I don’t like drinking. I don’t like the taste of alcohol. I don’t like drunk people, and I was even totally sober for two years of high school. So why the hell am I writing a column in favor of lowering the drinking age to 18 for wine and beer?

Let’s play with a few scenarios. Todd is a new student at the University of Minnesota. He learned his drinking behavior during high school, when he and his friends lied, cheated and stole to get their hands on bottles of vodka. Todd hardly ever drinks beer because vodka and other hard spirits pack so much more bang into a smaller and cheaper package. He probably started drinking in the first place in part because it was forbidden and he liked the thrill of disobedience. Todd is pretty typical of a large portion of the college students I know: he beat his kidneys into submission long ago, and wine won’t even get him buzzed.

Now, let’s assume Todd grew up with a drinking age of 18 for wine and beer. He never had to scam to get alcohol, so he developed his drinking style with alcoholic beverages of a much lower content. He can order a beer in a bar, or walk into a liquor store and buy a jug of wine, so risky drinking behavior
holds less appeal since it’s just less necessary. He learned how to drink responsibly under the guidance of his parents and other adults BEFORE he went to college, and now that he’s here, he knows his limits and abides by them.

At the very least, lowering the drinking age deserves some reexamining.

Luckily, those who believe a lower drinking age would be beneficial have some high-profile advocates. Presidents from almost 100 universities (including Duke and Dartmouth but not the U of M… thanks
Bruininks) are calling for a new debate about the drinking age. These are people who have to deal with the consequences of binge drinking and alcohol abuse among underage students on a regular basis. In addition to the aforementioned reasoning, these presidents point to a disparity between drinking and other adult responsibilities and privileges: one can sign contracts, be drafted or be called into jury duty at 18. If the law defines 18 as the age of adult responsibility, shouldn’t drinking be a privilege as well? I could potentially be drafted to fight – and maybe die – in wars I don’t agree with, but I can’t have a glass of Riesling with dinner?

You wouldn’t teach someone to swim by throwing them into the ocean; you take them to the shallow
end of the pool. Underage folks are going to drink. If we create an environment that recognizes the educational and developmental benefits of a lower drinking age, perhaps fewer of us will end up curled up on some bathroom floor in our own vomit.