Drinking Age: Where We Get it Wrong

Professor J,

I had more to say on this topic, and weren't you kind to donate your regular post to me to do so. Of course I don't think any sporting event that might be happening today had anything to do with that. ;)

In your post you mentioned lowering the age of alcohol consumption to 18. I agree with that and so do many university presidents who got together a few years ago to try and make a case for doing that very thing. They are the ones who have to deal with the product of the current system, binge drinking. The drinking laws are one of the things that just don't make common sense yet have taken a foothold in the culture. The ridiculousness of it is beyond me. We create laws to solve problems and create more problems in the process.

Here's what the law, as it is written, says is supposed to happen:

Kids are going to resist (or be prevented from) consuming any alcohol. Then on their 21st birthday they will cross a magical maturity threshold, and be permitted to purchase and consume alcohol. They will do this responsibly especially as it relates to driving or face strict penalties.

How it actually works:

Kids are denied access to alcohol legally, but because it's forbidden and involves a certain amount of risk, illegally obtaining booze and drinking to excess has become a rite of passage. For kids who more carefully follow the law they cross the legal drinking age when they are away from home. There is plenty of documentation about the dangers of binge drinking. This is one of the primary results of the current system. All of this is taking place when the brain's prefrontal cortex (the area responsible for maturity) hasn't fully developed yet.

Well, that doesn't sound dangerous at all. As a side note, marijuana use is also far less damaging after the mid twenties when that area is developed. An entire other issue would be how many people in the first quarter of their life get cycled through the prison system and the possible effects of that experience.

But back to alcohol. Once again the Europeans seem like the grown ups on this issue as you've pointed out. Allowing kids to consume alcohol at an earlier age and to remove the glamorization of it is the best strategy. To identify it less with being an adult and teach appreciation and responsibility would be a better path.   Lowering the age to a point before kids leave home would make sure that there are some adults who care around to help navigate things. The Italians set a fine example. Wine is part of a meal; it is basically in the food category.

But we Americans just love to do everything to excess. We'll see some of that displayed in today's national event.