Divided on drinking
Reactions to lowering the legal drinking age
Sarah Sole
Issue date: 6/14/07 Section: News
"You can't guarantee that every student in such a situation will take it seriously," he said.
Although the proposed program aims to control binge drinking among youth, some worry that it would intensify the problem.
Juanita Richardson, adolescent therapist at Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic, believes that lowering the legal limit would simply foster drinking at a younger age.
To give permission for an unhealthy behavior is never smart, Richardson said. "I think that we're asking for trouble."
Psychologists still view 21-year-olds as adolescents, Richardson said. "The key is to educate the parents." Communication between parents and children is necessary, she said. "At least they are able to come to us to talk about it."
Others were wary about the proposal.
YSU Junior Dalene Scott thought the idea was ridiculous.
Scott also is critical of the alcohol education courses. People offer courses for drunk driving and those are not effective, she said.
"If they have a strong enough will they're gonna do what they want to do," Scott said of youth, adding that peer pressure also plays a role.
Freshman Rachel Boris was also skeptical, adding that alcohol readiness depends on each person, and that the law does little to change that. "They're gonna do what they want no matter what," she said.
Students pay attention to graphic images in the classroom, Boris said, and they could also benefit from reading accounts from underage students punished for drinking illegally.
Junior Dave Passarelli said 18-year-olds fool around with alcohol and get accustomed to it, while 21-year-olds know their limits.
"I think it's important to educate people no matter what," he said.
Lauren Tanner, a freshman, said human-interest stories along with graphic images often catch students' attention. "Everything is violence, guts and blood," she said, but the education does not work. She compared it to drivers' education: people do not listen, and making the training mandatory turns people against what they might learn.
Although the proposed program aims to control binge drinking among youth, some worry that it would intensify the problem.
Juanita Richardson, adolescent therapist at Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic, believes that lowering the legal limit would simply foster drinking at a younger age.
To give permission for an unhealthy behavior is never smart, Richardson said. "I think that we're asking for trouble."
Psychologists still view 21-year-olds as adolescents, Richardson said. "The key is to educate the parents." Communication between parents and children is necessary, she said. "At least they are able to come to us to talk about it."
Others were wary about the proposal.
YSU Junior Dalene Scott thought the idea was ridiculous.
Scott also is critical of the alcohol education courses. People offer courses for drunk driving and those are not effective, she said.
"If they have a strong enough will they're gonna do what they want to do," Scott said of youth, adding that peer pressure also plays a role.
Freshman Rachel Boris was also skeptical, adding that alcohol readiness depends on each person, and that the law does little to change that. "They're gonna do what they want no matter what," she said.
Students pay attention to graphic images in the classroom, Boris said, and they could also benefit from reading accounts from underage students punished for drinking illegally.
Junior Dave Passarelli said 18-year-olds fool around with alcohol and get accustomed to it, while 21-year-olds know their limits.
"I think it's important to educate people no matter what," he said.
Lauren Tanner, a freshman, said human-interest stories along with graphic images often catch students' attention. "Everything is violence, guts and blood," she said, but the education does not work. She compared it to drivers' education: people do not listen, and making the training mandatory turns people against what they might learn.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Robert P Kaldunski
posted 6/14/07 @ 10:06 AM EST
I believe that changing the Law to allow 19 year old individuals to drink is the right way to go, but, I also believe that they should not be allowed to purchase alcohol from any store until 21 years of age hopefully by then they will know better than to buy for underage persons
David J Robinson
posted 6/14/07 @ 1:11 PM EST
It's been done before. Once before (sometimes in the 1970s or 1980s, as I recall) the drinking age was lowered to 18, and the wave of highway carnage was so horrible that the legislature quickly raised the age to 21 again. (Continued…)
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