Amethyst Initiative: It’s Time To Rethink the Drinking Age
Have you ever wondered why the drinking age is 21? Basically it was up to individual states to determine their own drinking age until 1984 when the National Drinking Age Act tied highway funds to maintaining a drinking age of 21. So why 21? Does it even work? If you ask me, the answer is no. A few people agree with me, and the topic has made it to the national press, so let’s discuss.
I read this article a few days ago, but didn’t think much of it until reading William Brand’s blog on the topic. The charge is lead by the Amethyst Institute. The Amethyst Institute includes college presidents from some of the best colleges around the country. Here is the basis for their argument to lower the drinking age back to 18:
- A culture of dangerous, clandestine “binge-drinking”—often conducted off-campus—has developed.
- Alcohol education that mandates abstinence as the only legal option has not resulted in significant constructive behavioral change among our students.
- Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer.
- By choosing to use fake IDs, students make ethical compromises that erode respect for the law.
Personally, I have to say I agree with just about every point. In college I did my fair share of binge drinking. Once I turned 21, the extent of my drinking scaled back, as it didn’t seem as fun. Coincidence? Possibly. Maybe I was just becoming more mature.
The last point they make is really significant in my opinion. I obtained a false form of identification prior to my 19th birthday. I didn’t just use it, I practically flaunted it. In one case I used it with a police officer in line behind me. Obviously, my respect for the law was fairly low at that moment.
And what is all this for? A beer? My “I get it” moment for beer came when I was 17, drinking beer in a public establishment. Most of my formative craft beer experiences happened before my 21st birthday. Obviously it is possible for someone under the age of 21 to obtain alcohol. Also, it’s possible for someone under 21 to appreciate alcoholic beverages beyond their mind numbing effects.
While I glossed over the third point, I think this is the most relevant as far as our society is concerned. As adults, we have the ability to make many decisions, and the choice to drink an alcoholic beverage seems minor in compriso to judging our peers, choosing our leaders and dying for our country.
Share your thoughts on the subject. I’m not sure how many opinions we’ll get on the other side of the debate, so maybe I’m just preaching to the choir.
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September 21st, 2009 at 6:11 pm
This is a very creative input. You have shown the best way on how to deal with drinking age debate. But I guess drinking at the age of 21 is not that followed any more. Most of the youths have already tried drinking secretly prior to their 21st birthday. Juts a piece of advice though, it is not a matter of age, it is a matter of maturity. A drinker must know when to start and when to stop.