|
Since I used Ohio as an example and people seem to have honed in on statistics of the Buckeye state, I'll explain where I got my facts. I lived in Toledo. I turned 18 when you could get 'low beer', although just over the line in Michigan you could get anything you wanted. That changed while I was in college, and Michigan became a 21-state (sort of changed directions of the profitable carry-outs). Ohio increased the drinking age to 19 while I was a chapter officer so yes, I do remember it, and yes, the campaign ads (well, we all know how "true" those are) depicted high school students at football games drunk (as if having the legal age being 18 really promoted that) and taking the SAT hung over. That change was taken to the voters and they grandfathered in those who were caught in the middle. The change to 21 came after I graduated and was because of threats to take away highway funds at the federal level. At that point they didn't grandfather in the 19-20 year olds. Can you imagine? You're "legal for a month and then have to wait two years.... Course, living in Toledo, we'd solve that by going up to Windsor (just a quick 45 minutes up the highway).
You are correct in saying that the laws and attitudes have changed. Enough of my friends got DWIs in college and got them dismissed taking the same kind of defensive driving that you now take for speeding tickets. That's why I think this would be a tough sell. Right now we're comparing apples and oranges. Regardless, GLOs should not take up this issue. While we have the organization and manpower to take on big issues, it would be taken the wrong way by too many people and would never get past any committee.
|