Student Government
Association
A Debate on Lowering the Drinking Age is Worthy
I just celebrated my 21st birthday on July 31st. Officially able to have a beer legally. From the time most of us turn 18, we always say “We should be allowed to drink at 18.” And, then the long 3 years go by before we are 21.
In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Age Drinking Act, which required withholding 10% of a state’s federal highway appropriations if a state were to lower the drinking age below 21. Now, today many are saying that law needs to be revisited and the call is coming from an unlikely place college and university presidents.
A group of over 100 college and universities presidents from across the country who are part of the Amethyst Initiative have endorsed lowering the drinking age to 18. The Amethyst Initiative statement make the argument that “a culture of dangerous, clandestine “binge-drinking” often conducted off-campus has developed. Alcohol education that mandates abstinence as the only legal option has not resulted in significant constructive behavioral change among our students. Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer. By choosing to use fake IDs, students make ethical compromises that erode respect for the law.”
The group further calls upon lawmakers to “support an informed and dispassionate public debate over the effects of the 21 year-old drinking age.
To consider whether the 10% highway fund “incentive” encourages or inhibits that debate.
To invite new ideas about the best ways to prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol.”
Our peers are bravely fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, voting to elect our leaders, being called upon to serve on juries. Should those between 18-21 be allowed to legally purchase alcohol?
I think an open debate on lowering the drinking age is worthy and I think the 100 college and university presidents who have signed on to the Amethyst Initiative are on to something. It’s time to revisit this issue and have a meaningful discussion on whether or not the drinking age should be lowered.
What are you thoughts?
West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.
It is interesting to note that only about 5 of the listed colleges active in the Amethyst Initiative carry any weight to their name. This being said obviously 100 1 lb. weights do not bring the same value as an equivalent number of 100 lb. weights. WVU might be able to add to the value on our end of the scale within this group of small-scale colleges and universities
I do support that an open debate on lowering the drinken age to 18 should be done. I mean when your 18 your are legally a adult by law,so why should’nt you be aloud to drink alcohal…You can fight at 18, but you can’t drink till 21!!!
I have to agree also with the open debate. I know many of my friends that are in basic training to serve in the military but we are not old enough to drink. If we are mature enough to vote for the leaders of our country, serve in the military and be prosecuted in the court of law as an adult then I believe that we should be considered mature enough to drink at the age of 21 rather than 21.
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