The Amethyst Initiative, a new petition backed by college presidents to reevaluate the legal drinking age of 21, has sparked campus controversy nationwide.
The initiative currently has just under 130 signatures, including the presidents of Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, Texas A&M and Ohio State University.
Organizers within the Initiative were quick to note that it could help college administrators curb alcohol abuse among students.
"The situation that faces many college presidents isn't a good one. Alcohol abuse among young people is a serious problem," said Grace Kronenberg, assistant to the director for Choose Responsibility, the group responsible for forming the Amethyst Initiative.
However, other groups were unhappy with the proposed plan. Mothers Against Drunk Driving, an advocate for keeping the legal drinking at 21, challenged the initiative.
"We know 21 saves lives," said Chris Konschak, executive director for MADD Virginia and Washington D.C.
Konschak added that he had been in touch with the presidents of five Virginia schools to ask them to reconsider their signing of the initiative, including Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, Randolph Macon College, Sweet Briar College and Washington and Lee University. Nicole Nason, administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, echoed MADD's concerns about the initiative in a statement to the Collegiate Times.
"Minimum drinking age laws are among the most successful public health policy initiatives ever implemented, saving about 900 lives each year and an estimated 25,000 people over the past 30 years," Nason said. "We support the current law because more lives are saved."
Virginia Tech officials were mixed in their feelings about signing on to the Initiative. Zenobia Hikes, vice president of student affairs, was undecided on her feelings of the initiative.
"We're always interested in plans to serve in alcohol abuse prevention," Hikes said. "It's a problem people don't see as seriously as it should be."
Currently the university holds no official position on the initiative. Other university officials spoke out on the initiative.
"It's important that there's a discussion about it," said Steven Clarke, director of the Campus Alcohol Abuse Prevention Center.
However, Clarke also questioned the effect any change in the legal drinking age could have.
"The main concern is how our students would react. Many students have proven they're not able to handle alcohol," Clarke said. In 2007 there were 280 liquor law arrests, up from 194 in 2005, while in 2007 there were 742 liquor law violation referrals, up from 563 in 2005, according to Clarke.
Students nationwide have been joining in on the Amethyst Initiative debate. On Facebook over 5,000 members have joined one of more than ten groups dedicated to supporting the initiative.
In comparison, there are only two groups against the initiative, totaling just over 30 members for both groups.
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If 21 saves lives, wouldn't 25 save more? The folks at MADD and the NHTSA have to get real. I know very few 18-year-olds who are deterred by the current age restriction, so how can it be shown that the higher age is the reason that lives are saved?
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The whole idea is good in discussion, however, raising the drinking age will just push the anticipation for younger people to drink sooner. The problem is not the age, the problem is the level of education among the members in our society, If other countries can manage their youth, then so should we. Facebook and Myspace are easy social tools that can be maipulated by mass spamming and propagana. Therefore those are poor sources of statistics, especially when anyone of any age can choose to vote for and/or against the Initiative.
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I wonder if the educational initiatives being implemented in High School etc, had anything to do with the "most successful public health policy initiatives ever implemented, saving about 900 lives each year and an estimated 25,000 people over the past 30 years." Yet the law is ignored ("...Many students have proven they're not able to handle alcohol," Clarke said. In 2007 there were 280 liquor law arrests, up from 194 in 2005, while in 2007 there were 742 liquor law violation referrals, up from 563 in 2005, according to Clarke.) yet lives are being saved.
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Hmmmm..., I like your skepticism regarding the causation between the higher drinking age and saved lives. As I mentioned, the higher age restriction goes largely unenforced, and it is hardly a deterrent, so how can we claim that these saved lives are a direct consequence?
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MADD is a perfect example of a good idea gone wrong. The moment we let a bunch of liberal cat lovers decide that we're not intelligent enough to fend for ourselves, is the moment we've lost control.
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So the social norm has changed since my days when it was legal for beer at 18, wine at 19, liquor at 21. More importantly, it was accepted to drive while a little bit (or worse) drunk. Since Nancy Reagan forced all states to raise the drinking age, the social stigma of DUI has changed behavior of teenagers to NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. Beyond that, no statistics support the drinking age of 21 being the reason behind the reduction in traffic fatalities. Difficult situation for Steger as he must keep supporters sending $ to VT, but knows that the laws for underage possession are silly. In fact, VA laws are specific for age to Purchase. Extrapolated to possession by law enforcement, and poorly interpretted by university officials. You can drink with dad LEGALLY even if you are less than 21. Silly laws, time for discussion. Hats off to today's generation for NOT DRINKING AND DRIVING. 18...old enough to die for country....old enough to be responsible to drink beer.
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Jeff, I think the social stigma of DUI has changed all people's behavior, not just teenagers. Except, of course, the several older folks I know that take it quite literally and actually crack open a beer while they're behind the wheel. That's just retarded.
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the facebook groups have just started and the 30 people you speak of in two groups is incorrect only 2 days later. More than 100 are in one group as the word just starts to get out. It is easy to get many folks to sign up to support drinking at 18, but it takes guts and courage to stand up for a position that is clearly in the minority among the actual college students. good for the groups standing up for their beliefs even when it means going against the grain.
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Another problem is that we're chasing a phantom law. At the federal level, drinking under 21 is not illegal. The federal government doesn't emplace the drinking age, they just withhold money from states who allow drinking under 21. Hence, no state allows drinking under 21. Unless the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 is repealed, a movement would have to begin at the state level.
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Jason brings up a good point. I think the bigger issue should be the infringement on States' rights by the federal government (Civil War anyone?). To be honest, I had no idea this was the case until the Amethyst Initiative, and I think it's a much more serious concern than the drinking age.
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Zenobia Hikes may be a speaker, but appears to NOT be a leader!
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