Other Voices: Drinking age debate

... College presidents from about 100 of the nation's colleges and universities, including Dartmouth, Duke and Ohio State, are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the country's drinking age, saying current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus. Lawmakers would have to repeal a law that says any state that doesn't abide by the 21-year-old drinking law would have federal highway funds withheld. If this was repealed, states could make a decision to lower the drinking age to 18 or not.

The movement, called the Amethyst Initiative, began quietly recruiting presidents more than a year ago to provoke national debate about the drinking age.

We can see both sides of the argument.

Why should an 18-year-old be allowed to vote, buy cigarettes, join the military and possibly die for his country, but not be allowed to buy alcoholic beverages, proponents ask?

Another part of the argument is that even though a person isn't of age to buy alcohol, chances are that person will still be able to get it, so why not lower the drinking age? Many students who aren't of legal drinking age still drink, and sometimes to excess. Perhaps lowering the drinking age could lower underage consumption. ...

We know that this is a controversial proposal, but it deserves thoughtful discussion among college presidents, citizens and lawmakers.