Lowering the drinking age:  Will it ever happen?  
Thursday, October 11th, 2007

At the Democratic debate at Dartmouth College (New Hampshire), Dem candidates were asked whether or not they would support lowering the national drinking age from 21 to 18 years old.  "Especially," the questioner said, "Because we trust people at this age to make life and death decisions in our military."

Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, shocked some with his response:  "Of course, they should be able to drink at age 18, and they should be able to vote at age 16," he said.

John McCardell, who used to be the president of Middlebury College in Vermont, and now heads a nonprofit organization called Choose Reponsibility, says, "Legal age 21 has not worked.  Most people at the age of 21 have already consumed alcohol."  From their site:

"Since Legal Age 21, less young people are drinking, but those who choose to drink are drinking more. Young peoples' drinking is moving to the extremes: between 1993 and 2001, 18-20 year-olds showed the largest increase in binge drinking episodes. This trend should serve as a call to action for parents, educators, and lawmakers, for while moderate consumption represents little harm to young people and may even be psychologically beneficial, excessive and abusive consumption-binge drinking-spells disastrous consequences for our nation's youth."

The drinking age being different from the voting age and military enrollment age has long been a topic of debate, and I for one think it's ridiculous.  Make it all one or the other - 18 or 21.  It's not fair to have it both ways:  for a young man to be able to hold a gun and fight for our country, but is unable to have a beer afterwards.  I don't know where Kucinich's comment about lowering the voting age to 16 came from, though - I think at that age, children are still very much influenced by whatever politics their parents support, and that 18 is probably the right age for the polls.

Which side of the issue are you on?

Currently, any state that sets its legal drinking age lower than 21 forfeits 10% of its annual federal highway allowance.  That amount is many millions, so state level changes are less likely unless Congress changes that policy.  The most effective thing you can do is find a Presidential candidate that agrees with your view on the legal drinking age.  Next, you can find out who your Congress Rep. is, and contact them.

You can also visit some sites that support opposing sides of the issue, that provide more information, history, international comparisons, and other ways to get involved.  Those in support of the current drinking age of 21 can visit Why21.org, which is a "Support 21" compaign by M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).  If you think the age should be lowered to 18, you can find more info at ChooseResponsibility.org.  It is the future of your future generations...have a say!

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