Proposal made to lower drinking age
Sarah Zeeck
Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: News
Could a lowered legal drinking age be in store for young adults across the nation? It is possible.
Choose Responsibility, a non-profit organization founded roughly two years ago, aims to change laws that would treat 18-20 year olds "as the young adults the law otherwise says they are." Recently, more than 120 college presidents nationwide have signed the petition in support of the movement.
The proposal of Choose Responsibility also states "We propose a multi-faceted approach that combines education, certification, and provisional licensing for 18-20 year-old high school graduates who choose to consume alcohol."
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, another organization, is directly opposed to such a decision. Trisha Clegg, affiliate executive director for MADD, said research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown scientific reasoning concerning brain development and other developmental issues behind keeping 21 the legal drinking age. Clegg added that 72 percent of adults do not agree with lowering the drinking age from 21.
Western Illinois University President Al Goldfarb said he just received the letter from presidents supporting the initiative and would be reviewing it. "We are reviewing the initiative with appropriate staff," he said. "They are reviewing information regarding the issue in order to develop a response."
Goldfarb said the outcome would be dependent on the outcome of research being conducted. "What is more important is that we will continue to work on developing programs to educate our students about the dangers of alcohol abuse and binge drinking," Goldfarb said.
Choose Responsibility, a non-profit organization founded roughly two years ago, aims to change laws that would treat 18-20 year olds "as the young adults the law otherwise says they are." Recently, more than 120 college presidents nationwide have signed the petition in support of the movement.
The proposal of Choose Responsibility also states "We propose a multi-faceted approach that combines education, certification, and provisional licensing for 18-20 year-old high school graduates who choose to consume alcohol."
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, another organization, is directly opposed to such a decision. Trisha Clegg, affiliate executive director for MADD, said research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown scientific reasoning concerning brain development and other developmental issues behind keeping 21 the legal drinking age. Clegg added that 72 percent of adults do not agree with lowering the drinking age from 21.
Western Illinois University President Al Goldfarb said he just received the letter from presidents supporting the initiative and would be reviewing it. "We are reviewing the initiative with appropriate staff," he said. "They are reviewing information regarding the issue in order to develop a response."
Goldfarb said the outcome would be dependent on the outcome of research being conducted. "What is more important is that we will continue to work on developing programs to educate our students about the dangers of alcohol abuse and binge drinking," Goldfarb said.
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