Yeah Rah for Bad Statistics.
Okay, this is one of those things that makes me want to smack people.
If you haven't heard, there are a number of school presidents who are proposing that we lower the drinking age to 18, because the "underground" nature of it is one of the factors leading to the binge drinking problem on campuses across the country.
I happen to agree, on a number of points.
But this article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121928142497058879.html?mod=googlenews_wsj mentions how the rate of deaths from drunk drivers between 16 and 21 has dropped about 50% since the legal drinking age was made 21...
Oddly enough, in the early 80s drunk driving became a big thing, and in addition to a big press push on the dangers of drunk driving, they raised the drinking age. In the intervening years, the rate in the general population has dropped... do you see it coming? I sure hope so. 50%.
Yeah.
So did raising the drinking age stop underage kids from drinking and driving, or has the general increase in awareness of the dangers of drunk driving just cut the acceptability of going to the bar, or a party, or wherever, drinking and then driving yourself home?
Until you can give me an answer (with proof) of *that* question? Don't tell me that lowering the drinking age would affect this number, because I was a really good kid and I drank PLENTY in college before I turned 21.
If you haven't heard, there are a number of school presidents who are proposing that we lower the drinking age to 18, because the "underground" nature of it is one of the factors leading to the binge drinking problem on campuses across the country.
I happen to agree, on a number of points.
- If they are old enough to be taken into the military and die for this country, they should be old enough to drink a beer.
- If they are old enough to rent a home, or take out a loan in their own right, they should be old enough to drink a beer.
- If they are old enough to be treated as an adult in a court of law
- The more we say "Oh no, you can't do that" the more they are going to want to, and in cases where it doesn't hurt anyone (the act of drinking hurts no one, if done responsibly, which is a learning process that requires experience (usually bad)), there is NO reason to legislate it. (this is when my libertarian leanings appear).
But this article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121928142497058879.html?mod=googlenews_wsj mentions how the rate of deaths from drunk drivers between 16 and 21 has dropped about 50% since the legal drinking age was made 21...
Oddly enough, in the early 80s drunk driving became a big thing, and in addition to a big press push on the dangers of drunk driving, they raised the drinking age. In the intervening years, the rate in the general population has dropped... do you see it coming? I sure hope so. 50%.
Yeah.
So did raising the drinking age stop underage kids from drinking and driving, or has the general increase in awareness of the dangers of drunk driving just cut the acceptability of going to the bar, or a party, or wherever, drinking and then driving yourself home?
Until you can give me an answer (with proof) of *that* question? Don't tell me that lowering the drinking age would affect this number, because I was a really good kid and I drank PLENTY in college before I turned 21.