How Old Is “Too Old”: The Age-Old Drinking Debate

Remember you college days, you know the years where most people incur an exhorbitant amount of debt to do and extensive amount of “partying” with some studying to justify the expense? Well, back when I was in school, the drinking age was, like now, 21 and our Rathskeller was open only from Thursday evening to Sunday.

Well, now it seems that all the gripes we has as young adults are gripping the college students of today, only this time around college officials seem to be on “their” side, at least when it comes to drinking.

While not completely on the same page, more and more university officials are siding with students in an effort to get lawmakers to lower the legal drinking age back down to 18.

But, even some of the students are divided on this one, with some suggesting that if individual are old enough to vote and fight (for their country) they are certainly “old enough” to have a drink (or two). Plus, they suggest that making drinking less “taboo” would lessen it’s “appeal” and the “trend” toward binge drinking. Others however are staunchly opposed suggesting that if you lower the drinking age, you’re simply going to “entice” those who are even younger than 18 to make an attempt at going clubbing, having a few drinks and putting themselves and others in danger. In fact, they add that it’s “easier” for youngsters to fake being 18 than it is to fake being 21.

Others however point out that those determined to do something, “will”, regardless of the legal drinking age. And, that seems to be the biggest concern for college administrators, especially when it comes to students going off campus to “socialize” and making dangerous decisions, that may be avoided if they were allowed to drink in their dorms or on campus with not far to go, primarily on foot.

According to statistics (provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving) more than two out of every five university/college students are binge drinkers and statistics show that about 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by those under 21 in done via binge drinking.

In addition, some local high school officials have also expressed concern regarding the unforeseen and unintended outcome of the proposed new rules and laws.

Even many parents are finding themselves torn, especially as they hear arguments by young adults noting how a drinking age as young as 16 works in some countries where it’s not considered such a big deal (among teens), or how many stopped drinking (as much) once they became legal, because once it became “okay”, the “appeal” was go