College Presidents Seek to Lower Drinking Age

[SOPi_Jawbreaker]

I think we should reverse the drinking and driving ages. You can drink at 16, but you can't get your driver's license until 21.

A 16-year old that's allowed to drink is only doing damage to himself/herself. But a 16-year old that's allowed to drive could possibly kill several people (even without alcohol being involved...just by driving too fast, talking on the phone while driving, joking around with passengers in the car, fiddling with the radio, etc.)

[peaches321]

Originally Posted by SOPi_Jawbreaker

I think we should reverse the drinking and driving ages. You can drink at 16, but you can't get your driver's license until 21.

A 16-year old that's allowed to drink is only doing damage to himself/herself. But a 16-year old that's allowed to drive could possibly kill several people (even without alcohol being involved...just by driving too fast, talking on the phone while driving, joking around with passengers in the car, fiddling with the radio, etc.)

Several years ago, a US congressman said, "If I had my way, they'd be able to drink at 16 and not drive until they were twenty-five." There is a certain wisdom to that.

[Blacksocialite]

This seem quite 'fishy' to me.

I noticed that most of the school represented are smaller institutions which do not have major sports teams (which usually results in less alumni $$).

And while several of these institutions are considerd good schools, I bet many of them are elipsed by larger state schools and the ivies in terms of competing for the same college age students. The Census has indicated that the 'pool' of 18 year olds in the US is decreasing as native born families have fewer children and often start their families later in life.

I also imagine that several of these institutions are being squeezed in state/federal funding cuts. So, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the motivation behind this 'initative' is to secure alternative sponsorship/funding streams (whether it is directly or indirectly sourced from alcohol companies and their vendors/suppliers).

[33girl]

Teeny tiny Ohio State? In the teeny tiny town of Columbus? Umm, ok.

I would not be surprised though if for the smaller schools, in smaller towns, part of the issue is to take the burden of enforcement off the local police department.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by peaches321

Several years ago, a US congressman said, "If I had my way, they'd be able to drink at 16 and not drive until they were twenty-five." There is a certain wisdom to that.

There's an article in the Chicago Tribune today about how the driving age should be raised:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/n...,1775625.story

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by peaches321

Several years ago, a US congressman said, "If I had my way, they'd be able to drink at 16 and not drive until they were twenty-five." There is a certain wisdom to that.

That wouldn't work in America, save for highly urbanized areas. People in suburban and rural America are way too dependent on cars to have to wait until they are 25 to be able to drive. Think of how much harder it would be to get a job if you were limited to places where you could transit, bike, or rely on your parents to drive you. I'm 22 and I can't imagine my life still waiting to get my driver's license.

The bottom line is that no drinking age and/or driving age law is going to change drunk driving related deaths and injuries, personal responsibility and education will.

[AGDee]

Their statistics are just not clear to me. Are they saying that there are more 16 year old driver traffic fatalities than 17 year old driver traffic fatalities? Did they only go with "first year" drivers for each age group? If not, then did they consider that 17 year old drivers had a year more experience than the 16 year old drivers? A year of experience makes a big difference.

[Achilles87]

this is, in my opinion, the best solution:

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/You...046347764.html

[agzg]

I can see both sides of the argument. I'd like to point out, however, that I had friends who were 18 year old binge drinkers and friends that were 24 year old binge drinkers. Plus, even if it's legal, college freshmen may still binge drink at a higher rate than others because it's their first time away from home.

I'd have to agree with the whole culture shift point. Unfortunately, even if every family started it now it'd still be about 20 years before we saw actual results. Plus, if you look at other social parameters we have - some change quickly, others take longer than normal.

Plus, no matter the age there are always going to be people that abuse the substance. Controlled substances are illegal for everyone and I bet most of us could name at least one person who abuses controlled substances, either someone that we know personally or someone that one of our friends or family knows personally.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by alphagamzetagam

Plus, no matter the age there are always going to be people that abuse the substance.

Exactly. So why apply an unrealistic and arbitrary age that doesn't fall in line w/ the other age limitations in the country to it?

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Exactly. So why apply an unrealistic and arbitrary age that doesn't fall in line w/ the other age limitations in the country to it?

Because no matter what age you set as the legal age to do anything, you will have people/kids several years younger trying and succeeding in doing it.

Now the legal age is 21, yet lots of 18 year old are getting into clubs and drinking, buying alcohol, etc. You lower the legal age to 18, and you have 15 year olds being able to pass for 18.

Granted, anyone who really wants to drink will probably not have a problem getting it, but why make it easier for children - and yes, a 15 yo is still a child - to get their hands on alcohol?

I admit that there is no right answer, and it might be a moot point, but even if the law sets an arbitrary age, I think that people feel better knowing that it's much harder for a 15 year old to get alcohol than an 18 year old.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Because no matter what age you set as the legal age to do anything, you will have people/kids several years younger trying and succeeding in doing it.

Now the legal age is 21, yet lots of 18 year old are getting into clubs and drinking, buying alcohol, etc. You lower the legal age to 18, and you have 15 year olds being able to pass for 18.

Granted, anyone who really wants to drink will probably not have a problem getting it, but why make it easier for children - and yes, a 15 yo is still a child - to get their hands on alcohol?

I admit that there is no right answer, and it might be a moot point, but even if the law sets an arbitrary age, I think that people feel better knowing that it's much harder for a 15 year old to get alcohol than an 18 year old.

This isn't about what makes people "feel better." It's about laws that actually work. And lots of 15 year olds are getting into clubs right now, even with the increased age.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This isn't about what makes people "feel better." It's about laws that actually work. And lots of 15 year olds are getting into clubs right now, even with the increased age.

Great in theory, but I think that many people vote based on their emotions, though. I'd be hard pressed to find more than a handful of people understand the laws (any law), how they came to fruition, and who supported them.

Look at the presidential election campaigns. Ask ten people who they are voting for and why, and I'll bet that most of them will give answers like "he's too old", "he's too inexperienced", "he has miliatary experience and that makes me feel safe", "it's time for a black president", "women are too emotional to be president", etc.

[agzg]

I almost feel like it's not going to make too much of a difference either way. But that could be because I'm (and I think a lot of the people in this discussion are) coming from the viewpoint of someone who is above the legal age regardless.

I'm pretty sure though, that if you ask most 18 year olds if they want to be of legal age, they'd say yes.

[CrackerBarrel]

Very few people get a "fake" id anymore. They find someone that looks like them and get theirs. That's what almost all the fakes I've seen recently are at least.