Comments on: LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE — FOR COLLEGES’ SAKE http://www.populationstatistic.com/archives/2008/08/18/lowering-the-drinking-age-for-colleges-sake/ Read. React. Repeat. Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:25:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: CT http://www.populationstatistic.com/archives/2008/08/18/lowering-the-drinking-age-for-colleges-sake/#comment-370351 CT Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:03:34 +0000 http://www.populationstatistic.com/?p=4339#comment-370351 One thing: The argument against going back to 18, by MADD and others, relies largely on the drunk-driving numbers. That's pretty limiting -- we're talking about college campuses, where a good chunk of the population doesn't drive. One thing: The argument against going back to 18, by MADD and others, relies largely on the drunk-driving numbers. That’s pretty limiting — we’re talking about college campuses, where a good chunk of the population doesn’t drive.

]]> By: David http://www.populationstatistic.com/archives/2008/08/18/lowering-the-drinking-age-for-colleges-sake/#comment-370115 David Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:30:40 +0000 http://www.populationstatistic.com/?p=4339#comment-370115 I'm being more conceptual, maybe leaning on my sociology studies ;) The people on campus were still under the same laws, still lived under the same age restrictions, lax or not. It's like someone who grew up with really, really strict parents - they go to school, can do what they want and suddenly go wild. We've all seen that case study. But live in a place where there's no "omg you're not allowed to drink yet!" and there's few who base everything they want to do around doing something taboo. (Almost) anything you're not supposed to do becomes cool, especially to the younger set. I’m being more conceptual, maybe leaning on my sociology studies ;)

The people on campus were still under the same laws, still lived under the same age restrictions, lax or not.

It’s like someone who grew up with really, really strict parents – they go to school, can do what they want and suddenly go wild. We’ve all seen that case study.

But live in a place where there’s no “omg you’re not allowed to drink yet!” and there’s few who base everything they want to do around doing something taboo. (Almost) anything you’re not supposed to do becomes cool, especially to the younger set.

]]> By: CT http://www.populationstatistic.com/archives/2008/08/18/lowering-the-drinking-age-for-colleges-sake/#comment-370080 CT Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:59:59 +0000 http://www.populationstatistic.com/?p=4339#comment-370080 The binging argument never held up for me. You don't have to be underaged and in a restrictive environment to over-indulge -- I know 40-somethings who can't control themselves. I'm sure there's research that supports whatever you want to accept. My own college days offered both versions: My freshman year was on a campus with lax enforcement of underaged drinking, then an incoming new dean enforced a crackdown for the subsequent 3 years. No sudden uptick in binge drinking. The binging argument never held up for me. You don’t have to be underaged and in a restrictive environment to over-indulge — I know 40-somethings who can’t control themselves.

I’m sure there’s research that supports whatever you want to accept. My own college days offered both versions: My freshman year was on a campus with lax enforcement of underaged drinking, then an incoming new dean enforced a crackdown for the subsequent 3 years. No sudden uptick in binge drinking.

]]> By: David http://www.populationstatistic.com/archives/2008/08/18/lowering-the-drinking-age-for-colleges-sake/#comment-369977 David Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:12:53 +0000 http://www.populationstatistic.com/?p=4339#comment-369977 No age limit, less binging. No need to cram it in, no cool factor, etc. No age limit, less binging. No need to cram it in, no cool factor, etc.

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