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University Presidents Support Lowering Drinking Age to 18
19-Aug-2008
Written by: Joe Thomas
More than 100 college and university presidents call for a national discussion over lowering the drinking age to 18, citing students’ well-being as main reason.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer and other news sources, many college and university presidents are in support of lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18. Quickly after the announcement, Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD) opposed the plan, citing it irresponsible and dangerous.
Peyton R. Helm, president of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, describes the attitude of MADD as absurd. Helm does not want a “policy,” rather a call for national discussion.
Helm is backed by 103 college presidents who believe that the current drinking regulations foster “dangerous, clandestine binge-drinking [in which] students make ethical compromises that erode respect for the law.”
The law was formed in 1984 when the federal government imposed a 10 percent cut in funding to any state that allowed the sale or consumption of alcohol to those who were under 21.
“If kids are able to handle themselves responsibly, then why not?” he said of lowering the drinking age. “I know all over the world it is like 18, some places 16, in Canada it's 19. I always thought 21 was a weird number. At 18, you're old enough to join the Army and die but you can't drink a beer,” said Gavin McGirr, a sophomore attending St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
The current policies in place cause college students to drink secretly and head off campus, which poses a threat to the surrounding neighborhoods.
Helm agrees, “It drives alcohol use underground where it can't be observed, it can't be controlled. . . . I think you increase the number who are drinking in secret, and driving off campus to drink.”
“As the mother of a daughter who is close to entering college, it is deeply disappointing to me that many of our educational leaders would support an initiative without doing their homework on the underlying research and science,” said Laura Dean-Mooney, President of MADD.
According to MADD, the number of deaths caused by drunk driving decreased once the drinking age was raised to 21.
Not all students and administrators are for the idea.
According to Donna Shalala, President of University of Miami and former secretary of health and human services, "I remember college campuses when we had 18-year-old drinking ages, and I honestly believe we've made some progress.”
Willy Hendrick, a junior at St. Joe’s, announced his opposition, “Even with myself, I've seen maturity since I was 18 . . . we would see more drinking and driving.”
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