Comments on: College presidents seek to legalize 18-year-old drinkers

By: Oren

Oren — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:53:34 +0000

Strange how for 99% of human history there has been no legal restriction on drinking age whatsoever and somehow mankind survived the challenge. I guess this means either young Americans are exceptionally weak and stupid by historical standards, or laws placing an age restriction on this are an unnecessary holdover from Prohibition.

By: Walter Wallis

Walter Wallis — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:48:04 +0000

The 18 year old vote, the 26th ammendment, was passed in unseemly haste with little consideration of its total impact. It was thought that the young would be overwhelmingly democrats.
Beside the lower drinking age, the lowering of the age of contract was a boon to lots of crap merchants.

By: Dave J

Dave J — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:14:41 +0000

“We need to choose one age – either 18 or 21 – nationwide where a minor legally becomes an adult.”

Uh, and where in the US Constitution would federal authority to make that sweeping choice come from? (Hint: the answer is “nowhere.”) Unless you’re saying the feds shouldn’t impose this choice, but it should just somehow emerge by consensus among all 50 states: no disrespect intended, but as a former state legislative staffer, I have to say that is beyond fantasy.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:27:08 +0000

I don’t understand the logic of the college presidents. I think they’re just lazy and don’t want to deal with the under-age drinking problem. When a 19 year old dies of alcohol poisoning on campus, they get a lot of heat.

That said, the Libertarian in me says it makes no sense that a legal adult is restricted from drinking or even walking through a pub. My brother’s wife couldn’t bring her luggage through the hotel lounge (the shortest way) because she was only 20 years old. Craziness.

The mom in me is, admittedly, a little nervous about lowering the drinking age.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:55:51 +0000

Wow – with that kind of logic operating in higher ed circles, I’m sure we’ll have to start homeschool for college.

By: BadaBing

BadaBing — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:42:55 +0000

Lower the drinking age, but please raise the voting age to where it was before.

By: Reality Czech

Reality Czech — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:07:27 +0000

We seem to be back to “Old enough to fight, old enough to drink.”

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:49:25 +0000

Per Quincy, maybe we need a parent’s license!

As far I’m concerned it’s an open question whether the parents or the peers influence college drinking more. The nature of fads and fashions are unpredictable and, in something rebellious like binge drinking, self-perpetuating. I’d like to see the attitude propagate: So you can binge drink. Ho hum.

By: Jeff the Baptist

Jeff the Baptist — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:43:40 +0000

Self-Interested Activism…

100 college presidents have banded together to call for a reduction in the drinking age from 21 to 18. They believe that this will curb binge drinking. Instapundit agrees. McQ dissents. Duffy thinks it will at least make them real popular with their …..

By: pm

pm — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:28:45 +0000

Maybe we need a drinker’s license?