The Amethyst Initiative.

I posted a thread back a few months ago concerning states considering lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18. Link to it here:http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=891309
Now it looks like the movement is gaining some momentum with the Amethyst Initiative . It is a group of about 100 well known college and university presidents asking lawmakers to consider legislation to lower the age to help lessen alcohol related issues such as binge drinking and underage drinking on campus. Here is a link to a story about it :http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWXhmLxHPcv8q_iFiN7nLt7RP8CgD92L2IIO0
Any thoughts on this? Good idea or not?

Younger ages work well in Europe, because they never had a restrictive age like we do here in the US.

I think that eventually, it would work. The question is, does the US public and law makers have the stomach to put up with the 4 or 5 years it would take for the binge drinking to move from early 20's to late teens and then slowly disappear? I think the public outrage at what would happen (legal teen parties, teen traffic deaths increasing, teen violence, etc etc) would be strong, and perhaps enough to get it reversed.

Bad idea. Period.

^Quite. The issue is not respoinsibilty as lobbyists can obviously point out how it works anywhere else. Everyone knows that, the problem is the transition period as Fred pointed out.

It's stupid and they need to bust more kids instead of trying to legalize it. Either use our tax dollars to enforce the law or not. Samething with this whole decriminalizing marijuana which is making a stronger move than ever.

Fun question, who would sell it?

Part of the reason that it works so well in other parts of the world is because people grow up with it. There are also harsher penalties for intoxication.

But I also agree with teh transition period. It would be hard on everyone.

Maybe we should do away with the age limit all together? Promotion of responsible drinking at a young age could help. I'm sure lobbyists could find proof of that too.

I just turned 21 so it doesn't concern me too much anymore, but look at it like this; the legal drinking age at one time was 18 and when they upped it to 21 it seems as though there was an INCREASE in alcohol related deaths DUI's and so fourth.

just my two cents!

The drinking age here in Aus is 18

Due to binge drinking, the govt has slapped a further 30% tax on pre-mix and RTD drinks, prices have sky rocketed up to 50 bucks extra per case,and up to 4-5 dollars extra per BOTTLE over the bar.

figures have shown that although sales of pre-mix have gone down around 30%, sales in full bottle spirits have increased by 49%

Pretty interesting arguments. Could be a really really good thing or a really really bad thing! There won't be an average outcome! I highly doubt the age will ever get lowered! The fear of the consequences during the transition period will keep people away from considering a change.

Pretty interesting arguments. Could be a really really good thing or a really really bad thing! There won't be an average outcome! I highly doubt the age will ever get lowered! The fear of the consequences during the transition period will keep people away from considering a change.
I don't know. A lot has changed in the nearly 25 years since the "21" law has been in effect, especially opinions . A good deal of the population was in that age range back then, so their thoughts and opinions are shaped by their own experiences. A good example of this would be the university and college presidents in support of this initiative. Most were for raising the limit back then and now it's just the opposite. I, myself was in that "in between " era in the early '80s when all of this was taking place. I didn't want the age raised and luckily I was still able to drink when I turned 19. After that my thoughts had changed and I thought raising the limit was a good thing. Now, in my early 40s my thoughts are starting to turn in the other direction, and think if this is done properly might just work. You see too many young kids dying of alcohol related issues and maybe they should treat it like learning to drive. Make those who want to drink take a course similar to driver's ed where they learn to consume alcohol responsibly. :2cents: