Presidents of three Oregon colleges have joined with over 100 others at such notable schools as Duke, Dartmouth, and Syracuse to push lawmakers to consider changing the drinking age from 21 to 18.
They say it would help to end binge-drinking and de-mystify it for young people. Others like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, as you would imagine, are strongly against the idea. [Click here to read the rest of the article.]
Is this a good or bad idea? This definitely is a polarizing proposition. What do you think?
I’m all for it; for many different reasons.
1) Once you remove the word “Forbidden” from the “Forbidden fruit” you are just left with a fruit and the excitement and the lore of it all is demystified, it’s not as enticing as it would have been.
2) Many other countries have a lower drinking age and not to say that they don’t have their own problems but beige drinking is not one of them.
3) I grew up in an environment where drinking is not a big deal. I had my first glass of champion when I was in forth grade or maybe younger. Granted my family would have never giving me more then a glass but by the time I got to college I knew what alcohol taste like. In fact my uncles took it upon themselves to teach me how to open a beer bottle with a spoon, (in case an opener was not available). They told me that it’s “important for me to know how to open a beer bottle and serve it to a man”. Needless to say I DO NOT Agree with all of my uncles’ teachings and me “Getting anything for any man” is still a heated debate in my family.
4) What I don’t get is if an 18 year old is old enough to die for their country and vote (make a decision), then why is it that an 18 year old is not mature enough to decide if they want to drink or not. Are you telling me it’s easier to choose your president then it is to decide if you want to drink or not???
Very nice arguments, princess! I especially agree with point #4. I also like your idea of demystifying alcohol at an earlier age so that it is not such a big deal when they turn the certain age.
believe it or not, we are talking about doing exactly the opposite on this side of the lake!
we have issues with binge drinking, but then again that might just be a culture thing.
I’m not a huge fan of this particular news website, but was the quickest article I found.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20082851311245
Interesting article, K. I think that’ll change the entire culture of Ireland, no?
The problem is not minimum age. The question is education. Europeans don’t have this problem. Why? Because they are bottle fed wine as babies. I jest of course, but no one hides the booze in Europe. There’s wine for lunch and diner and children are introduced to it at a young age. So by college time it’s no big deal, it’s just part of daily life.
I had my first hard liquor when I was 9 or 10 and it was with my moms permission at a Christmas party. Wine was always around as well as beer. Put booze in the coffee, in the food. It’s everywhere. So it was never an issue when came my party years. Sure I had my fun and got drunk a lot but never FUBAR or stomach-pumped-drunk. I remember going to a party at 14 and my mom telling not to drink… too much. She knew, she wasn’t stupid and she also trusted me. Because I never felt like I was breaking any rules so what did I care?
On the other hand if you live a life of strict rules all the time, go to college where the wardens aren’t there to watch your every move… well we all know how thats gonna turn out.
You make a great point too, DAVE. I think your comment goes with princess’s above in terms of demystifying alcohol at an early age, educating the young’ens. I believe Italians, in particular, are introduced to wine at an early age.
JJ, I don’t think it will happen, the Vintners Federation here is a quite strong lobby {not hotel!
} group. We have tried new licensing laws, but they didn’t go through.
I would hate to see the drinking laws in Ireland change before I’ve had a chance to visit (a.k.a. get me a free hotel room, dammit!).
I can see both sides of the issue.
I agree that if someone can vote and can defend their country, they should be able to drink. I mean look at the losers we have running for president and vice-president. They all make me want to drink.
On the other hand, where does this logic end?
They’re going to drink anyway, so let’s make it legal?
They’re going to take drugs anyway, so let’e make it legal?
They’re going to steal anyway, so let’s make it legal?
They’re going to murder anyway, so let’s make it legal?
I don’t know…I only have questions…no answers.
@ Bryan – There are some who argue that government is trying to ‘govern’ so many things that our basic rights are at stake. But, I would argue back that without such ‘governing’, the world can lead to chaos inasmuch as a potential for utopic existence.