Jonathan Rogers

There is a movement to lower the federal drinking age down to 18 from 21. What may surprise you is that this movement isn’t led by high school seniors and college freshmen. The supporters behind the Amethyst Initiative are 100 college presidents.

Launched in July 2008, the Amethyst Initiative is made up of chancellors and presidents of universities and colleges across the United States.  These higher education leaders have signed their names to a public statement that the 21 year-old drinking age is not working, and, specifically, that it has created a culture of dangerous binge drinking on their campuses.

The Amethyst Initiative supports informed and unimpeded debate on the 21 year-old drinking age. Amethyst Initiative presidents and chancellors call upon elected officials to weigh all the consequences of current alcohol policies and to invite new ideas on how best to prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol use.

The members says the 21 year age isn’t working as a policy. There are legitimate arguments, such as when these kids go off to college, away from parent’s eyes, they can easily get alcohol from older students. There is the tired argument that an 18 year old can fight in a war but not sip a beer.

I would be cynical and say there is a pure economic reason for school presidents to fight for a lower age. College campuses have to spend a ton of money on alcohol education and enforcement for teens when they arrive. By lowering the age, they can save a ton of money.

However, I do buy into the argument that lowering the drinking age would be beneficial. It does get rid of some logistical problems at college. It also flows with what I have deemed the “cookie jar” theory. When you tell a kid he can’t have a cookie from the cookie jar, as soon as he is big enough to reach the jar, he will sneak a cookie, finds it tastes great, and has another and another and another until the jar is empty and he has a stomach ache (and a cavity). If you instead give the kid one cookie, in moderation while you are still in control, and teach him about balanced eating, then by the time he gets old enough to reach the cookie jar himself he will have one for dessert and not go overboard. The analogy works for teens who go to college without having a drink beforehand. They go out to a party and get carried away, and that is when binge drinking becomes problematic. It is all about moderation and removing the mystery factor about alcohol.

I doubt that this will really get any traction. Those who are fighting this movement are probably the same to not like to be talked down to by a “college educator” about what is best for their children. And you will not get any traction by having kids complain about how unfair it all is. The problem is by the time you have any credibility to support this movement, you are old enough to drink and likely less passionate to fight for it.

Oh, and for you fellow dubyuhnell alumni, yes President Ruscio is on the list. You can see his name, along with many others at the list of supporters.