<p>Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity: “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” The existing punishments aren’t having an effect. The kids are drinking anyhow. Let’s try something different instead of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Open up the dialogue, I'm all for it, and I think there is a middle ground that could really make significant change possible.</p>
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^^^ 21 shots bar crawl is a recipe for suicide. I'm not kidding or exaggerating.
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<p>while not to say that 21 shots isn't a lot, i've been with many brothers taking 21 shots and a funnel of beer/tequila/vodka/rum/jager...and been fine, yeah the puked later into the night and had a horrible hangover the next day, they were fine.</p>
<p>My plan to solve the drinking and driving fatalities (the main reason the age is 21):</p>
<p>Step 1: Lower the drinking age and make pot legal.
Step 2: Tax pot
Step 3: PROFIT!!
Step 4: Use profit to install public transportation that doesn't suck. </p>
<p>Lets look at life for teens before my plan -</p>
<p>Billy - Lets go get wasted at Katie's house Tom.
Tom - Sounds grand Billy.
(Billy and Tom proceed to get wasted)
Billy - Tom, dude, tttom. Got to get home have work tomorrow.
Tom - Well **** Billy I'm wasted, I can't drive can you?
Billy - Heeeeell yeah I am so sick at the art of driving lets go.
Tom - Good idea.
(Billy in fact sucks at driving because he is intoxicated and Billy and Tom die).</p>
<p>Life for teens after my plan:
Billy - Let's go to the club and get wasted.
Tom - What a swell idea Billy!
(Billy and Tom get wasted)
Billy - Man Tom, I have work tomorrow I need to go home.
Tom - Ok lets take this new pot-funded public transportation home!
(Billy and Tom survive to have vicious hangovers).</p>
<p>steve Chapman in today's Chicago Tribune had a nice piece on the subject.</p>
<p>The</a> perils of a lower drinking age -- chicagotribune.com</p>
<p>He cites the U Mich study that says binge drinking on campuses has not risen since 1988 when the legal drinking age was increased. Chapman does not speculate why the presidents want to change the law now, but I suspect they would rather not have the hassle of keeping a reasonable legal infraction count on their campuses.</p>
<p>The line graph graphic does not appear on the web version, but it is striking that, starting at 1988, the last time the drinking age was increased, the alcohol related driving fatalities in age group 16-20 dropped considerably. I suspect that is why MADD would be against the college presidents' proposal.</p>
<p>This experience is significant, and plays into Chapman's closing statement of appealing to practical considerations vs self consistant logical grounds.</p>
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It's not hard to make a logical case for allowing 18-year-olds to buy alcohol, but only if you disregard the practical effects of letting them do something that many of them are not mature enough to handle. In this debate, the ultimate wisdom comes from Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, who reminded us that sometimes, a page of history is worth a volume of logic.
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<p>Lafalum84, I did not find any numbers but I did find an article that is based off my beliefs and uses France (as well as other countries/cultures) as an example. I would also like to allude to the statement that drinking in moderation does not destroy brain cells in the article</p>
<p>Drinking</a> with Parents Reduces Alcohol Abuse among Teenagers</p>
<p>idic5: Let's also abolish that annoying legal hindrance they call the 5th amendment -- that would save a lot of lives really quick. I mean, why rule out otherwise perfectly good evidence as illegal on the some stupid ruling of an "illegal search"? Man, I bet if the police could search you ANYTIME, safety would increase for the public really quickly.</p>
<p>drinking and cigar age should be the same.</p>
<p>What do you think is the main reason that people get drunk, is it to rebel or to actually experience that high from getting wasted, I have never gotten drunk and I have no interest in it.</p>
<p>i don't know anyone that just drinks to rebel.</p>
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i don't know anyone that just drinks to rebel.
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<p>Well hello there. =)</p>
<p>I think all the alcohol education I received prior to this next fall quarter had a negative effect on me.</p>
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What do you think is the main reason that people get drunk, is it to rebel or to actually experience that high from getting wasted, I have never gotten drunk and I have no interest in it.
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<p>Most people do it (surprise!) because it feels good and it's enjoyable. It's hard to explain. Might I suggest getting drunk to know what it's like (and getting a ride home from a sober person). It's better to do it now when you're surrounded by friends who you trust than it is to go wild as soon as you get to college.</p>
<p>I couldn't agree more! Also in the current system students are not only encouraged to binge, ut to binge and then drive on campuses where they feel safer going OFF CAMPUS to drink. A saner rule might be something along the lines of where we've gone with drivers licenses. I'm not quite suggesting a drinking license (although I kind of find it charming) but more that drinking after some age with adults over some greater age (carefully not being specific to avoid offending Kant) seems entirely reasonable. My safest and most enjoyable college drinking was largely done around classes held periodically in pubs - and we all walked back to our dorm rooms!</p>
<p>Dr. Andrew Flagel
Dean of Admissions
George Mason University
Not</a> Your Average Admissions Blog “A Beneath the Surface Look At Everything College Admissions (with a few shameless plugs)”</p>
<p>Either lower the drinking age or raise the age to vote and serve in the armed forces. Be consistent- either they are adults or they are not.</p>
<p>^Yea honestly. Its bs that some thing you have to be 18 or 21, totally arbitarily.</p>
<p>Unfortunately there are idiots who are too immature to drink, thus making everyone think 18 is too young a drinking age</p>
<p>Im 18, a responsible drinker (along with my friends). I agree with points on both sides. Some people are responsible, some aren't. Either way, we're still going to drink.</p>
<p>Just to throw it in there..</p>
<p>Legalize pot!</p>
<p>Weed doesnt kill people yet its illegal, but alcohol is the cause of many deaths. So much time and money is wasted putting people in jail over a couple bags of weed its ridiculous</p>
<p>Cofaloaf, you are a genius. hahaha</p>
<p>galisien, yes, this law infringes on the freedom of citizens. But there are a whole lot of such laws that also so impacts freedom. Driving a car and owning a gun are two examples that come to mind.</p>
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Unfortunately there are idiots who are too immature to drink, thus making everyone think 18 is too young a drinking age
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<p>Aptly said in light of the data that I noted above -- as a whole, there has been a salutory benefit to the 16-20 age group to make illegal (restrict) alcohol for this age group. This law results in, however, extra hassle to the proxy parents/guardians of this age group (college administrators). Get creative, deans and presidents. think.</p>
<p>What does the research say is the cause of binge drinking?</p>
<p>For me it's depression! :D</p>
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But there are a whole lot of such laws that also so impacts freedom. Driving a car and owning a gun are two examples that come to mind.
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<p>Generally covered by state law ... not federal law.</p>
<p>Is the minimum drinking age a federal law? But whether from a state or from the fed, it is still an imposition on the freedom of action of citizens. We do not enjoy an absolute freedom. Laws impeding that freedom are created by a legislative process. So go at it, supporters. Change the law.</p>
<p>One point about restrictive laws on driving and drinking, for example: allowing unfettered access to such items ends up restricting the freedom of others to enjoy a safe driving environment, for example.</p>