Drinking age on college campuses

I think that lowering the drinking age would save a lot of people from getting MIPs and such, but other than that would unlikely curb binge drinking. There are still a lot of people who are legally able to drink who engage in binge drinking. Lowering the age wouldn't really get at the root of the problem. Also, it would be very hard to enforce the law. Would you just be required to show an ID card or what?

To me, it seems very simple, change the drinking age to 18.  With the right to vote, the right to smoke, and the right to serve in the military; 18 year olds should be able to drink. I often wonder, if the drinking age was lowered would the drinking of underage drinkers would decrease.  Or if people would be safer because there is not the allure of breaking the law to simply drink.

But on the flip side of the coin, I do not really adore the idea of an 18 year old high schooler having the right to drink and go to class.  I would almost feel safer of the idea of drinking after high school, but I have no idea how a law would be created for that.

http://westernfrontonline.net/2008093010292/news/university-leaders-say-...

Here's the link to the article.

In the article, Elva Giddings, the acting Prevention and Wellness Director, said that this a a social issue, not a legal issue. I disagree. I think that this social culture is a result of the law. I agree that this would probably cause more binge drinking, and maybe even fatalities, but that would just be an initial response. Once drinking is not seen as such a taboo, I believe that these figures will go down. People always want to do the things they are told not to.

I am a little concerned, however, about the drinking agebeing lowered to 18. I know that most entering freshman are 18, but so are high school seniors. I feel like this might cause a domino effect, similar to the one we have now. The drinking age is 21, and those people go to the same school as 18 and 19 year olds. THey buy alcohol for them, and since they do it anyway, people are asking to lower the drinking age. WHat happends when hs seniors start to buy it for 14, 15, 16, and 17 year olds? DO we ask for it to be lowered to 14?

I think that 19 might be a more appropriate age because of those reasons, but at the same time, I can see how this would still leave a problem on college campuses.

I guess I don't understand the point of only lowering the drinking age on college campuses. If the point is to curb binge drinking, and avoid unsafe drinking behavior, then shouldn't the national age be lowered? Or do we only care about the  "intelligent" minds attending a university

I was also just pondering about cultural differences.  I don't know if we should necessarly look to European cultures as a reference to how we might act if the drinking age is lowered.  We are very different than many European cultures, and some Americans still views drinking as a sin.    I almost wonder even if the drinking age is changed, if that isn't necessarly the biggest obstacle for stopping the underage drinking or we need to portray acholol in a different light.  Because if the drinking age is lowered to 18, 16 year olds could begin binging because they are searching for the rush of doing something illegal.

Lowering the drinking age would be a huge step in this country, in what direction...probably the better. If you look at other countries compared to the United States and examine deaths from Alcohol or addictions due to Alcohol the United States is at the top of the list. Many of these countries have a lowered drinking age of 19, 18, 16 and some lower. I believe that many students come into college and consume too much because a lack of knowledge of the consequences to themselves physically. Perhaps if the drinking age was lowered we wouldn't have such a problem with binge drinking and people getting alcohol poisoing.

I totally agree. I am looking at this as a national initiative.

I agree that lowering the age wont effect binge drinking. The article in the Western Front pointed out how in America we tend to make alcohol this thing that is so awesome whereas in Europe, alcohol is looked at simply as a beverage. It is no different than water or soda. We seem to put alcohol on a pedsetal in the states and because of this we will tend to abuse it rather than use it simply as a beverage.  

I totally agree with this. In the US Drinking alcohol is viewed as an activity or an event - not as enjoying a good tasting beverage like it is in other parts of the world

I think it's a combination of things. The drinking age is unneccessarily high and unfair. You are seen as an adult in the eyes of the law at 18, can buy cigs and porn, join the military, vote, be tried as an adult...

We need to lower the drinking age. A more wiespread educational campaign about the physical efects of drinking could be helpful...but I'm also thinking about the campaign agains smoking. People know it takes years off, and is addictive, but many people still do it. It's about the ability to make choices for yourself. People might go crazy, but there's only so much you can do to be preventative.

You make a very very valid point.  In America we do put Alcohol on a pedsetal.  As a child, I even remember things such as Dare and the fear that adults seemed to put in use about Acholol.  As we begin to get older and question adults,  hence the desire to break the laws and disobey our parents.  I understand the danger of acholol, but I also don't enjoy the way it is taught in schools.

so after reading several of the posts it seems that the problems lies in how we view alcohol. How can we change those views? I guess lowering the drinking age would not be an answer to this question. However, I still believe it would be good to lower  the age to 19, maybe after we change our views on alcohol. Do these views of it being cool and using it "only to get drunk" come from our media, movies, magazines? Is it a generational thing?

While I agree that we idealize alcohol in our society, making it more desirable to drink, I think that high criminalization also contributes. When something is so highly criminalized (i.e. adults getting MIP's even though they are not legally minors in every other sense), it makes it more enticing. I think that is part of the appeal, which is also displayed in the media.

i think that this should be a national rule change as well. By only allowing college campuses to have this lower drinking age, it would give those not in college yet another reason to feel like things weren't fair and they may rebel just the same. The comment about examining the different between American and European cultures. This is a very valid point and would probably play into how effective the age change would be 

Kayla,

I totally agree with your point.  As soon as you said "I tink that is part of the appeal, which is also displayed in the media." My first thought was alcohol commercials for the Superbowl. 

The view that alcohol is used only to get drunk probably stems from a lot of things. Perhaps it is after viewing a parent drink to forget problems, or watching scenes in moview and on T.V. I don't think that that advertisement necessarily is involved, although I'm sure they would like to be, but it would break regulations placed upon the companies.

Hilary-

That's so true. I was also thinking of shows like Laguna Beach, the OC, One Tree Hill, etc. All those shows about kids in high school having "awesome" parties where everyone is wasted and hooking up are what kids are watching these days. And superbowl commercials are seen by millions. Kids are being given the impression that drinking is cool--it's for badasses becaause it's illegal.

I don't think allowing the drinking age to change on campus's would be the best idea.  There would be a termedous amount of resentment from the rest of the nation.  Also it would be recreating class division in the United States between the uneducated and the educated.  I dont' think it would be pretty.

I think the drinking age should be lowered, but I never considered it okay for just college campuses. It should apply to everyone.

I personally feel like the drinking age being at 21 is actually out of place in today's society. When I look back at my high school and early college years there was always "underage" drinking that took place amongst my peers and I. It might seem a little extreme at first to lower the restrictions but overall it would be a good idea. As posted previously, I think it is absurd that people can go off to war to fight for this country however they cannot go out and have a beer with their friends. If anything, it seems like the two should be reversed: you should have to be 21 to fight in a war and lose your life and only 18 to experiment with alcohol.

I don't think the drinking age should be lowered just on campuses either. How would we keep track? What if you dropped out at 19 or 20. You suddenly could not drink because you aren't in school. That's rediculous. If it's going to be lowered it should be lowered for all. I totally agree about the seperating of class idea.

Maybe drop out levels would decrease? haha

Well what about people applying to college just so they could drink...then ending up dropping out because they just partied and didn't want to be there. That would take away spots for those applying who are serious about their education.

I thought about the exact same thing

I wonder what parents think of this possible rule change? I can imagine that the thought makes some parents uneasy, although i suppose that as a parent you would have to be pretty naive to think that most of their kids havent tried drinking underage anyways. 

Yes, I agree. It should be nationwide not just on college campuses. If it was only allowed on campus, it makes the focus of going to college drinking instead of education.

Also, that would be a very expensive party drink...

I guess my overall thought is, changing the drinking age of drinking in America is appropriate and could help curve disasters, but I oppose the right for college students to have a lower drinking age.

What about revoking the rights to consume, possess or purchase alchohol following a binge drinking episode? Perhaps a form of tough love education -- helping people out and doing what's best for them even if they don't know it.

I think everyone should take a look at this. It is from someone I know that goes to WSU. It gives a lot of insight of what it is like to be underage, at college, where everyone still drinks alcohol but legally we are not supposed to.
 
"The American way, work hard and you can do anything. How many times have we heard this? How have I done anything different? I have had a job since freshman year in high school. I know what it means to work for something. Now I am faced with the hardest month of my life. I am now a criminal. On top of that school is kicking my butt. And why am I a criminal? Because after working, and school work I decide to break the law and have a couple of beers with my best friends. I am old enough to go to war, elect a president and be thrown in jail. But catching a buzz on a Friday night is completely illegal. And I’m not the only one who is underage and drinks. It’s an illegal activity that even my parents overlook. I have never been told I was a bad person for drinking. I don’t drink and drive, or vandalize stuff or get in fights. I was in the wrong place at the right time two times this month. Yes I was drinking under age but who did I endanger? Now I can’t go home for another month and have expensive alcohol classes along with possible jail time. All my money and time is now devoted to getting through this. How can I be punished so harshly for something that the majority of the population doesn’t seem to care about? My parents are pissed, my school is one step away from kicking me out, I feel like crap and all I want is to go home. All of my peers drink with me and participate in the same stupid thingd I do. We are not bad people, just college kids trying to make something of our lives and having a little fun on the side. Over the next year I will be tested randomly for alcohol, now I have to exclude myself from many activities with my best friends. This sucks and I feel like the big bad government is picking on me and all I can do is take it."
 
I have to say that this shows just how illogical the drinking age at 21 is, especially on college campuses.

Haha. "Expensive party drink"...lol

I do believe that the law is foolish -- but it is the law and choosing to break it forces you to understand the consequences of your actions if caught

Overall, i think that lowering the age wont do much to curb the problems with binge drinkin or other drinking problems. Like many have pointed out in this topic, we need to change our overall view of alcohol as a nation in order to change the way that we handle ourselves while using alcohol. And if we do change the age, it needs to be a nationwide thing because if only college campuses lower the age, this will be one more law dividing classes of people and will further create problems. 

totally agree

see y'all later Peace.

I do agree with Nik, as foolish as the law is, it is also meant to protect people.  And I do believe in the tough love approach.  The idea of an accident or death of any individual due to alcohol is horrible and can be prevented.

Yes, this is true as well. It is important that we have laws and regulations preventing alcohol abuse. I think my point here is that at age 18 in college I do not view going out and having a couple drinks with your friends as a crime. I am all for the restrictions on DUI and such, but they have taken it to the extreme. How they society classify us as adults at 18 if we still cannot legally drink?

Yes, again I agree with you agreeing with me. If people can't learn from their own actions on their own, then there needs to be something in place that forces them to. As bad as this may sound, not necessarily to protect the people making the poor choices(because it should be up to them), but to protect others that they have the potential to hurt while intoxicated.

One side note before we depart...I didn't see anyone propose the idea of bringing those other age restriction items up. What if we increased the age to 21 to serve in the military? Smoke? Vote? Do I dare mention drive?

I definately think the age to join the military should be 21. Let a person mature enough to make the decision to kill others or kill themselves.

So if i understand correctly what your saying is that if were are old enough to fight for our country and vote why arent we old enought to drink? But at the same time this could be a negative thing for highschool and such.

I think that if we are old enough to vote and fight in wars and go to casinos etc we might as well have the right to drink legally, like many have said its like a taboo and just because your not suppose to its that much better. we all know underaged people will drink if they want to no matter what, because if they reallly want to they'll find a way to get alchohal no matter the age group is.

now i dont think 18 is the appropriate age to legalize it because that would create more people in highshools who could buy for other minors but if we said 19 that would decrease that amount. it wouldnt stop it but it would help.

I definitely think that the drinking age should be lowered to 18 (everywhere, not just on campuses), primarily because nearly every other right is given at 18. Having drinking be one of the very few things that you can't legally do until your 21 gives the idea that drinking is a very adult thing to do. I think in addition to having the lure of being taboo, many people drink underage because it makes them feel older and more mature (which they aren't if they drinking to get drunk). Ironically, making drinking a mature thing to do makes more people drink immaturely.

I think Ms. Bohorquez that you are a self-important dilttante for assuming that 18 year olds would be so irresponsible if they were given this right.  What the initicial statement at the beginning of this forum said was that the age would be reduced on a College Campus, not in our society.  But if I were to go with your original argument of these actions happening in the High Schools then that would not go on fault of the students but that of their guardians.  This isn't to call out parents, but if you are allowed to drink then like you are taught how to ride a bike, you should be taught what you're limit is.  Also, for young women the fact that they should take care of themselves when they are in the state of drinking becasue so many girls come to college away from their parents, go crazy at the parties because they haven't been able to which sometimes leads to reprocussion that can leave deep scars in their lives.

I first of all, in a less harsh manner, agree with galvanm.  There are many studies that show when the drinking age is lower in certain countries, the safer the younger community tends to be.  Binge drinking tends to go down as mentioned earlier, and kids learn "their lesson" earlier on.  However, I also agree with you about parents helping kids "learn their limit," coming from a very strict household myself, I was lucky not to go off the deep end.  However, there are some problems that arise, I know this has been mentioned but parents do have issues with children's drinking age, but when we are over 18 when we get the privelege to drink then we are all big kids and should be able to handle our own choices.  If it is the law on campus does that mean kids under 21 but over 18 will stay on campus?  Rationality leaves the mind when drinking occurs, kids could be getting in more trouble outside campus, but who will know how to enforce these issues?  However, it is a good idea to start with.  As far as young women taking care of themselves, allowed or not allowed, I believe everyone regardless of age or sex, will make bad choices from time to time.  But I do know from experience that in Bellingham people (generally) tend to take care of their friends.  That is a personal responsibility for everyone to be aware of and educated about.  I believe it is entirely aside the issue of age currently.

I first of all, in a less harsh manner, agree with galvanm.  There are many studies that show when the drinking age is lower in certain countries, the safer the younger community tends to be.  Binge drinking tends to go down as mentioned earlier, and kids learn "their lesson" earlier on.  However, I also agree with you about parents helping kids "learn their limit," coming from a very strict household myself, I was lucky not to go off the deep end.  However, there are some problems that arise, I know this has been mentioned but parents do have issues with children's drinking age, but when we are over 18 when we get the privelege to drink then we are all big kids and should be able to handle our own choices.  If it is the law on campus does that mean kids under 21 but over 18 will stay on campus?  Rationality leaves the mind when drinking occurs, kids could be getting in more trouble outside campus, but who will know how to enforce these issues?  However, it is a good idea to start with.  As far as young women taking care of themselves, allowed or not allowed, I believe everyone regardless of age or sex, will make bad choices from time to time.  But I do know from experience that in Bellingham people (generally) tend to take care of their friends.  That is a personal responsibility for everyone to be aware of and educated about.  I believe it is entirely aside the issue of age currently.

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Sorry for the multiple posts, I cannot delete my own posts and meant to edit, not repost them.

It brought the drinking age up to 21 in several states where it has been lower previously.  Federal transportation funding is tied to compliance with the act... that gives the states little incentive to lose that big chunk of change in order to lower the drinking age, IMHO.

But read this link about buying alcohol and possessing alcohol in public being disallowed for those under 21, as opposed to the act of DRINKING the alcohol. Interesting!  Apparently the feds still leave it up to the states to decide about the law for the actual consumption of alcohol by "minors."

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alcohol/Community%20Guides%20HTML/PDFs/Public_App7.pdf

Just google the title of the act for more links.

I can only imagine the loss of state funding threatened if a state school (such as ours) wanted to allow minors to drink!

Have studies been done that show that lowering the drinking age decreases binge drinking in young people?

I know I'm probably going to be immediately shot down, but why is drinking important? Perhaps it is because I've personally never done it before and I come from a family history of alcoholism, but I really don't see a point. Honestly I've never seen any good come from alcohol. I go to school and hear kids acting really shady when discussing their crazy party plans. And yes, it's true, most of my classmates are under 21. But that doesn't explain how I see legal adults doing the same thing at work or at other instances. They will seem shady, hide beer bottles when certain people walk into the room, and lie to get away from a peer's confrontation. And I won't even dig deep into horror stories (rape, theft, drama, etc.) that begin with "so I got drunk the other night." I feel horrible saying this, and I know it sounds harsh, but it's how I truly feel. I think there are other ways that people can enjoy themselves without substances.

On the other hand, I realize that I'm not being realistic. And I also realize that the Prohibition didn't really work for reasons, and eliminating it all together would be a horrible idea. I do like the point being made about the outlook our country has on alcohol compared to other countries and I think that a change in that area would be wonderful. It's a good goal to strive for, and I think that it would be a change for the better. But realistically, it's not something that can be changed by a law. It's up to the individual to decide for themselves. After all, when I do come of age I intend to drink. But I would want to do it for the taste, and I never want to get drunk.

...wittroa pretty much stole the words from my mouth, except my family does not have a history of alcoholism, and I don't intend to drink after I turn 21; seems like a waste of time to me, and the few times I have merely tasted alcohol, I didn't like the taste, so I have no reason to drink.

While we're on the subject of legalizing things, I think we should legalize marijuana... and then tax the HELL out of it. Income tax? Sales tax? Nahh... pot tax! There goes the national debt!

(disclaimer: I realize a pot tax wouldn't actually eliminate the national debt, and should not replace income or sales tax... and no, I don't smoke pot either)

 If your under 21 don't drink.  If your over 21 don't drink like an idiot.  If you live at my apartment building can you stop screaming at about 1:30 or 2:00 am at the latest thanks.