Should we lower minimum drinking age?
By Bill Roweton Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Amethyst Initiative supports a national discussion on alcohol use and abuse on our campuses, including the drinking age. Today, 130 university presidents are committed to their mission:
“The Amethyst Initiative supports informed and unimpeded debate on the 21-year-old drinking age. Amethyst Initiative presidents and chancellors call upon elected officials to weigh all the consequences of current alcohol policies and to invite new ideas on how best to prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol use.”
Supporters include administrators from large universities like Ohio State, Duke, and Syracuse. Also included are presidents from small colleges like Westminster, Lewis and Clark, Pacific, and Willamette.
The minimal legal drinking age across America is 21 because Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act in 1984. This Act levies a 10% penalty on federal highway funds on any state that does not comply.
Federal highway monies are big. Therefore, 24 years after the passage of the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, the legal drinking age is 21.
Have minimum-age laws had any positive affect? Faced with binge drinking on their campuses, one hundred thirty college presidents wonder. Debate is overdue, but a national discussion should include many voices, in addition to college administrators.
Let us hear also from the police, healthcare professionals, parents, ad agencies, auto insurance agents, victims of domestic violence, businesses that profit from alcohol sales, lawyers and judges, young children who struggle with drinking parents, teachers, and underage drinkers.
We have heard from 130 university presidents. What do the rest of us believe? This could be quite a debate.
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