Published: August 21, 2008 10:03 am            

A sobering thought | College chiefs press for lowering drinking age

About 100 college and university presidents have said that it is time to re-evaluate the national drinking age.

What are they thinking? Or not thinking?

We’re happy to report that none lead schools in our region, with the closest apparently being the head of Seton Hill University in Greensburg.

However, on the list are the heads of such notable colleges and universities as Colgate, Dartmouth, Duke, Maryland, Ohio State, Syracuse, Smith and Tufts, and other Pennsylvania schools including Arcadia, Dickinson, Elizabethtown, Gettysburg, Lafayette, Robert Morris, St. Joseph’s, Washington & Jefferson and Widener.

These presidents are calling for a national discussion on the subject of lowering the legal drinking age to 18 from 21.

We have one basic question for them: Are you out of your collective minds?

The Governors Highway Safety Association said it was “dismayed,” and Mothers Against Drinking and Driving quickly denounced the idea as “irresponsible and dangerous.”

We agree 100 percent.

Many of these college presidents reason that this age cutoff is bad policy because it drives alcohol use underground where it can’t be observed and can’t be controlled, and that you increase the number who are drinking in secret.

Also, that it is driving students off campus to drink, thereby increasing their chances of being in a traffic accident or getting in trouble.

Do they really think lowering the legal age to 18 from 21 will suddenly change the behavior of teenagers?

How about driving the 18-year-olds to drinking and driving? Because that is exactly what will happen.

Would you like to see high school students suddenly buying six-packs of beer legally?

We are not naive enough to believe that underage drinking does not already happen every day. But why make it easier?

The age restriction dates to 1984, when federal law mandated a 10 percent cut in highway funds for any state allowing those under 21 to purchase or publicly consume alcohol.

We believe there indeed should be a national discussion, but not about lowering the legal age of drinking.

No, we believe there should be serious discussion about the leadership and vision of any university or college president who would even entertain such an appalling idea.

We encourage parents with children attending a college or university to call the office of the president and let your voice be heard.

We believe the Amethyst Initiative, as it is being called, is pure fool’s gold.

        

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