College Presidents Say Drinking Age Should Be Lowered

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(August 19, 2008)—The presidents of about 100 of the best-known colleges and universities in the U.S. are calling on lawmakers to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18 because they say current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.

The movement, called the Amethyst Initiative, began recruiting college presidents more than a year ago to spark a national debate on the drinking age.

The school presidents are already facing sharp criticism.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving says lowering the drinking age would lead to more fatal car crashes and it’s urging parents to think twice about sending their children to colleges that take part in the effort.

MADD's president says the 21-year-old drinking age won't be enforced at those
campuses.

Among the schools represented in the initiatives are Duke, Dartmouth, Ohio State and Syracuse.

The president of Texas A & M University-West Texas is also among the signatories.

Amethyst Initiative Web Site

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: veteran Location: Killleen on Aug 21, 2008 at 12:59 PM
As a military veteran I beleive that those that serve should be given the right to purchase/consume alcohol. As long as they are able to present an official military ID. Through trainng and leadership, the services do a very good job in keeping its sevice men in tune with the responsibilities and inherent dangers associated with alcohol and banned substances. So this privelidge should be afforded to our service men and women. In addition if there leadership deems that they are abusing the privelidge or are involved in a alcohol related incident there should be an option for the leadership to have there ID card reflect that alcohol purchase is not authorized, revoking there priviledges.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 21, 2008 at 12:57 PM
The only reason the college presidents are voting for this is because they can sit back and earn a better paycheck for nothing. The kids will pay to go to class, never show up, fail, and then the teachers and presidents get off easy. I drank up until I turned 21. After that, it just didn't have the same appeal. I will still have an occasional drink socially, but I think its when you realize what is more important in life is when the drinks no longer matter. I don't want to get trashed and then the whole next day is burned in bed. Everyday matters to me, I want to live it out. College kids don't have any responsibilities. Mommy & Daddy pay for everything, so the students can drink away their education. Seeing that I am 26 and going back to college, I don't want to screw up my education seeing that I paid $1,500 of MY money. It matters when you have to pay for it yourself. That's when you realize.

Posted by: thisguy on Aug 21, 2008 at 10:30 AM
as a college student myself...lowering the drinking age isnt gonna do anything because we students drink regardless of how old we are....i agree with angela...its all about the parenting....

Posted by: myself Location: bremon on Aug 21, 2008 at 09:00 AM
It doesnt matter if you lower or raise the legal drinking age, kids are still gonna drink. They have always found ways to get alcohol.

Posted by: Jim Beam Whiskey on Aug 21, 2008 at 08:43 AM
We should follow the European "don't ask, don't tell" drinking age policy. The less forbidden alcohol seems, the less mystery i will have and the more sensibly it wil be consumed.

Posted by: Angela Location: Texas on Aug 21, 2008 at 12:34 AM
If they lower the age to 18 kids will still drink illegally at 16. Age really doesn't matter. It's all about the parenting.

Posted by: anonymous Location: Austin on Aug 20, 2008 at 10:00 PM
If I were the college Presidents, my concern would be the drugs besides alcohol. Drugs are ruining more lives than ever before. Get the drug dealers off the streets and out of colleges. That would be a big help. However, the 18 yr olds don't get it yet and they will drink anyway. They think it is more fun to get away with something

Posted by: adult rights Location: centex on Aug 20, 2008 at 08:02 PM
I remember when the drinking age was 18. The only reason it turned to 21 was because the federal gov threaten states to take there highway funds away if they didn't change it. Sure drinking and drving fatalities have gone down in numbers. This has to do with the laws and madd. Nothing has change for underage drinking. Your either a responsible person or not. I say change the law back. The gov says you can vote and serve your country at 18. You should be allowed to drink when your 18 !!!

Posted by: stoner Location: waco sucks on Aug 20, 2008 at 06:10 PM
LEGALIZE POT WHILE YOU'RE AT IT!

Posted by: teen girl Location: waco on Aug 20, 2008 at 06:02 PM
i dont think it matters what age the legal limit is, kids are still going to drink. 21 or not....it happens. maybe if i t was lowered kids wouldnt have to sneak around their parents and stuff. i'm 18, so i think that if it was legal, i would be like well what's the fun in it?? i mean i can legally do it now. there's no risk if it's legal. i also think that if the age is changed to 18 that there might not be as many drunk drivers because parents would rather go pick up their drunk child then go to their funeral. but i'm not for it or against it. whatever happens, kids are still going to drink. legally or illegally.

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Aug 20, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Wisest of all....what? You said "Sorry people age of majority is 18 and drinking should be at 18 as well. Proven fact!" What fact was proven? I aint disagreeing with you, just want to understand WTH your meaning...

Posted by: Wisest one of All Location: Earth on Aug 20, 2008 at 03:09 PM
Those who say that the drinking age should be left alone are showing how little intelligence and common sense they have. Sorry people age of majority is 18 and drinking should be at 18 as well. Proven fact! To veteran, sorry sparky, nobody has to join the military to be able to speak about an issue. Apparently you have no comprehension of the bill of rights. They are not a bill of privileges based on service.

Posted by: Rick Location: CenTex on Aug 20, 2008 at 01:37 PM
Amy and veteran, well said! There is a reason why legal drinking age is 21. Even though this really doesn't have anything to do with our young soldiers, our military today is all voluntary. They know what they signed. It's not Vietnam where 18 yr. olds and their parents got the dreaded draft letter saying "Guess what, you are now in the armed forces, will be in the jungle in a month and have a 20% chance of making back alive". Yes, those 18 yr. olds deserved to go out and buy a few six packs. All these university presidents want is to put their student's drinking problems back into public highschools. Lowering the age to 18 is not going to stop college binge drinking. All rights do not come with the same age. You can legally drive at 16, you can legally hunt by yourself at 17, you can legally vote at 18, and you can legally by alcohol at 21. That's life. These presidents must have relatives in West!

Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Aug 20, 2008 at 12:02 PM
Carrie, if someone wants to drink, they will find a way. I have to agree with several posters on here. If we can ask an 18 year old to register, and we allow them to vote and join the military and possibly lay their life for their country, then they should be able to buy a beer.

Posted by: veteran Location: central texas on Aug 20, 2008 at 11:51 AM
ok, lets either RAISE the drinking age or leave it alone. for all you who are arguing about our 18 year old "soldiers" not being able to legally drink - why dont all of you take a stand for this country, join the military, and earn your right to argue that statement. i do like the idea of either being of legal age or showing a military ID. fighting for this country and taking a trip to the voting poles are POSITIVE actions in society and also happen to be the "RIGHTS" of citizens. seems like some of you feel it should be a "right" too, or are you just from West.

Posted by: Amy Location: Waco on Aug 20, 2008 at 11:39 AM
I think this whole topic is a waste of time. The people who are putting their effort towards this could put their effort towards something more important. And personally I feel that the only reason that colleges are the ones pushing for this is so that they won't feel liable for the underage drinkers. There is a reason that the drinking age is 21 and I think we should leave it alone or we would just be asking for trouble.

Posted by: Kenneth Location: Waco on Aug 20, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Of course it should be lowered to 18. Either that or else raise the voting age, age you can enter into a contract, register for the draft, etc to 21. Either they are an adult at 18 and should have all rights or they are not an adult and should not have any of the rights.

Posted by: Carrie Location: Killeen on Aug 20, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Are you freaking kidding me?? No way should it be lowered. There are far too many underage teenagers already drinking, then they get behind the wheel thinking they are "not intoxicated" and end up killing someone. If your going to lower the drinking age, then raise the age that you can get a license too. There are way too many 16 yr old "I know what I am doing, I have a license to prove it" bad attitudes and bad drivers out there!!

Posted by: anonymous Location: Austin on Aug 20, 2008 at 01:06 AM
Next thing will be legalizing pot because of the pressure to do so. What next? Why not ban drinking like you did smoking everywhere?

Posted by: old one Location: central texas on Aug 20, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Your responsible enough to shoot a gun and fight for your country but you cant buy your own beer.I say thats wrong! Lower the age for drinking or raise the age to join military. Which is it adult at 18 or 21?

Posted by: JP Location: Temple on Aug 19, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Of course this would draw MADD's ire; although they have affected some positive change the organization has become very prohibitionist in nature and we all know how well that worked (it didn't, and was a huge boon for organized crime). http://www.getmadd.com/

Posted by: Me Location: Central Texas on Aug 19, 2008 at 10:04 PM
How about voting on more important issues, like measures to get rid of the illegal aliens.

Posted by: dmg Location: waco on Aug 19, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Either lower the drinking age to 18, or raise the age one can vote or join the armed services to 21.

Posted by: The Patriot Location: Texas on Aug 19, 2008 at 06:47 PM
I believe if you join the military and can fight for your country, you should be able to buy a beer. That's what happened during the Nam era, legal age dropped to 18. But, this isn't the military asking for the legal drinking age to be lowered. Show your military ID and yes, buy a beer. If you don't have one then tough luck. Back when the age was 18 (right after Nam), people realized that too many 18 yr. olds were still in highschool and buying for their highschool friends.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 19, 2008 at 06:00 PM
Those that want to drink are going to get it anyways. If you think the cashiers at wal-mart, heb, etc don't sell alcohol to their underage friends, you're delusional! Those that are smart and choose not to drink wont start just because the age is lowered. Pietro is right as age has nothing to do with maturity! The vast majority of legal drinkers have the maturity of a 12 year old!

Posted by: S. R. Location: Waco on Aug 19, 2008 at 04:27 PM
I am in favor with MADD. but I agree with Anon. I was a big time partyer before I turn 21. I was the oldest of my group and I could buy beer at 18, after I turned 21 I think I party of about 6months then it wasnt fun no more so I calmed down and so did my group.. When my kids get at that age and they are responsible I will buy them beer but they know they have to stay at home.... But I know they will go to partys and I know they will drink.. and aint nothen we can do but its our responibility to get it in our kids head to be responsible.....

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 19, 2008 at 03:49 PM
While voting to pass this we should vote to raise the age a young man or woman can be a soldier.

Posted by: Anon Location: Waco on Aug 19, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Maybe the presidents do have a point. If they lower the drinking age, then it may help with the binge drinking. I know that when I was underage, drinking was a lot more fun. Now, being of age I don't drink hardly at all. I can see where this might actually work.

Posted by: C Location: Bellmead on Aug 19, 2008 at 03:10 PM
This is just plain crazy, it's bad enough when we see and hear about all the drinking that takes place with the college kids, and now they want to lower the age to make it easier for them to get, sounds like someone's pockets are going to be getting fatter if this passes, these students are the future of our country, the doctors, lawyers, politicians, accountants, etc. not a good way for them to enter into society as wasted drunks, trying to go on to be one of these professional, can you imagine one of these students that graduates, and go on to be a lawyer or peace officer trying to enforce drunk driving or any type of drinking law? Just my opinion

Posted by: William Location: Salado on Aug 19, 2008 at 02:49 PM
OK MADD, get over it, our fine young soldiers can fight for our country, vote but they cannot drink. If an 18 year old is still in high school they should not drink, but anyone else should have that right if they can give their life for our great country. Most people of this age are already drinking, and usually to extremes because they are breaking the law and they know it.

Posted by: Pietro Location: Belton on Aug 19, 2008 at 02:37 PM
I strongly believe taht any government, be it Federal, State or local should not dictate to it's citizens at what cronometric age they can start drinking. Age has notting to do with maturity. It is lucrative to ask our young men and women to serve in the defnce of our country and then deny them the right to have a cold beer when they return home. Ironically in many country where they served they (our underaged soldiers) were allowed to drink. Aside the fact that I believe taht it should be the society "the village" to set standards and not the "State" I believe that when we give our young folks the right to vote and treat them as adults they should be able to drink at 18.

Posted by: GLC Location: Waco on Aug 19, 2008 at 02:36 PM
Lower the drinking age will just mean more will think it's ok to drink and then they will get into cars - not a good thing. Leave the drinking age where it is. These presidents should be fired for even suggesting such a thing. They obviously don't really care about the young people that attend their schools. I hope MADD will continue to fight this.

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