie Bailey, a young man who unfortunately died of alcohol poisoning during a fraternity initiation in 2004 at The University of Colorado at Boulder.
Despite tragedies like this, there has been a notable push to change the drinking age back to 18.
One of the most well known (and most recent) movements is the Amethyst Initiative, which is made up of chancellors and presidents of universities and colleges across the United States. The Amethyst Initiative (which is aptly named as the word "amethyst" ii derived from a word in Ancient Greek meaning "not intoxicated") aims to educate youth on responsible drinking rather than pretend that underage drinking is a non-issue.
The initiative is actually being supported by a large number of college presidents and chancellors including President Richard Brodhead of Duke University, President James E. Wright of Dartmouth College and most notably President Emeritus John M. McCardell Jr. of Middlebury College.
In 2004, President Emeritus McCardell submitted an op-ed piece to the New York Times that brought this debate back to the forefront. In the piece he said that college students are drinking regardless of age and regardless of the law, and anybody who ignores this fact is making a huge mistake.
"To lawmakers: the 21-year-old drinking age is bad social policy and terrible law. It is astonishing that college students have thus far acquiesced in so egregious an abridgment of the age of majority. Unfortunately, this acquiescence has taken the form of binge drinking. Campuses have become, depending on the enthusiasm of local law enforcement, either arms of the law or havens from the law," McCardell said.
Since writing this piece, McCardell has been a big advocate of Choose Responsibility, a non-profit organization that is working to educate the public on the realities of underage drinking and the sensibility of lowering the drinking age to 18.As a college student, I can only agree with lowering the drinking age.
Ask any college student out there - binge drinking goes on no matter how old you are, no matter what laws exist, and heck, no matter what day of the week it is. To be completely honest with you, I easily got a fake ID when I got to college at the age of 18 and used it to get into bars until I turned 21 my junior year. While I never went to a store and purchased alcohol with it, I was never once turned down from a bar in Rochester, NY. I went out just about every weekend.
I knew that I could get a ticket for getting caught with someone else's license, but it didn't matter to me. Several of my friends have been ticketed for using a fake ID, but all it did was inconvenience them for a few days until they were able to find another one and get right back out to the bars. Saying that the drinking age is effective on curbing drinking on college campuses is like Bristol Palin telling us abstinence is the best way to avoid teen pregnancy.
Joelle Joseph, a former student at The University of Colorado at Boulder (where Gordie Bailey passed away) admitted that while the story of Bailey remains pervasive at the college, it has not curbed drinking.
"Since that incident, the school has been stricter about sororities and fraternities. They are not allowed to have rush events involving alcohol, but a lot of the fraternities still do," Joseph said.
Joseph explained that while the sorority system is under the branch of the school, the fraternity system is not so alcohol is still very much a part of rushing despite past incidents.
"Binge drinking is still a huge part of college life there. If you are going to visit there, be ready to party because any reason they can find to drink, they take it."
But beyond the fact that underage drinking goes on anyways, let's think about all of the other things 18-year-olds are allowed to do. Once you turn 18, you can vote in elections. You can go overseas and die for your country. You are also allowed to serve on a jury. There are also plenty of Americans out there under the age of 21 who are married and have children.
So, let's re-cap. As an 18-year-old, you are mature enough to partake in some of the most important tasks as an American citizen and have another life in your hands, but you are not mature enough to have a beer. Doesn't make much sense now, does it?
The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 changed the drinking age from 18 to the now legal age of 21. Over the past couple of years, there have been debates as to whether this makes sense anymore (see my colleague Joshua Sharp's take here). This will also be the topic of discussion on 60 Minutes on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.One of the major subjects will be Gordie Bailey, a young man who unfortunately died of alcohol poisoning during a fraternity initiation in 2004 at The University of Colorado at Boulder.
Despite tragedies like this, there has been a notable push to change the drinking age back to 18.
One of the most well known (and most recent) movements is the Amethyst Initiative, which is made up of chancellors and presidents of universities and colleges across the United States. The Amethyst Initiative (which is aptly named as the word "amethyst" ii derived from a word in Ancient Greek meaning "not intoxicated") aims to educate youth on responsible drinking rather than pretend that underage drinking is a non-issue.
The initiative is actually being supported by a large number of college presidents and chancellors including President Richard Brodhead of Duke University, President James E. Wright of Dartmouth College and most notably President Emeritus John M. McCardell Jr. of Middlebury College.
In 2004, President Emeritus McCardell submitted an op-ed piece to the New York Times that brought this debate back to the forefront. In the piece he said that college students are drinking regardless of age and regardless of the law, and anybody who ignores this fact is making a huge mistake.
"To lawmakers: the 21-year-old drinking age is bad social policy and terrible law. It is astonishing that college students have thus far acquiesced in so egregious an abridgment of the age of majority. Unfortunately, this acquiescence has taken the form of binge drinking. Campuses have become, depending on the enthusiasm of local law enforcement, either arms of the law or havens from the law," McCardell said.
Since writing this piece, McCardell has been a big advocate of Choose Responsibility, a non-profit organization that is working to educate the public on the realities of underage drinking and the sensibility of lowering the drinking age to 18.As a college student, I can only agree with lowering the drinking age.
Ask any college student out there - binge drinking goes on no matter how old you are, no matter what laws exist, and heck, no matter what day of the week it is. To be completely honest with you, I easily got a fake ID when I got to college at the age of 18 and used it to get into bars until I turned 21 my junior year. While I never went to a store and purchased alcohol with it, I was never once turned down from a bar in Rochester, NY. I went out just about every weekend.
I knew that I could get a ticket for getting caught with someone else's license, but it didn't matter to me. Several of my friends have been ticketed for using a fake ID, but all it did was inconvenience them for a few days until they were able to find another one and get right back out to the bars. Saying that the drinking age is effective on curbing drinking on college campuses is like Bristol Palin telling us abstinence is the best way to avoid teen pregnancy.
Joelle Joseph, a former student at The University of Colorado at Boulder (where Gordie Bailey passed away) admitted that while the story of Bailey remains pervasive at the college, it has not curbed drinking.
"Since that incident, the school has been stricter about sororities and fraternities. They are not allowed to have rush events involving alcohol, but a lot of the fraternities still do," Joseph said.
Joseph explained that while the sorority system is under the branch of the school, the fraternity system is not so alcohol is still very much a part of rushing despite past incidents.
"Binge drinking is still a huge part of college life there. If you are going to visit there, be ready to party because any reason they can find to drink, they take it."
But beyond the fact that underage drinking goes on anyways, let's think about all of the other things 18-year-olds are allowed to do. Once you turn 18, you can vote in elections. You can go overseas and die for your country. You are also allowed to serve on a jury. There are also plenty of Americans out there under the age of 21 who are married and have children.
So, let's re-cap. As an 18-year-old, you are mature enough to partake in some of the most important tasks as an American citizen and have another life in your hands, but you are not mature enough to have a beer. Doesn't make much sense now, does it?
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SWIVE
5:56PM 5:56PM Feb 20th 2009
THE AGE SHOULD BE RAISED TO 25 YO BE CAUSE THE HUMAN BRAIN STILL GROWS TILL ABOUT 25 YO
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Lee
6:31PM 6:31PM Feb 20th 2009
With you thinking, I guess contraceptives should not be given until age 25, no voting until age 25, you can't fight for your country until 25 or have a beer.
Right?
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WILL
6:41PM 6:41PM Feb 20th 2009
YOU SAID UNDERAGE PEOPLE WILL DRINK NO MATTER WHAT...SO IF BANK ROBBERS STILL ROB BANKS NO MATTER WHAT...WE SHOULD MAKE IT LEGAL ?
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Willet
7:10PM 7:10PM Feb 20th 2009
Those college president's need to put their bong down and come up with a new angle other than "pretending that underage drinking is a non-issue". This thinking is as old as the hills (and twice as dusty).
pop quiz:
College student A gets drunk and runs over college student B on campus. College student B's parents sue. Who pay's:
A: College president
B: College
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Marlene
10:35PM 10:35PM Feb 20th 2009
Drinking alcoholic beverage is not all that serious. People come up with the most ignorant topic to argue about.
Not drinking an alcohol beverage saves you from experiencing nausea, stomach and neck cramps caused by leaning over vomiting all of what you have in your stomach. When you are done vomiting all of your meals you would continue to vomit nothing. It makes it feel as if your stomach is the next thing to come out of your mouth.
If you haven't heard by now, most of everyone drinks to hide emotions when they are having a good time. They don't want people to see their depression or their anger of whats happening in their lives. By the end of the night some those who goes over their drinking level will reveal some secrets or they will emphasize on topics they would never speak of in their sober suit.
Some of them find it a fun element. It is always around while having a good time, yelling, cussing, and doing things you wouldn't do when you are sober. Without it they notice being normal and decide the only excuse they have for acting abnormal with the intentions of having fun is getting drunk with alcoholic beverages.
Some people find it relaxing to drink a few beers and that is the worst case of them all. In this case it becomes an addiction. People would use it to feel better emotionally and sometimes with pain.
Alcohol beverages are toxiant and can cause you to lose your ability to focus, talk properly, walk straight, remember directions, understand your surroundings, and to be normal.
Now ask yourself, why do you want to drink? Peer pressure, everyone else is doing it, just want to, its a party, i'm bored, just want to try it, my best friend wants me to.
Second ??.. does your friend or your peers really care about your future? Are they thinking about your future? do they really know better than those who are influencing you not too? do you want to experience a feeling that is worst than waking up sober? Is alcohol a drug? Does it really destroy your kidneys and liver? Am I really a responsible drinker? Do I have a sober driver? do I have self control? Is drinking really something I want to doooooooooo??
OUT OF SIGHT! OUT OF MIND!!!!!! IS IT REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE??????? WHATS THE IMPORTANCE??????DO YOU WANT TO KEEP IT IN THE FUTURE?????? DON'T GIVE ME A CHILD'S ANSWER.
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Hyeaghcheg
7:47PM 7:47PM Feb 20th 2009
If someone is irresponsible at 18, they will be irresponsible at 25. Lower the age to 18. If a person can marry, vote, enter into legal business contracts and be sent to war, then they certainly should be able to drink.
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JAB
7:55AM 7:55AM Feb 21st 2009
When I was 20, and serving in the Army, I too used to think this way. I'm old enough to die for my country but not allowed to drink a beer in my country? While I still think there is some philosophical merit to this argument, there have been many compelling studies which show young people's brains are still developing until about age 23-25. Most notably, the underdeveloped area of the brain is that portion which weighs risk and consequence. It is theorized this is a contributing factor to the rash of fatal teeneage automobile collisions and is the science behind efforts in some places to raise the minimum driving age. From this perspective, lowering the drinking age to 18 would not seem to be a wise move, and will only increase deaths. You can't expect 18 year olds to exercise good judgment (just read the college antics of the writer of this article. 18 year olds don't think past the next 5 minutes).
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Daryl
9:15PM 9:15PM Feb 20th 2009
The government has no right to tell anyone what they can ingest, inject, snort or inhale. It's all about protecting big tobacco, big liquor and big pharma. Get government out of our lives! Support the Third Position Army! What do you think? E-mail your suggestions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ9vTJLIA8M
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Daryl
9:18PM 9:18PM Feb 20th 2009
The government has no right to tell anyone what they can ingest, inject, inhale or snort. Regulation of substances is all about protecting Big Tobacco, Big Liquor and Big Pharma. Get the government out of our lives! Support the Third Position Army. What do you think? E-mail them your comments!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQ9vTJLIA8M
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rodeoruss
10:25PM 10:25PM Feb 20th 2009
I don't grasp why the law was ever changed years ago. the federal government forced the states to change thier drink age laws but threatening to stop thier Highway funds. I was lucy back then as I was of age before the change so grandfathered in as exempt from the change. Personaly if a person at 18 can go fight for thier counrty them damm sure outta be able to get drink in it. All the age limit has done is given more reason for so called good kids to break the stupid laws inacted by a bunch of old foggies who were still to stoned for their life in the 60's and 70s' Besides look at the bright side. the government could collect more taxes on those sales too (honestly this time).
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Marlene
10:58PM 10:58PM Feb 20th 2009
everyone has an opinion. yall opinion sounds of if yall want to say -what the hell let them do what they want, who gives a hoot. what do we care.
Evidence of many years shows "drinking and driving caused alot of deaths between ages 16 and above". drinking causes health problems. Alcohol beverages is known as a drug.
Granted many of us eat, drink, and do alot of things that are not good for the human body. I am sure alot of us would have said, if it was ment for us to have these things in our body, it would come with it.
Our body has blood, organs, sound, and a digestive system that is amazing. It is our decision to make and those with experience would tell us not to do things that can cause damage to our bodies or the system we have to live in. Most of them try to point us in the direction they think they know is best, because they have seen progress.
To sum it all up, we have to much to worry about. We as youngsters need to accept that parental guidance is formed by those who have experience with situations with those who suffer from alcohol poisoning.
It is a drug that can take your entire life away with one major mistake that you may not have in mind.
It is an excuse for the cause of death. Something other than alcohol may have caused an accident and you chose to give the excuse of drunk driving, being drunk, alcohol poisoning, not being able to attend important issues without depending on someone, alot of issues could arise. While those who care suffer from assumption from others who believe the rumors.
I have gotten drunk many of times and every time it felt terrible. I have forgotten where I was, was sick for days, terrible headache as if someone stomped my head, and many other terrible feelings.
Is that what you want. Believe it when they say "you don't have to get drunk to have fun" just be yourself in the situation of trying to have fun. What do you think is having fun? Write it down and try to do those things next time. If you can't be yourself around them, then in my famous words "eleminate and proceed". Try living the second time around, good feelings of the past would go on forever undisturbed.
CURIOUSITY KILLED THE CURIOUS ONE
LIVE LIFE WITH ENJOYMENT AND LET CURIOSITY FIND ITS WAY TO THE DOOR
DONT BE A VICTIM
DONT BE A SUSPECT
BE YOURSELF AND ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN
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robokop
11:10PM 11:10PM Feb 20th 2009
Why not lower the drinking age to 16?? Give the same reasons for the lame excuses to lower the age to 18 and it sounds just the same.College Presidents are not elected officals and certainly do not express the view of most Americans. Age is 21 and should stay. Present the facts ab out under age drinking, like maybe just DWI deaths in States with 18 and States with 21 min age laws. Then compare States that are next to one another, one with age 18 and one with age 21, then check with law authorities about the problems. In NY State, law is 21 yr old to be able to drink. Parents would let their irresponsible kids have beer bash parties at their home with no control on age of drinking. Then some laws went into effect making those parents lible for anyone hurt as a result of any under age drinking and against the law if they were caught allowing underage drinking at their house. Boy, there was a drop of 90% of the number of underage drinking parties. Age for drinking stays 21.
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Mike
3:20PM 3:20PM Feb 21st 2009
Please check your facts - the age is 21 in the entire country. When this law was changed years ago, overall, there was no difference in states that were then 21 vs those that were 18
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robokop
11:39PM 11:39PM Feb 21st 2009
Mike-No need to check the fatcs, lived through the times. New Jersey raised its legal drinking age to 21 from 19 on Jan. 1, 1983. The follow year traffic fatalities dropped almost 50% and you go check the facts Mike. Try the National Safety Council, they to will tell you that without any state being different, when the drinking age is raised from 18 to 21yr old, traffic fatalities drop by up to 50% for that age group. No wonder no one talks about DWI and deaths caused by 18-21 DWI's. No stats presented in this arguement to lower dringing age. What, preventing deaths on our Hwy's is nothing. More people die from DWI's in the USA in one year than US Troops killed in Iraq-Afgan combined. Oh, those college Presidents do not talk about the huge drinking problems accross the nation when the drinking age was 18. PS- there is no national law for drinking age of 18. The US Govt pressured States through Highway Trust Fund moneies, threatening to cut off funds if States did not raise drinking age to 21 to curb Deaths on Hwy's caused by DWI 18-21 yr olds.
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robokop
11:41PM 11:41PM Feb 21st 2009
The National Safety Council first adopted its policy supporting the 21-year-old minimal legal drinking age in 1984, preceding federal establishment of it that year. Since that time, extensive studies have proven that the 21 law has saved about 1,000 lives annually. (The full policy, "Under 21 Drinking and Driving," is available on the NSC website.)“The research is clear. Anything less than a 21 minimum drinking age leads to more deaths, particularly of our young adults. The 21 minimum drinking age has saved more than 25,000 American lives,” said Janet Froetscher, NSC president & CEO. “By reaffirming this policy, the NSC is making clear our fact-based understanding that if the drinking age is lowered, injuries and deaths will significantly increase. We learned this from disastrous experiments of lowering the drinking age in the 1970s and 80s. We can’t let it happen again."
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), an NSC partner in the Support 21 Coalition, applauded the policy reaffirmation.
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Bruce Scott
1:21AM 1:21AM Feb 21st 2009
Let's make drinking at the age of 18 an earned entitlement. If you attend college, and maintain a 2.0 GPA, then you can drink. If you are a military veteran or reservist/national guardsman you may drink.
Emolyed full time, you may drink. Get into trouble though, and your privlege may be revoked/suspended like a drivers' license.
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Cate
5:15AM 5:15AM Feb 21st 2009
What, have none of you ever known anyone in the Armed Forces? If you DO choose to fight for your country, you ARE allowed to drink at the age of 18. Unless they've changed things since I lived in an army community, 18 is the drinking age on military bases.
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catherine.cropp
5:16AM 5:16AM Feb 21st 2009
What, have none of you ever known anyone in the Armed Forces? If you DO choose to fight for your country, you ARE allowed to drink at the age of 18. Unless they've changed things since I lived in an army community, 18 is the drinking age on military bases.
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Hyeaghcheg
8:59AM 8:59AM Feb 21st 2009
I can see everyone's perspective for and against this argument. Another issue that's being ignored here is the lack of parental teaching on the subject of alcohol. I come from a European family and despite the laws, we were able to consume alcohol from a very young age.
At the age of seven, my grandfather would allow us to have a small cup of wine that was half wine and half Seven-up. In the minds of most Americans, this would be classifed as child abuse, but it wasn't. We were taught all along that it was okay to drink, but to drink responsibly.
You didn't drink alone or on an empty stomach. You didn't mix your drinks and you did NOT leave the house once you had a drink. Drinking and driving is taboo. Drinking wasn't done to get drunk, it was a familial and social activity.
We were all taught the differences between wine, beer, mixed drinks, etc. As the kids have gotten older, they've been taught which wines to drink with which foods. Please note that they also do not abuse alcohol like many of their academic colleagues. When you're allowed to drink all along, it's no big deal when you reach the age of majority. It just means you can now order alcohol when you're out in public establishments.
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BOB W
10:50PM 10:50PM Feb 21st 2009
The drinking age has been a sore point to me for as long as I can remember, anyone that can go to war and end up with serious injuries or death should be able to drink. I think anyone in the military should be able to use their Military Identification Card as a means to be able to drink in any Bar anywhere legaly.
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