Amethyst Initiative Wants Drinking Age Lowered

The Amethyst Initiative has a surprising solution to the problem of binge drinking on college campuses. They want the legal age lowered from age 21 to 18. According to them, such a move will result in far fewer incidents of problem drinking.

""This is a law that is routinely evaded," said John McCardell, founder of the Amethyst Initiative. "It is a law that the people at whom it is directed believe is unjust and unfair and discriminatory."

Of course such a proposal has been met with fierce opposition. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) said the initiative will just end with more underage people being involved in fatal car accidents while drunk.

The problem of college drinking is a large one. Over 1,700 people die every year from drinking alcohol on America's college campuses.

The people behind the Amethyst Initiative say they aren't looking for an immediate implementation of a new drinking law. Instead they say they just want to open a dialogue to see if the idea is valid.

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Published: Tuesday 19th of August 2008 06:35:42 AM
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