College Presidents Seek to Lower Drinking Age

[EE-BO]

I agree too- 18 is better. And it is certainly better for college Presidents and Greek organizations on the legal front.

HOWEVER- I think that must go hand-in-hand with more strict DWI laws and stronger enforcement of those laws.

It is appropriate to give those of 18 the right to drink, but that must go hand in hand with stronger punishments for those who abuse the privilege by driving while intoxicated.

To be honest, I think DWI laws should be tougher anyway- but I like the idea of that accompanying a drinking age of 18 since it kills several birds with one stone.

Both are state issues, but the federal government could force the issue by tying highway and other infrastructure appropriations to such laws being passed just like they did to get states to take the drinking age from 18 to 21.

[CrackerBarrel]

Originally Posted by EE-BO

I agree too- 18 is better. And it is certainly better for college Presidents and Greek organizations on the legal front.

HOWEVER- I think that must go hand-in-hand with more strict DWI laws and stronger enforcement of those laws.

It is appropriate to give those of 18 the right to drink, but that must go hand in hand with stronger punishments for those who abuse the privilege by driving while intoxicated.

To be honest, I think DWI laws should be tougher anyway- but I like the idea of that accompanying a drinking age of 18 since it kills several birds with one stone.

Both are state issues, but the federal government could force the issue by tying highway and other infrastructure appropriations to such laws being passed just like they did to get states to take the drinking age from 18 to 21.

I haven't read the statute, but it's possible the government would need to untie highway funding from the drinking age before states could make the jump. I don't know if funding is still dependent on that, but if so don't look for any states rushing to change until that's undone.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by CrackerBarrel

I haven't read the statute, but it's possible the government would need to untie highway funding from the drinking age before states could make the jump. I don't know if funding is still dependent on that, but if so don't look for any states rushing to change until that's undone.

Probably is. I could drink in college. Louisiana changed the age to 21 when I was 20 because of the highway funding issue. Luckily, I could drink while I was 20 because all of the bars were convinced that we would be "grandfathered" in! I think a lot of college students will experiment with alcohol and go overboard...I know I did. Binging, however, was not such a problem when we could drink for the time we stepped foot on campus. Other drugs, like Benzos, weren't abused like they are now when you get just get a little drunk instead.