In the previous post on attitudes, it was established that attitudes towards alcohol amongst college students are shaped by more than just the fact that the legal drinking age is 21. More importantly, it is evident that there is a glorification of drinking and losing control in the media that is targeted at college students. Apart from that, it would not be too far of a stretch to say that the notion that drinking is cool is perpetuated by college students among college students. As a matter of fact, this article suggests that contrary to national trends, the number of college binge drinkers is rising.
The point of this post is to point out that such an attitude towards drinking directly affects both the incidence of binge drinking and drunk driving. If college students do not treat drinking with proper respect and caution, but instead view “getting wasted” as being the “norm” and being part of the “college experience,” they are more likely to make the wrong decisions that result in drunk driving and binge drinking. However, if they are aware of the dangers of drinking and have a healthy attitude towards alcohol, they are less likely to make the wrong decisions that result in the tragedies of drunk driving and binge drinking.
Thus, we see that the underlying concerns of both those for the 21 age and those for the 18 age can be addressed if we focus on alcohol education rather than quibbling about an arbitrary number.
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This is an interesting comment on drinking as a rite of passage for the American college experience, and I think you are right in saying that this may have potentially lead to the negative consequences of binge drinking and drunk driving.
ReplyDeleteYet, if the problem is really binge drinking and drunk driving, would you argue that drinking is alright - regardless of age - insofar as these problems can be avoided? And if so, would education be sufficient for separating the act of alcohol drinking from its excessive consumption?
I agree that alcohol education is important. You say that 18 are 21 are just numbers; however, these "arbitrary numbers" are crucial when the law is considered. I would like to think of 18 and 21 (as well as all of those other numbers) are just numbers, but there is always a deeper meaning behind it.
ReplyDeleteWhen you turn 13, you are officially a teenager, feeling completely different than a 12 year old. When you turn 16, it is "sweet sixteen"...and so on and so on.
To Nonlinearperspectives: I would say, yes, I think alcohol education is sufficient. However, as to what that education comprises (home and formal) and how far its reach is, that is not specified at this point. Also, I think there are other ways, apart from imposing an age limit, to target the problem of excessive consumption. e.g. raising the price of liquor.
ReplyDeleteTo NatureNurture: I agree that social milestones are important markers in one's development. However, alcohol need not be one such marker. As it is, there exist plenty of other markers in American society, many of which have been listed in the debate: e.g. voting age, marriageable age, age at which one can drive a car, buy a car, rent a house, sign a contract, etc.