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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
Is it time to rethink the minimum legal drinking age?
President Stephen Jordan announced last week he would join college and university presidents from across the country in signing a statement in support of a review of the federal 21-and-over law.
"It is time, I believe, for us to have a real conversation about alcohol and what the appropriate age limits are and the ways to control it," Jordan told Metro's trustees Sept. 5, at the monthly board meeting.
Coauthored by former Middlebury College of Vermont President John McCardell and several other college and university presidents around the nation, the Amethyst Initiative's statement questions the effectiveness of the current federal law and asks for a national debate on the issue.
The organization said the law, which is the highest minimum drinking age in the world, contributes to "clandestine" behavior and hinders colleges' ability to adequately deal with the issue.
The problem of binge drinking, a statement on the group's website read, is connected to the high age limit because teenagers are forced to drink behind close doors away from adult supervision.
Another criticism the group raised was the inconsistency of allowing youth to enlist in the military and to vote at 18, while telling them they are not mature enough to drink.
The production of fake IDs is also increased as teenagers find ways around the restrictions, the group says.
Since the initiative was started in June, almost 150 presidents from colleges and universities around the country have signed on in support, sparking a debate nationwide.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving has released several statements in response to the Amethyst Initiative, saying that Americans overwhelmingly reject such a change in law and citing what it says is conclusive evidence showing 21 is an effective age.
MADD said statistics reflecting a marked drop in alcohol deaths after 1984 prove that the law has worked and should not be changed.
In 1984, the federal government passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act.
The act requires states to comply with the minimum drinking age or risk losing 10 percent of their highway funds.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have come out against the presidents' initiative, recommending the country maintain the 21-year- minimum legal drinking age.
The CDC based their recommendation on statistics showing a median 16 percent decline in motor vehicle crashes among underage youth in states that have adopted the higher age since 1984.
"Underage and binge drinking is a tough problem, and we welcome an honest discussion about how to address this challenge but that discussion must honor the science behind the 21 law which unequivocally shows that the 21 law has reduced drunk driving and underage and binge drinking," MADD national president Laura Dean-Mooney said in a Aug. 19 press release.
MADD has also urged parents to put pressure on colleges and universities whose presidents have supported the review of the law.
"I respect MADD and the issues they are trying to deal with -- and from the point of view of those affected by such tragedy," Jordan said.
"But we as college professors are now seeing the effects of the policy, and anyone who thinks alcohol will just go away if we ignore it, is sadly mistaken."
Jordan said the intent of initiative was to open up discussion -- not necessarily in support of lowering the current age of 21 to 18 -- because problems with the current law urgently needed addressing.
"My personal belief is it is time for us to do this," Jordan said. "I have seen at colleges and universities that I've served at around the country that what we have done is push alcohol abuse out into homes and neighborhoods from our campuses because we've failed to deal with this issue," he said. "I've seen young people now move strictly right to the hard stuff, bypassing any notion of responsible drinking."
Too few of Metro's trustees were at the meeting for a quorum to formally approve the president's request that he be allowed to sign the statement and grant interviews to the media going on record in favor of the initiative.
However, none of those trustees that were present raised any objections to the Jordan's proposal.
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