Debate on Drinking Age a Real Rager

Continuing with the recent drinking theme, check out Mike Ives' article in this week's Seven Days about the Amethyst Initiative, a coalition of more than 100 college presidents fighting to open a debate on the wisdom of the 21+ drinking law.

The Amethyst group is facing serious opposition from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), The Governor’s National Highway Safety Association, The National Transportation Safety board and others, who all argue that the enactment of the 1984 Minimum Drinking Age Act has saved thousands of lives and should remain on the books. 

The initiative had significant support from three Vermont College presidents from Marlboro College, Norwich University and Champlain College until an AP story spread the fear that the institutions would be seen as wholly supporting the lowering of the drinking law to 18, though they only want to see an open debate.

John McCardell, former Middlebury College prez and founder of the Amethyst Initiative (pictured), plans to ask Congress to repeal a clause in the law that associates the 21+ drinking age with highway funding.

Photo by Matthew Thorsen.

Comments

[Gen X-er]

It's my belief that the drinking age of 21 was enforced (through Federal financial blackmail,) by President Reagan to socially separate the underclassmen from the leadership of upperclassmen in order to quash student unity and activism. Reagan hated the students of California and their activism while governor. This IS a college issue. Now that we have two never-ending wars and threats of more, the drinking age seems even more absurd. You can be arrested & charged as an adult, vote & join the military to fight for your country's corporate interests but you can't have a drink? When I went off to college and drove nearly 16 hours to get there, I had to sleep in my car because hotel after hotel wouldn't rent to someone under 21 who "...might drink underage on the premises." I was slapping myself to stay awake in between exits and finally had to illegally sleep in a rest-area. Because of the drinking age I almost fell asleep at the wheel. (Of course, prior to the drinking age being raised, the most common DUI's by far were middle aged men. Still are. Go figure.)

Now I'm well into my thirties and still resent being asked for I.D. to buy beer. When we treat 18-20 year olds like they aren't functional adults, they have no reason to act like they are.

[Justin Boland]

Just out of curiosity -- how is it a "debate"?

I'm under the impression there was never any rational argument for raising the drinking age and nobody's formulated one since. It's always been strictly about political maneuvering and highway funding.

Is there an actual "pro" side to this argument? Where can I find that?