College presidents want drinking age lowered to 18
The legal drinking age for countries worldwide varies drastically from, completely banning alcohol (Saudi Arabia, Sudan, etc.) or from no age limit to the maximum age of 21. There are only a handful of countries that have the limit set at 21 (Indonesia, Oman, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Kiribati, in Paraguay it’s 21 in restaurants only and of course the United States). The over whelming worldwide average is 18 and the US is the only 1st world country that forces its citizens into a strict no drinking policy until they are 21.
The National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 required all states to raise their minimum purchase and public possession of alcohol age to 21. Those that didn’t risked loosing their transportation funds. The term “public possession” is strictly defined and does not apply to possession for the following:
- An established religious purpose, when accompanied by a parent, spouse or legal guardian age 21 or older
- Medical purposes when prescribed or administered by a licensed physician, pharmacist, dentist, nurse, hospital or medical institution
- In private clubs or establishments
- In the course of lawful employment by a duly licensed manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer.
In some states, no restriction on private consumption is made, while in others, consumption is only allowed in specific locations, in the presence of consenting and supervising family members, and/or during religious occasions. This map shows which states have limited restrictions and those that have restrictive. Good thing we live in NY:
The Minimum Drinking Act was in response in part to combat drunk driving fatalities and in part to respond to a moral panic over teen drinking at the time. Binge drinking was and still is an issue with young adults. Commonly defined as consuming five or more drinks in a single sitting, binge drinking is an increasing problem on college campuses even though alcohol consumption is actually down for High School kids. With the age bar moved up, so has the issue of over consumption and with those kids away from home at college, a drivers license and easier access to alcohol, this issue has become an even more issue than what the law was intended to avert.
The National Youth Rights Association was formed in part to seek lower drinking age limits. John McCardell, Jr. wrote in The New York Times that “the 21-year-old drinking age is bad social policy and terrible law” that has made the college drinking problem far worse.
In 2001, New York State Assembly member Felix Ortiz introduced a bill that would lower the drinking age back to 18. He cited unfairness and difficulty with enforcement as his motivations.
College presidents from more than 100 schools across the country are calling on lawmakers to do something about binge drinking: Consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18.
“Twenty-one is not working,” says the group’s statement, signed by presidents from prominent colleges such as Dartmouth, Duke and Syracuse. “A culture of dangerous, clandestine ‘binge drinking’ — often conducted off-campus — has developed.”
The current drinking age of 21 remains a point of contention among many Americans, not least because of it being higher than the age of majority (18 in most states) and higher than the drinking ages of most other countries. There are obvious economic advantages to having more of the population purchasing alcohol but the draw backs which pushed for the age increase could still persist. Education needs to be transparent through out all the communities and schools at an even younger age than today before any legal changes are made. If we can educate college students to limit their drinking, how do we expect even younger and less educated to do so.
State Highway agencies are firmly against the movement but regurgitating perceptions is not the answer to the issue. More studies should be made available and an institution of better education in place before considering any options.