Lowering the drinking age
A group of college presidents says pushing the limit to age 21 encouraged binge drinking.
What happened
College presidents at more than 100 schools signed a letter calling for lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, saying that the higher cut-off had encouraged a culture of clandestine binge-drinking. "Twenty-one is not working," says the group's statement, signed by presidents from prominent colleges such as Dartmouth, Duke and Syracuse. (Newsday)
What the commentators said
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It’s clear on any campus that students find ways to get their hands on alcohol, said Steve Chapman in the Chicago Tribune’s Minority of One blog, but setting the drinking age at 21 has had a major impact. Alcohol-related traffic deaths have dropped in the last quarter century, and “they've dropped most among those under the age of 21.”
Still, it’s hard to quibble with the educators’ logic, said Mike Hashimoto in The Dallas Morning News’ Opinion blog. They say kids drink whether it’s legal or illegal, and forcing them to do it in secret can be dangerous. And if adults under 21 can vote, sign contracts, serve on juries, and enlist in the military, shouldn’t they be allowed to have a beer?
No, said Barb Shelly in the Kansas City Star’s Midwest Voices blog. “Life is unfair that way.” Besides, young adults won’t drink less at a keg party because it’s legal. Surely the nation’s brightest college presidents can come up with a better way to fight binge drinking than telling kids to go ahead and drink.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Magazine solutions - May 10, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 10, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - May 10, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 10, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
'Box Trump in for real if he pulls another stunt. Put him behind bars.'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published