Lowering the Legal Age for Drinking

Rider University is forming a task force to study the use and abuse of alcohol on campus in the wake of the recent death of an 18-year-old freshman at the New Jersey school.

Police say Gary Devercelly had a blood alcohol level more than 5 times the legal limit for driving after binge drinking during a pledge initiation at a fraternity house at Rider.

John McCardell says Devercelly's death is exactly the reason to lower the legal age for drinking from 21 to 18.

It sounds counterintuitive, but McCardell, who was president of Middlebury College in Vermont for 13 years, says lowering the drinking age will take it out of the basements of fraternities and allow college president to move from policing illegal drinking to teaching kids how to drink responsibly.

His proposal has groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving hopping mad.

McCardell is now president emeritus at Middlebury and he's formed an organization called "Choose Responsibility," that aims to lower the legal drinking age.

Click here to listen to a conversation with McCardell. (Real Player required)

Comments: 11

Juan J Martinez Sep 5, 2007, 11:59am EDT

Sounds like a idiotic idea!

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M C. Sep 5, 2007, 12:01pm EDT

It comes down to responsibility/maturity more than anything else and 18 is the age when many are still growing up and starting college...I think 21 has worked fine, and the fact that people act irresponsibly should not be a reason to change a law.

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True American Sep 5, 2007, 12:01pm EDT

yes, 18 should be the age. No reason why it shouldnt be, other nations have 18 or younger as the drinking age.

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James B. Sep 5, 2007, 12:07pm EDT

Once I hit 21 I didn't really care about this issue anymore.

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Monica H. Sep 5, 2007, 12:20pm EDT

I don't think it's that great of an idea. It will just mean instead of partying in the basements of fraternities, they will just party out in the open in the lawns. Makes no sense to me.

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True American Sep 5, 2007, 12:57pm EDT

Monica: What difference does it make if someone parties? Its none of your business so long as they arent hurting anyone. Are you trying to say that American's are more immature and more stupid? Other countries dont have an issue, what makes the USA any different? Seriously, its time to get government off peoples backs and leave everyone the hell alone already. WE are supposed to be the example of a progressive nation full of freedom and personal liberty, instead we have the most laws that try and dictate every aspect of someones lives, from local ordanances/permits, to state and federal laws... Its over.. time for change.

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Penny G. Sep 5, 2007, 1:48pm EDT

I think we should decide once and for all what the "legal" age of adulthood and consent is in this country. We don't think 18 year olds are old enough to handle alcohol or tobacco, yet we have no problem putting a gun in their hands and sending them to Iraq. Makes absolutely no sense.

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Col. George W. Sep 5, 2007, 2:13pm EDT

I am still trying to understand why colleges can't teach responsable drinking to 18 year olds without them having the legal right to drink.

18th birthday:. Join Military branch of choice - Vote - Run for Office - Get married - open your own bank account - sign contracts etc. The only thing you can't do is buy yourself an alcoholic beverage. Makes a lot of sense -NOT

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Col. George W. Sep 5, 2007, 2:16pm EDT

Oh yeah I forgot - can't buy a pack of cigarettes either. Can't buy them but I don't know of any law that says you can't smoke them once you aquired them.

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Don(time to open them FEMA camps) S. Sep 5, 2007, 4:54pm EDT

We tried the 18 thing here years ago and drunk driving deaths ,and accidents went up drastically..

Adulthood (drinking and armed service ) should be 21 imo.

Cigarettes should just be outlawed.

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Cynthia W. Oct 4, 2007, 6:57pm EDT

Don is right. As a volunteer at MADD and a sister of a little one that was killed by a drunk driver, I do not support lowering the drinking age at all.

Here is a website that addresses the issue from MADD's standpoint.
http://www.why21.org/history/

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Lowering the Legal Age for Drinking

Comments: 11

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