We're arguing about the drinking age again

                The presidents of 100 top colleges are starting a campaign to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18, the Associated Press reported Aug 19.  They say it will reduce binge drinking, which is a major issue on college campuses.  Binge drinking is more exciting to students when it is illegal, they say.

                The group Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD) are unalterably against this.  They say that parents who care about their children’s safety should not send them to any school that participates in this campaign.  They argue that these presidents have given up trying to enforce safe drinking policies.

                If 18-year-olds can buy alcohol, 16-year-olds can get it, and drive their cars.  They destroy other people, not just themselves.  New Hampshire raised its drinking age to 21 years ago partly because too many high school kids were involved in fatal auto accidents. 

                Illegality does not cause binge drinking.  College students do it because everybody else does. Kids that age think they’ll live forever.  The consequences they see only happen to other people.

                The idea that colleges must act in loco parentis (in place of a parent) was old-fashioned 40 years ago. It should only be invoked in matters of life and death – like this one.  Even if students are going to drink at 18 anyway, the state and college should not say it’s OK, or abandon its responsibility to the safety of its students and community.