Universities+For+Lowering+the+Age

Colleges FOR Lowering the Drinking Age
Prestigious colleges across America want to lower the drinking age to 18 because it would result in less binge drinking and underground drinking on campus.It is a good idea because most underagers drink a lot at a time because "if they have it they're going to drink it" because they don't know when they will be able to next. If they are legal to drink, then they might lay off the excessive drinking and "drinking til you puke" games. The idea for the license to drink is a good idea because it is just like getting your license to drive. One would have to take mandatory classes in high school like a driver's ed class in order to learn about the effects of alcohol, the chemistry of alochol, and the dangers of drunk driving. You can't just give someone a license to drive when they turn a certain age and expect them to know how to drive or figure it out themselves. The same thing goes for drinking. When someone turns the legal age to drink you can't just give them an ID and expect them to know the effects that excessive drinking could have on them or driving under the influence. The idea for the mandated classes would definitely need to take effect if the country lowers the drinking age to 18. All in all, our position on the debate is that the country should lower the drinking age because it will lower "underground drinking."
 * __Overview:__**



"Binge Drinking."
[]

Statistics
-100 of the best colleges in the U.S. want to [|lower the drinking age to 18]. -The colleges are saying that the current laws are actually encouraging dangerous binge drinking on campus. -These colleges are in a movement called the Amehyst Initiative. -They believe the law is unjust, unfair, and discriminatory. -Moana Jagasia, a Duke University Sophomore from Singapore, where the drinking age is lower, said reducing the age in the U.S. could be helpful.
 * __Colleges:__**

-"If the age is younger, you're getting exposed to it at a younger age, and you don't freak out when you get to campus" Jagasia said. -It is said that college students will drink no matter what, but do so more dangerously when it's illegal.
 * __Reasons Why It Would Be Beneficial:__**

__**It's Unethical and Unfair:**__ -It is unethical that an 18 year old can vote, enlist in the army, go to jail, or fire a gun (make all those choices and responsibilities) and not be able to make the choice to sit down and have an alcoholic drink. -By choosing fake IDs, students make ethical compromises that erode respect for the law.

__**The Current Law Pushes Underage Drinking Underground:**__ -[|Supporters] feel that the law isn't working and that it has created a dangerous culture of clandestine drinking. -They argue that the current drinking law pushes drinking underground, where alcohol abuse, in the form of binge drinking games, is rampant. -If underagers drink way too much and need to seek medical attention, they would be less likely to contact authorites because of the fact that they are underage and it would result in getting in trouble for breaking the law. If they are legal, they would most likely not be drinking to death, but also they would have no problem seeking help because they wouldn't get in trouble. This may result in less deaths caused by alochol poisoning.

__**Prohibition:**__ -They say that prohibition did not work the first time, so what is the point in trying it again? It is not working! People are still going to drink even with the prohibition laws. It won't make people obay the law, they just find ways around it.

__**Solutions:**__ -One of the solutions is [|lowering the drinking age to 18], in hopes that the young people will lay off the binge drinking, which will no longer be criminalized, and learn the responsibility of drinking like they do driving. -John McCardell wants to lower the drinking age to 18 and have "mandatory classes in high school that would include the chemistry of alcohol, the physical consequences of abuse, and sitting in on AA sessions. Passing in an exam would result in a license to drink."


 * Read Our Memo About Passing the Bill!!**


 * Letter: [[file:letter for lowering drinking age.docx]]**