Crescent-News.com - Should legal drinking age be 18?

By LISA NICELY

nicely@crescent-news.com

Should the legal drinking age be lowered to 18?

That's a question many people are asking in light of an initiative by individuals involved in higher education to lower the drinking age from 21.

Not everyone agrees on an answer, even college students.

"I say go for it," said Aubrie Ridinger, a Defiance College student. "If we're adults we can make adult decisions. Kids would drink no matter what, unfortunately."

"I think if they make it only because of soldiers, then they should state it's only for soldiers (age 18 and older)," DC student Jerika Hennes said of the initiative.

Kellie Raypole, another DC student, said no matter what age it is legal to drink, kids will drink regardless.

"It's a lost cause," she said.

Some others also didn't think lowering the legal drinking age to 18 was a good idea.

"I think if it was 18 it would be a lot worse than it is now," said Sarah Conklin of underage drinking.

In 1984, the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed. The act imposed a penalty on states that set drinking ages lower than 21.

Launched in July, the movement to lower the drinking age to 18 is called the Amethyst Initiative. The initiative is made up of presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities across the nation. They have been asked to sign a public statement saying that the drinking age is not working and is, in fact, dangerous to campuses.

Educators are then asked to hold debates on the issue and contact their local officials about the issue.

The Amethyst Initiative states, "Our experience as college and university presidents convinces us that twenty-one is not working. A culture of dangerous, clandestine "binge-drinking" -- often conducted off-campus -- has developed. Alcohol education that mandates abstinence as the only legal option has not resulted in significant constructive behavioral change among our students.

"Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer."

So far, 129 educators have signed up with the initiative. In Ohio, Ohio State University has signed. Area colleges including Defiance College, Northwest State Community College, Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo have not signed the initiative statement.

"Defiance College is not currently a signatory of the Amethyst Initiative, but we agree with these college presidents and others who have identified problem drinking by college students as a growing concern," said Dr. Ken Wetstein, vice president for student engagement and dean of students. "Problem drinking by college students may be related to the high drinking age limit since underage students who drink often take their drinking 'underground' and away from supervision, but there are most certainly other factors at work, too. Taken alone, a lower drinking age will not solve all of the problems associated with problem-drinking. "Our college's focus will continue to be promoting safe and healthy decision-making among all of our students regarding alcohol.

"The college was recently selected as a recipient of a CHOICES grant by the NCAA to promote healthy decision-making regarding alcohol among its students. This competitive grant was awarded to the college based on our unique alcohol education and intervention model."

Defiance College changed its alcohol policy on campus in fall 2006. The institution went from a dry campus, where no alcohol was permitted, to a more progressive policy that allows students age 21 or older to have beer or wine in the privacy of their residence hall rooms, with only other of-age students present. Alcohol is banned in the freshmen residence hall regardless of age.

"This policy change was developed by a special task force made up of students, faculty, staff and members of the board of trustees after students expressed concern about the college's rigid policy," said Wetstein. "The task force examined trends at other institutions and also the specific challenges unique to the DC campus. The task force recommended a policy change, which was endorsed by the student senate, the faculty and ultimately approved by the board of trustees.

"Our of-age students have responded well to the policy change and they appreciate being trusted with their rights under the law to consume alcohol. We continue to address under-age drinking and problem drinking when it arises and we will always seek to educate our students about the appropriate use of alcohol."

Representatives from other area universities and colleges say the movement is worth looking at, although they are not certain if the drinking age should be lowered.

"Alcohol causes a lot of problems for a lot of people. The initiative is worth looking at and studying, but I don't think there is going to be any easy answers," said Matt Lockwood, director of public relations at the University of Toledo.

Bowling Green State University interim president Dr. Carol Cartwright cites binge drinking as a huge issue on campuses.

"Binge drinking is a critical issue facing not only colleges and universities but any institution serving young people in their formative years of adulthood," said Cartwright.

BGSU is not part of the initiative, but welcomes individuals discussing the issue. "We have an obligation to help educate them about responsible drinking. I believe any effort that increases the awareness and discussion about alcohol abuse is worthwhile. Raising new ideas and debating issues are what colleges and universities are all about."

One local college, however, doesn't have to deal with the alcohol issue.

"It does not pertain to our campus," said Mari Yoder, vice president for institutional advancement at Northwest State Community College. NSCC's students live off campus. "The average age of our students is 28 years old, so it is not a major issue for us."

It is a major issue, however, for law enforcement.

"One of the reasons why the drinking age was taken to 21 years ago is that is the year young men and women reach maturity both physically and psychologically," said Defiance County Sheriff Dave Westrick, adding that the danger of becoming addicted to a substance is much less if a person is mature.

"Years ago kids were 17, 18 when graduated from high school. Now they are 17, 18 and 19 when graduated from high school. If that (18) was the age, they would be drinking when they were juniors legally. There are a whole host of problems that goes with that. I can't image that will pass if common sense prevails."

Also, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) has released a statement. CEO Stephen Wallace said, "SADD believes that lowering the current minimum-age drinking laws would likely do little, if anything, to reduce problematic drinking behaviors on college campuses and would contribute to the downward age trending of initiation into alcohol use by legally moving it into the high school community."