The Johnsonian

Issue date: 8/29/07 Section: News

Sixty-eight percent of Americans think the legal drinking age should be lowered, according to a poll by MSNBC this month.

For decades, the debate to lower the drinking age to 18 has been a heated discussion between lawmakers, parents, young adults and special interest groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Choose Responsibility, a web campaign run by John McCardell, the senator of Vermont, suggests that any 18-year-old wanting to purchase alcohol would obtain a drinking license by enrolling in a state-administered alcohol education course.

The campaign suggests that lowering the drinking age, while still exercising alcohol education and responsibility, might cut down on alcohol-related accidents.

Freshman mass communication major Teneka Dixon said she thinks alcohol education is a good idea.

"At least with a license and by taking a course, people are somewhat more knowledgeable about what they put in their bodies," Dixon said.

Others, like freshman chemistry major Darius Ollison, think it's a waste of time.

"Anyone can take a class and pass it, but they'll still do what they want to do," Ollison said. "I probably wouldn't try for a drinking license."

Anyone who chooses to enroll in the course must have successfully completed secondary education, according to the campaign proposal.

Also, anyone with an alcohol license who is caught driving while intoxicated, giving alcohol to minors or violating any other laws would have their license and all other drinking privileges revoked until age 21.

Of the 68 percent who support lowering the drinking age in the MSNBC poll, only 12 percent felt that 18-year-olds should take alcohol education classes in order to obtain a license.

The other 56 percent said 18-year-olds should be able to drink even without the proposed licensing system.

Still, some feel that the drinking age of 21 is not sufficient for maturity and decision making skills.

"Anyone under 25, not just 18-year-olds, should have to take a course to get an understanding of the consequences of overdrinking," Holly McCall, sophomore chemistry major, said.

Freshman sports management major Courtney Littlejohn agreed.

"The drinking age should be older than 21," Littlejohn said. "Even at 21, people aren't mature enough to handle the responsibility of drinking."

Senior art education major Bobby Michaud, who is old enough to drink, said 21 is a good age to start.

Continued...

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