"Originally posted by juniorgrrl:
*sigh*
If the drinking age were 18, we wouldn't be having all this trouble. Has raising the age done anything more than criminalize a large group of people, as well as cost taxpayers more for the added burden of all the arrests for all the 18, 19 and 20 year olds who can vote, buy pornography, go to war, but can't buy a beer?
*stepping off soapbox*"
There was a valid reason for changing the minimum drinking age. For that very reason, many European countries are considering an increase as well. European nations have the highest rate of drinking related deaths (alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, etc.). And most of those that die as a results are those within that same young age bracket. I can't remember the paper that carried this article (very likely to be NY times) but I think the numbers had become so absurdly high that it was on the same level as a more common disease like throat cancer or heart disease (can't remember the small little details - sorry). I'll try and find the article.
But then again, which college kid didn't make an attempt at drinking before they turned 21?
