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Some College Presidents Want The Drinking Age Lowered

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Colorado Springs
Posted: 7:49 PM Aug 19, 2008
Last Updated: 10:04 PM Aug 19, 2008
Reporter: Rosie Barresi
Email Address: rbarresi@kktv.com

22 comments

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More than 100 college presidents are backing the idea of lowering the legal drinking age from 21-years old to 18-years-old.

President of Colorado College Richard Celeste is one of the many presidents who believe that if you force college kids to wait until they're 21 you're only encouraging them to binge drink. "That's not something I would expect from him," said Colorado College student Tirso Peguero.

The initiative is called the Amethyst Initiative. The word stems from ancient Greece. It means to ward off drunkenness.

"I'm a big fan of it," said Colorado College student Mandy Moench.

"I think it's a good idea, but I don't see it happening," said Peguero.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving hopes it doesn't happen either. "If you make alcohol more accessible to youth more youth are going to die," said Pamela VanOverbeke, MADD Victim Advocate.

According to a MADD study 72% of parents say the legal drinking age should stay the same.

VanOverbeke says because of the 21-age requirement more than 900 kids are saved every year. "That's the bottom line," said VanOverbeke.

But ask any college student, and they'll tell you changing the law only makes sense.

"You can go to war, you can vote, but you can't drink," said Moench.

"If alcohol were the norm earlier we wouldn't have these kinds of issues," said Peguero.

Some college students believe teaching teens their limits at 18-years-old would slow down the culture of dangerous binge drinking.

"I don't understand it," said VanOverbeke. She says your age and binge drinking are two separate issues.

Mesa State College in Grand Junction and Naropa University in Boulder are the other two colleges in Colorado that are behind the initiative.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: d on Aug 22, 2008 at 03:48 PM
I understand that they will find a way anyway..I would like to see what insurance agents think about this? And if they do lower it I think there should be a harder test to get your drivers license and a class that MUST be taken that show pictures and teaches about drinking and driving...But I still hope this doesnt happen..It'll take away the joy of turning 21 also...I know sounds stupid but hey..

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 22, 2008 at 03:45 PM
I think that it is just like the speed limit if it is 45 people go 55 and if it is 55 they go 65....so if it is 18 then 17,16,15- year old will think oh i can drink I'm almost 18..

Posted by: Cspringer Location: Csprings on Aug 22, 2008 at 08:32 AM
Ed- you are right..where there is a will there is a way. I attended UCCS as a freshmen in the dorms in 2002 (before they were dry) and the whole group of us all being under 21 never had any trouble getting alcohol, whether through fake id's or older friends. and yes, it was all binge drinking because the idea of being able to drink when we werent "allowed" to made it all that better. Lowering the drinking age won't change anything but add more problems to our society, its too late. You are right in teaching kids at the right age to be responsible and accountable for their own actions.

Posted by: agewas18forme Location: springs on Aug 21, 2008 at 07:55 PM
maybe why i am now a responsible non drinker-don't make age such a big deal. teach to be responsible and maybe fewer will become alcoholics.

Posted by: elmo Location: springs on Aug 21, 2008 at 06:51 PM
lowering the age limit will raise your insurance!these idiot kids, no matter what age, they are neglient,irresponsible,no morals,etc,etc. and pretend they are smart. So go ahead ,lower the age and see how many of them get killed! Personally i could care less!

Posted by: Dave Location: C/S on Aug 21, 2008 at 04:39 PM
Suk it Misty and Jennifer!

Posted by: C Location: CS on Aug 21, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Jennifer, just a heads up but it IS illegal for anyone to drive if your BAC is over .04, it is considered a DWAI, a BAC of .08 or higher will get a full DUI. I might be mistaken and have to check up on the laws, but I believe it is already illegal for ANYONE under 21 to have any alcohol in their system while driving, but I don't think the punishments are as strict as Misty suggests (although a very good idea!)

Posted by: Jennifer Location: CSpgs on Aug 21, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Actually, Todd, it is not illegal to drink and drive if your BAC is under .08 in this state. Misty has a good idea. If you are 18-20, even a BAC of .01 could mean arrest for DUI and loss of license. I like the idea.

Posted by: C Location: CS on Aug 21, 2008 at 11:09 AM
I think there are many pros and cons with lowering the drinking age. Most young adults (and kids under 18) in the US have been brought up with knowing about binge drinking and thinking how "cool" it can be. In most other countries where the drinking age is 18 or 19, you do not see binge drinking or DUI's anywhere near as much, and the PARENTS and society have taken responsibility to showing these kids how to be responsible while drinking. It's not uncommon in Europe that kids have a glass of wine with their parents at the dinner table! Because it is illegal here more kids find a thrill of being able to drink and will do it more to excess. Until that mentality changes for kids to not want to drink way too much, it may not be safe to lower the drinking age just yet. Although at the same time, if the age was 18 or 19, that illegal thrill could disappear (as others had stated when they turn 21) and we MIGHT see less problems with the binge drinking and DUI's in this age group.

Posted by: Ed Location: C/S on Aug 21, 2008 at 06:57 AM
Guess what people kids are drinking regardless of the legal age,taking drugs and haveing sex. Why do we pretend to be affended and shocked by lowering the drinking age. Where there is the will, they will find a way. Most of these kids have their very own supplier(Parents).

Posted by: Todd Location: C/S on Aug 21, 2008 at 05:04 AM
Misty, you've gone "outer limits". It's illegal for ANYONE to drive under the influence.

Posted by: Sara Location: Colorado Springs on Aug 20, 2008 at 08:15 PM
Kids are already drinking under age while the age limit is 21. So if you lower it to 18, then you can assume kids under 18 are going to start drinking.

Posted by: k Location: colo spgs on Aug 20, 2008 at 06:14 PM
When the drinking age was 18 it was raised because of the number of kids dying of alchohol related deaths. Not only were more teens dying, more innocent drivers on the road were dying as a result of being hit by a drunk teens. It was raised to lower insurance costs. Serving our country and voting does not impair your ability to perform a function. Alcohol does impair your ability to talk, walk, drive and any other motor skill. It impairs your ability to make sensible decisions. We keep going backwards people. The legal age should be raised if anything and all vehicles on the road should be installed with alcohol detectors to prevent a vehicle from starting. Be proud that you can serve your country, cast your vote to shape the future of our world. What's to be proud of if you can drink. So you can drink wooohooo! There's something you can stand for. Raise the age to 25.

Posted by: Robert Location: PPCC on Aug 20, 2008 at 03:30 PM
It is a known fact that teenagers 18 and lower drink. Having the age limit lowered or raised or left at 21 does absolutely nothing. If a teenager wants to drink, they will find a way to drink. I am fore having the drinking age set at 18 because everything else is. You can die in the military, be executed in prison for a crime, gamble, smoke, vote, and marry all at the age of 18. I agree with the college presidents that binge drinking would go down. I had my first drink when I was 16, and when I finally turned 21 this year, there was really no glory or point. Yes, the odds are that DUI's will go up, but what stops a teenager from drinking and driving now anyways? I think it is garage that parents blame an age limit for kids drinking and driving when the parents are too lazy to make sure kids know it is dangerous to drink and drive. I think we should lower the drinking age so its not "cool" to break the law and drink. AND, I believe we need to teach why not to drink and drive.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 20, 2008 at 02:11 PM
If they lower the drinking age to 18, the irresopnisble side of them will come out. When you are 18 alcohol is easy enough to get without giving them the white flag to do it legally. When you are 21 the thrill for it dies down (well for me it did) and you dont want to do it as much. There will be more deaths on campuses across colorado and then they will see how stupid this all was. I say no to changing the drinking age to 18. It just isnt right.

Posted by: D Location: Colorado Springs on Aug 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Um..what? The point is that it's illegal to drink until you're 21. This "well, they're gonna do it anyway" mentality is not going to solve these senseless deaths and endangering lives on the road. It doesn't prevent underage drinkers to stay off the road now. If anything you're asking for more dangerous drivers. I can imagine the headlines now. "18 year old dies 3 days before graduating HIGH SCHOOL." Fighting in a war and voting are both for good reasons. Quite honestly if these kids want to drink maybe they should join the military and get stationed overseas. Japan's drinking age is 19 and I believe so is Europe. The only arguements to lower the drinking age is "it makes sense", "if they wait then they'll binge drink", and "we can fight and vote, so why not?" What about higher teen pregnancies compliments of Jack daniels, and higher prison populations due to vehicular homicide? By the way...I'm a bartender

Posted by: Keith Location: Colo. Sprgs on Aug 20, 2008 at 12:30 PM
The age should be raised, not lowered.

Posted by: misty Location: cs on Aug 20, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Here's a thought, why not make it illegal for 18-21 year old to drive under the influence of any alcohol at all. The same rule applies to new teen drivers and cell phones. So, they could only drink but not drive. This would give them an adjustment period to learn when they've had too much - you usually know by the next morning.. it doesn't require driving to figure it out. Thus anyone 18-21 who drives and gets pulled over for any reason could lose their license.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 20, 2008 at 09:54 AM
Well I agree with Stephanie. I think that if they're allowed to drink at 18 than they wont drink so much...by the time they're 21 it will be an old thing drinking and all..and I bet they will all focus more on their careers instead of drinking...but i do think that if this law is passed bars and clubs etc... will be making a lot of money and that for a while things will be a little wild with people drinking but at least they will be more open because its not illegal and they can call for rides/taxi without the fear of getting caught...

Posted by: Stephanie Location: Colorado Springs on Aug 20, 2008 at 08:54 AM
Tell me how it is we can draft 18 year olds into the army to potentially DIE for their country, but they can't drink. It's ridiculous! What people fail to realize is part of the draw to underage drinking is the fact that it is illegal and you could get in trouble for it. Just like drugs. If you lower the age to 18 (as it has been previously), sure, more teens will start drinking, but the glory of it will fade and diminish just as it does with someone who's recently turned 21. You can get cigarettes, vote and gamble when you're 18, why can't you drink? An older adult is just as likely to get behind the wheel and drive after drinking as a younger adult is. So, why is it ok for them to drink but not 18-21 year olds? The US could even do what Canada does and make the legal age for EVERYTHING 19. It's a compromise.

Posted by: Bob Location: COS on Aug 20, 2008 at 07:18 AM
I see more DUIs and young kids killing themselves and others while they are behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Posted by: Michael Location: Los Angeles, CA on Aug 19, 2008 at 08:15 PM
Lots of compelling angles here. By the way, the main players in this debate are having at it on www.opposingviews.com -- which is a new site. It's worth checking out.

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