Making College Happier

Yale junior Geng Ngarmboonanant argues for lowering the drinking age to 18:

The merits of lowering the drinking age are relatively clear. We know that college students drink. But the current law drives college students “underground” to consume alcohol, like when students take shots in quick succession in dorm rooms. The current drinking age also edges students toward other illegal activities, such as purchasing fake IDs in order to enter bars and clubs. [snip]

In fact, we would be joining a group of 136 colleges, including Dartmouth and Duke, who are signatories of the Amethyst Initiative. Amethyst — which means “not intoxicated” in Greek — is a coalition of college presidents who urge a reconsideration of the national drinking age.

As with other risky human behaviors, 18-to-21 drinking would be made safer if it came out of the shadows.

Personal note: I imbibed at 18 when it was legal to do so, and college was a happy time for me. I just wish I could remember it better.....