[Illbay]

Sorry, already tried it. The highways were bathed in blood.

The states all raised 'em again.

I remember this distinctly: I turned 18 just a couple of years after lowering the age became the "in thing," and though I don't drink I had plenty of friends who did, and two were killed in drinking-related traffic accidents.

[dirtboy]

I've thought for some time that not allowing an 18 year old person to legally buy alcohol, but prosecuting them as an adult for posession of such, is a failure of the equal protection clause of the Constitution. But, then again, the laws also play favorites with senior citizens (giving someone over 65 an extra exemption).

[FreeTally]

Young people should organize and demand the law be changed.

I think the author is forgetting that 50 laws would have to be changed, and 50 legislatures would have to in unison tell the feds that there will be dire consequences for withdrawing highway funds.

Not that I dont support this, but the auther may think there is some national alcohol age limit.

[TopQuark]

I think the author, having demostrated a complete failure to think logically, should be deemed unfit for a degree.

[Rodney King]

Two points here:

1. The University rioting is entirely preventable. Simply expel every student invovled and it will not happen again. Universities don't do this because they believe, of course, that mobs are the result not of a bunch of criminals, but of some underlying agnst that must be the universities fault. Also, they would probably wind up having to expel a disproportionate (to the student body as a whole) number of blacks, which they won't do.

2. I agree that the drinking age should be lowered. From my personal experience (and this is anecdotal evidence) strong enforcement of anti-drinking laws leads to high cocaine, heroin, and acid use.

My friends and I started drinking early on in high school. Our parents generally allowed it if we were safe at home and nobody drove, etc. Our friends at boarding school, however, couldn't drink at all. They would get expelled. So instead, they were all doing drugs all the time because drugs are much easier to conceal.

My town, which was very tolerant of drinking in the late 80's and early 90's while I was in high school now has zero tolerance of teen drinking. The result is rampant hard-core drug use. I say let the kids drink responsibly.

[bimbo]

I thought the students were rioting to celebrate a fooball victory ... Are you saying they were rioting because they were drunk?

[Morgan in Denver]

This does give me a moment to sound off on an issue that's been long neglected.

To begin with, the Federal Government forced the 21 year age limit on states at the threat of withholding highway funds. Most states that had lower ages for drinking experienced young adults who acted like adults and did not abuse the trust given them. It was the frantic scare tactics used by the left that got ages for drinking raised. MADD, and such. Republicans laid down on the issue while Democrats demonized lower drinking ages.

States that had lower drinking ages also had less abuse of alcohol than those states where the drinking age was already 21.

At the root of all this is the issue of when a kid reaches their majority age. I would submit the age of majority should be either 17 or 18. That also means, no drivers license, no drinking, no property or privacy extensions because of ones parents, just simply the fact that anyone under 17 is not an adult and anyone over is. All rights and privileges associated with adulthood should come at that age. But, so should all responsibilities. Parents would not be required to pay for education nor would parents be required to support another adult, in this case older children. At the majority age adults would also have the ability to contract and serve in the military, etc. Younger then the majority age and they would not have these rights, period.

[RightWhale]

Lower the drinking age to 16 and raise the driving age to 29.

[Jonathon Spectre]

If marijuana were made legal the drinking age would be a moot point for many, many, many college-age students.

[SoDak]

SD fought the raising of the drinking age all the way to the Supreme Court when I was 21. Obviously, we lost, and raised the drinking age in order to keep our highway funds from congressional extortion. I thought then, and I continue to think now that 18 should be the age for liquor. 18 year olds vote, fight wars, and are responsible parties to contracts. I believe the higher drinking age contributes to higher illicit drug use. And, I think the decision belongs to the state, not federal.

[itzmygun]

1. Drinking has nothing to do with it. I speak from experience since I went through this when I went off to college. It was the first time I was on my own. My parents were 75 miles away, and I knew all too well that they could no longer tell me what to do. Everyone else was in the same boat and we fed off of each other. Like someone who has never had much to eat, we gorged ourselves on our newly-found freedom.

2. The guy is right about crossing a line. This I also know from experience. When I first tried pot in college, I crossed that line. Suddenly, it was no big deal to try cocaine, acid, etc. I was already doing something illegal, so what was one more illegal act? I'm not saying it would have been right, but if pot had been legal, I would have just smoked pot and never tried the illegal things (and saved myself a lot of headaches both literally and figuratively).

[Dan from Michigan]

EVERYTHING SHOULD BE 18 or 21

If you are old enough to die for your country, vote, and sign contracts, you are old enough to drink a beer.

[Jim Noble]

I couldn't agree more, for many reasons. Two of the more important ones are

1) Responsible introduction to alcohol in mixed age and gender company.

2) Equalization of rights and responsibilities. Too young to drink is too young to vote and too young to be in combat, IMO.

[TheSpottedOwl]

http://www.teamnattyice.com/

very funny website run by students. Caution to all you folks who don't have fun: there are disturbing pictures.

[Greybird]

Well, apart from the drinking-age issue (I agree with the article), I know what is likely to be the only tactic that will stick to prevent further violence:

The Ohio State president should announce that because of the violence, the Buckeye football team must do without an appearance in any bowl game! And if any such violence occurs, with any arrests on university property, next year, the same penalty will occur!

Before the students and alumni have a chance to lynch her, thousands of parents will sweep her out of her office on their shoulders out of gratitude.

[itsahoot]

When 18-year-olds can vote, can marry, defend our country in the military, and are considered adults in our society in every other way, not allowing them to drink is an absurd legal and social incongruity. As the riots and the other negative consequences discussed above demonstrate, the effects of this law are not trivial.

When Harry Truman was asked about lowering the legal age to vote to 18, he responded that it would make more sense to raise it to 24. It was a good ide then and still is. Being 18 uniquely qualifies you to be a soldier, because you are to stupid to know any better.

I lied about my age and joined the National Guard when I was 16, enlisted in the regular Army at 17.( eight year obligar, didn't get a discharge until I was in the Navy in 64) I certainly thought I was qualified to vote, but I now know better.

[Issaquahking]

Alcohol is being blamed for the riots. Hogwash! Just a bunch of undiciplined heathens running wild. Should have called teh fire department and hosed the heathens into a pile against any backstop and then have the law throw the book at them. Only takes once or twice around America with the fire department hosing these goofballs and it would end.

As far as alcohol goes - anyone who is active duty and has signed to defend America is big enough for a beer.

[Petronski]

A twenty-one-year-old drinking age is an arbitrary and Puritan insult to citizens of an enlightened republic. I can recall quite clearly treating that law wholly with my highest contempt, as I would treat any asinine law of dubious wisdom.

[Sonny M]

I'll tell you right now, if the GOP made lowering the drinking age to 18 as part of its platform, They'd have between 60 and 70 seats in the senate, and probably over 70% of the house, not to mention they would own the governorships, and control this country, without any kind of obstruction for god knows how long.

[anncoulteriscool]

When I went to Ohio state the drinking age was 19 in ohio...and everything was great! (sarcasm) !