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Amanda Costanza
Professor Packer
English 1010
November 22, 2011
Should We Reconsider the Drinking Age?
Quick Summary
After Prohibition most states set the minimum drinking age at twenty-one. During the
1970’s various states lowered the drinking age to eighteen, nineteen, or twenty. This decrease in
age was correlated with a drastic increase in car crashes among youth. In 1984 the government
chose “…to enact the Uniform Drinking Age Act, which mandated reduced federal
transportation funds to those states that did not raise the MLDA to 21. Currently all the states
have a twenty-one year old minimum drinking age” (“Minimum”).
Since the 1984 act there has been ongoing debate in America about whether or not the
drinking age should be lowered. Some college presidents, experts and politicians believe that it
could potentially decrease binge drinking. However, some experts and politicians disagree and
believe that by making alcohol more accessible to teens we would see an increase in not only
binge drinking, but also drunk driving. People who want to lower the drinking age tend to feel
that driving is more of a danger to American teens than alcohol. They also believe that if teens
were introduced and educated about alcohol in a manner similar to driving, they would behave
more responsibly.
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College President’s Perspective
College presidents have been alarmed by the recent increase in binge drinking on college
campuses. The Amethyst Initiative was created by over 130 college presidents that wanted to
encourage discussions over the drinking age. They suggest that lowering the drinking age could
decrease dangerous binge drinking (Wechsler, Nelson).
They feel that most of the dangers of binge drinking occur with teens desiring to drink
but being obligated to hide their actions. They often rush drinks during “pre-gaming” so that they
can have a buzz before they go somewhere else where they cannot drink alcohol. The college
presidents feel that “The principal problem...is not drunken driving [it] is clandestine binge
drinking” (McCardell Jr.). Teens often drink in abandoned places and afraid of the repercussions,
hide it from their parents. Instead of being able to call them for a ride, they drive after drinking to
avoid getting caught; this decision can be fatal (McCardell Jr.).
Choose Responsibility is a non-profit started by John McCardell president of Middlebury
College. Along with The Amethyst Initiative, they suggest lowering the drinking age to eighteen
and requiring teens to complete educational courses on alcohol and the related risks. After teens
completed the course and passed the exams they would receive permits or licenses allowing them
to drink but with certain restrictions (Main).
They also strongly urge a transition in how Americans view alcohol. They suggest
introducing teens to alcohol within a safe family based environment to teach them more
responsible drinking habits (Main). An article from the New York Times’ Room for Debate
discusses the idea behind this concept. Some of the people argued that if teens are first
introduced to alcohol right after they leave home -- in crowded party settings -- they will be less
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wise in their decisions (“Teenage”).“What would you rather have? Kids experiencing the effects
of alcohol with the guidance of their parents, or … with their peers shouting “chug, chug, chug”
at them” (“Teenage”)? Often times this party setting with peer pressure, causes kids to overdrink
and put themselves in danger, in an effort to fit in.
Another point that the college presidents focus on is the discrepancy between the legal
drinking age of twenty one and the legal age of adulthood being eighteen (McCardell Jr.). It
hardly seems logical that an eighteen year old could not drink champagne on their wedding day
or have a beer with their fellow soldiers who fought with them in Iraq (Buell).
College presidents feel that the drinking age of twenty one has proved to be ineffective
for our current times. They realize that safer roads and cars, as well as increased awareness of the
dangers of alcohol, have made drunken driving deaths less prominent. They think we should
adjust our tactics for the new problem of binge drinking. They believe if we lowered the drinking
age, educated teens on responsibility, and required an appropriate alcohol education course it
may lower the shocking numbers of binge drinkers in all age groups (McCardell Jr.).
Expert’s Perspective
Some experts are doubtful of college president’s claims that a lower drinking age could
decrease binge drinking. They worry that a minimum drinking age of eighteen could encourage
youth to drink irresponsibly and increase drinking related deaths (Moyse and Fonder). However,
there are also some experts that agree with the arguments of the college presidents. These experts
tend to feel that rather than increasing regulations on alcohol we should focus our efforts on
changing how society views alcohol consumption (Buell).
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The experts that are happy with the current minimum age argue that college presidents
are neglecting their “responsibility” with enforcing the drinking laws. They conclude that
college presidents would prefer to lower the minimum age rather than enforce the law on their
campuses (Moyse and Fonder).
They point out that according to the Department of Transportation the current drinking
age has saved about one thousand lives each year. This is not a number to be taken lightly. They
find it difficult to comprehend the incentive for lowering the drinking age and risking the lives of
not only teens and drivers but also pedestrians (Moyse and Fonder).
On the other hand Dr. David Hanson, one of the proponents of the lower minimum
drinking age, feels that despite our best attempts to combat underage drinking it is still prominent
and quite dangerous due to its illicit nature (Ogilvie).
John Buell, a journalist for Bangor Daily News who has researched the drinking age,
feels that eighteen year olds face many dangers and that alcohol should not be considered so
much more dangerous than the rest. He finds it unfair that an eighteen year old is considered an
adult and is allowed to vote, be married, join the army and in some cases smoke, but never to
drink. He feels that this inherently makes the current drinking law a form of “hypocrisy” (Buell).
These experts suggest two steps that should be connected with a lower drinking age. The
first is the drinking education course that Choose Responsibility and the college presidents are
proponents of. The argument is that through better education and permits with restriction that
would be determined through studies and research, people would drink more responsibly (Buell).
John Buell said that, “The legal drinking age seems to be less important than the culture
and practices surrounding alcohol.” This is what the second step focuses on. It encourages us to
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create a safe, family based atmosphere to encourage responsible drinking habits before youth
leave home (Buell).
Both views from the experts seem to realize that there is no simple solution to the
drinking age issue. Those satisfied with the current drinking age cannot help but feel that it
would be a shame to risk the lives of so many people by making alcohol more accessible, while
the experts, who feel we should lower the drinking age, believe that the current age has been
ineffective and we should carefully consider other options.
Politician’s Perspective
Politicians have varying opinions on the drinking age. Some feel that is has been very
effective and saved countless lives (Moyse and Fonder). Others worry that it is forcing underage
drinking into places that cannot be properly monitored. However, one of the biggest problems
that makes discussion of the drinking age nearly impossible is the fear of losing highway funding
(Curran).
Politicians that agree with the current drinking age have one main argument. The number
of alcohol related deaths has declined dramatically. These lives saved each year are important
and there is no reason we should consider lowering the minimum drinking age and risking the
likelihood of so many deaths (Moyse and Fonder).
In Vermont, Senator Hinda Miller argues that rather than “…preventing underage
drinking [we are] simply putting it outside the public eye.” This results in alcohol related deaths
of another sort, with ill-fated decisions to drive under the influence in misguided attempts to
avoid discovery (Curran).
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Although politicians have varying opinions, neither side can be certain of what is best.
However, some senators are left wondering if a law made twenty years ago and which has
caused so much debate is worth reconsidering, at least to confirm that it is still the best method
of alcohol regulation (Curran).
Conclusion
Should we reconsider the drinking age? It is clear that there is no easy answer or solution
to this question. While many people support the current drinking age and feel that statistics prove
that it is effective, not everyone is convinced.
Proponents for a lower drinking age seem to realize that it may not be the perfect
solution, however they hope that discussion over the issue can at least be encouraged and
thoroughly considered. Meanwhile, proponents of the current drinking age understand that the
rise in binge drinking is a problem, but are hesitant to risk more lives by lowering the drinking
age. Whatever your stance on the issue may be, it is clear that we must readjust our tactics in
some way to attack the new problem of binge drinking.
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Works Cited
Buell, John. “It Is Healthy for Teens to Drink Moderately in the Home.” Teen Drug Abuse
(2011). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 12 Nov.2011
Curran, John. "Vermont Latest to Eye Lower Drinking Age." Rutland Herald (Rutland,
VT). Feb. 29 2008: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 16 Nov 2011.
Main, Carla T. "Underage Drinking and the Drinking Age." Policy Review (2009): 33-46. SIRS
Researcher. Web. 14 Nov. 2011.
McCardell Jr., John M. “The Drinking Age Should Be Lowered.” Teen Drug Abuse (2011).
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 12 Nov. 2011
"Minimum Legal Drinking Age." American Medical Association - Physicians, Medical Students
& Patients (AMA)(n.d). American Medical Association. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
Moyse, Misty, and Melanie Fonder. "The Drinking Age Should Not Be Lowered." Teen Drug
Abuse (2011). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 14 Nov. 2011.
Ogilvie, Jessica Pauline. "Pro/Con: Should Legal Drinking Age Be Lowered to 18?." Los
Angeles Times. 30 May 2011: E.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 16 Nov 2011.
"Teenage Drinking Diaries." Web log post. Room For Debate. Ed. The Editors. The New York
Times, 25 June 2010. Web. 14 Nov. 2011.
Wechsler, Henry, and Toben F. Nelson. "Will Increasing Alcohol Availability by Lowering the
Minimum Legal Drinking Age Decrease Drinking and Related Consequences Among
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Youths?" American Journal of Public Health 100.6 (2010): 986-92. SIRS Researcher.
Web. 07 Nov. 2011.