Lowered?

So, on the radio, there was a story about how states are considering lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18. And. College presidents think it’s the best idea since fire. They feel that there will be less binge drinking and fewer accidents and fewer problems.

Right. Because, you know, only the 18-20 year olds binge drink anyway. I didn’t go to plenty of parties where people well over 21 were binge drinking until they couldn’t even stand to look at certain type of alcohol any more. No, it’s only the 18-20 year olds, you know.

Sarcasm? Oh, yes.

As a high school teacher, this scares the shit out of me. If the drinking age is lowered to 18, then it becomes so much easier for all of my high school students to get alcohol. All of them will have that senior friend who is 18 and can buy it legally. The radio show was discussing it and one of them said he didn’t think it would get pushed down from college to high school. Um, hello? Right. And then, he said if someone is 15 and wants to drink, they’ll find a way. Lower the drinking age to 18 – and the number of ways increase.

Not to mention that this is really what the roads need. People who have just learned how to drive, and statistically have the most accidents anyway, now can drink and drive much more easily. Sign me up for the damn bus. Ugh.

Yes, I know there’s the flip side. If you are old enough to serve your country, you should be old enough to drink. Well. You know what? Fine. How about this? You sign up to serve your country, you get a lowered drinking age. I am all for “If I can die for my country, I should be able to drink.” Sure. Cool. Anyone with a valid military ID gets a drink. I’m up for that. Anyone else can suck it until they reach 21.

Anyway. Rant for the day. (AMG! Monday Meltdown! This post may change… stay tuned…)