This topic is really less about drinking age and more about drunk driving.
The age increase significantly reduced motor vehicle deaths.
So it's pretty clear that reducing the drinking age will quite likely lead to lots of morbidity and mortality- and that increase is literally in the thousands of dead kids. That's a tough trade off.
Higher drinking age saves lives
As a parent to kids in this under 21 age group, it's really challenging. I don't have a problem with the college kids drinking- but getting behind the wheel is verboten.
I think this attitude, at least among the kids I know, is pretty well accepted. Designated drivers with these kids are common, and my kids have been called late at night by many a friend to drive them home from a party. I support that.
It seems to me that some kind of graduated drinking age may make more sense. My son goes to a college towns where bars admit 19 year olds, but they 'can't drink' until they're 21. Makes absolute sense to me, especially since no one is driving. Maybe severe penalties for a detectable BAC for under 21 year olds driving- like automatic suspension of driving.
On the other side of the coin, there's pretty good evidence that the 21 drinking age has just accelerated binge drinking and discouraged moderation. It's a good point, and lots of college Presidents are supporting changing the age back.
Amethyst Initiative » About