Back to 18?
A new chorus of critics says it's time to lower the drinking age.
Facebook
Twitter
Tumblr
Blogger
StumbleUpon
Digg
Delicious
Reddit
Google(Page 2 of 2)
McCardell explains that the drop in highway fatalities often cited by supporters of the 21 minimum age actually began in the late 1970s, well before the federal drinking age set in.
What's more, McCardell recently explained in an online chat for the "Chronicle of Higher Education," the drop is better explained by safer and better built cars, increased seat belt use and increasing awareness of the dangers of drunken driving than in a federal standard.
The age at highest risk for an alcohol-related auto fatality is 21, followed by 22 and 23, an indication that delaying first exposure to alcohol until young adults are away from home may not be the best way to introduce them to drink.
McCardell isn't alone. Kenyon College President S. Georgia Nugent has expressed frustration with the law, particularly in 2005 after the alcohol-related death of a Kenyon student. And former Time magazine editor and higher ed reporter Barrett Seaman echoed McCardell's concerns in 2005.
The period since the 21 minimum drinking age took effect has been "marked by a shift from beer to hard liquor," Seaman wrote in Time, "consumed not in large social settings, since that was now illegal, but furtively and dangerously in students' residences. In my reporting at colleges around the country, I did not meet any presidents or deans who felt the 21-year age minimum helps their efforts to curb the abuse of alcohol on their campuses."
The federal drinking age has become somewhat sacrosanct among public health activists, who've consistently relied on the accident data to quell debate over the law's merits.
They've moved on to other battles, such as scolding parents for giving their own kids a taste of alcohol before the age of 21 or attacking the alcohol industry for advertising during sporting events or in magazines aimed at adults that are sometimes read by people under the age of 21.
But after 20 years, perhaps it's time to take a second look—a sound, sober (pardon the pun), science-based look—at the law's costs and benefits, as well as the sound philosophical objections to it.
McCardell provides a welcome voice in a debate too often dominated by hysterics. But beyond McCardell, Congress should really consider abandoning the federal minimum altogether, or at least the federal funding blackmail that gives it teeth.
State and local governments are far better at passing laws that reflect the values, morals and habits of their communities.
Radley Balko is a senior editor for reason. This article originally appeared at FoxNews.com.
Discuss this article online.
Editor's Note: We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of Reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason at any time.
-
well, first thing i would like to sa is this, i agree with certain college presidents about lowering the age to consume alcohol. i personally am 18 and in the united states military(us army) and if find it BS that i can legally vote, get married, and go over seas with the high risk of dying for the country that i am fighting for, yet, i follow the same responsibilities, but am denied to have the same priveleges of an "adult" that is apparently more responsible because of a three year difference, this iswhy i find this unjust, and it makes me wonder why a fight for a country, who's government gives me the right to fight and possibly die in iraq, but says i am an irrisponsible teenager that will abuse alcohol and too young to drink. someone tell me if i am wrong.
-
What I would propose is 3.2 beer for those over 18 but under 21. For starters there is a shortage of public gathering entertainments for the 18+. Here in Minnesota, at least that lead to a lot of Indian casinos and gambling problems. .........
Colleges have "conduct codes" where alcohol use or possession goes on the students record. This can affect scholarships or placement in programs. The U of MN here just opened a beautiful new football stadium. They were IDing student and then making them take a breathalyser. Very "Big Brother". The student section was half empty by the end of the stadiums first season. .........
If 18+ students are going to have to smuggle in the "hooch" they are going to go for density. This means that they start their drinking with hard liquor, not weak beer. .......
At my http://freedomtoact.com the main focus is on the bar smoking bans but there are some postings on the 18+ drinking issue. -
FUCK YEAHHHHH
-
Interestingly enough the rate of drunk driving among 18-20 year olds in the 1970s when some states had a 18 drinking age was no higher than any other age group according to a study done by Stephen Cucchiaro at MIT. Cucchiaro even stated in the conclusion of the study that prohibition for 18-20 year olds solely to deter drunk driving seems unfair. It seems that all other reason for this prohibition do not hold water. Therefore, this absurdly high drinking age is unjust.
-
-
Yes lets lower the drinking age. It will help us lower the population of this country.