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Updated: 9:56 AM Aug 19, 2008
College Presidents Seek Debate on Drinking Age, W.Va. Joins In
College presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities -- including Ohio State -- are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18. Posted: 7:51 AM Aug 19, 2008Reporter: Associated Press Email Address: news@wsaz.com |
(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)
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59 Comments 
UPDATE: W.Va. Joins Battle
BETHANY, W.Va. (AP) - Two West Virginians are among 100 college presidents supporting a national debate over the idea of lowering the legal drinking age from 21 to 18.
Bethany College President Scott Miller has signed onto the Amethyst Initiative, along with President G.T. Smith of Davis & Elkins College.
Larger schools like Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State are on board, too. They argue that current laws encourage secretive binge drinking.
Miller issued a statement Monday saying a person old enough to vote and serve in the military should be informed enough to make mature decisions about alcohol consumption.
The group's name stems from the belief in ancient Greece that the purple gemstone amethyst could ward off drunkenness if used in drinking vessels and jewelry.
ORIGINAL STORY
UNDATED (AP) - College presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities -- including Ohio State -- are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18.
They say current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.
The movement called the Amethyst Initiative began quietly recruiting presidents more than a year ago to provoke national debate about the drinking age. Schools represented in the group also include Duke, Dartmouth, Kenyon and Morehouse.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving says lowering the drinking age would lead to more fatal car crashes. MADD officials are even urging parents to think carefully about the safety of colleges whose presidents have signed on.
Both sides agree alcohol abuse by college students is a huge problem.
Latest Comments
I think they should raise the drinking age. People now are less responsible than what they used to be, so why let them have one more thing to try to act responsibly with. If you don't believe we're less responsible let's ask how many bankruptcies there have been now compared to 20 years ago. How about divorces? How about unwanted pregnancies? I could go on for days. And I'm not 79 years old, I'm just 25.
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as a college student myself i can fully understand the thinking behind this considered law change. studies have shown in Europe and other countries who let their tens drink they see a lower rate of binge drinkers do to the fact that there is no thrill and no reason to drink. i agree with this legislation and i hope that they would pass it nationally
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So lowering the drinking age will actually lower the amount of 18 year olds who drink? If these kids are drinking, as you suggest,for the thrill of breaking the law, we can assume they will then stop when it's legal? And then, what will they do to fill the void of the "thrill of breaking the law"? Come on man, your not the only one who was 18 once.And to Ashley. There is indeed second hand drunkeness. It comes in the form of not being able to take your kids to venues where it is served, and the form of bearing the stupidity of those who are drunk, and more importantly, it ends a bunch of innocent lives and ruins the lives of every family member on both sides when one of these idiots decides to take a little drive and hits someone. I agree that noone should be hemmed up in an atmosphere full of smoke, but niether should we be exposed to the threat that drunks are when they take to the roads. Funny how the Health Dept.(Not a legislative branch) makes laws on smoking, but ignores booze.
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