Should the Drinking Age Be Lowered from 21?

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Let’s begin by defining “this.” Choose Responsibility believes that young adults should be permitted to purchase, possess, and consume alcohol, but not unconditionally. Specifically, we propose that, upon turning 18, a young adult should be permitted to consume alcohol in the presence of a parent in the privacy of the home; that all young people should be required to take a comprehensive alcohol education course prior to turning 18; and that, once they have completed high school, completed the alcohol education course, and not violated the alcohol laws of the issuing state, young adults should receive a permit, or license, allowing them to purchase, possess, and consume alcohol like the adults the law says, in all other respects, they are. Finally, the first violation of the alcohol laws of the issuing state should result in immediate revocation of the license.

There is no evidence that “this” can work, because nothing like “this” has ever been tried. Until it is tried, there will be no evidence. Let’s stop playing games.

In fact, there are indications that “this” might well work, and certainly work better than the current situation, where the vast majority of young adults report consuming alcohol before turning 21 and alcohol education too often involves little more than temperance lectures (along the lines of “if a drop of alcohol passes your lips, you are destined to a life of dependency”) or terror tactics (along the lines of “if you touch a drop of alcohol your brain will be damaged”). Where is the evidence that this approach had worked? In fact, as PIRE points out, there is ample evidence to the contrary.

Research has shown that while abstinence-based education programs like DARE alone have little to no effect on preventing use or abuse of alcohol among underage drinkers, harm reduction strategies that address the complex psychological expectancies that lead to excessive drinking amongst young people are effective in reducing rates and incidences of alcohol abuse. Environmental strategies such as alcohol advertising bans, keg registration, responsible server training, social norms marketing and community interventions are viable options for managing high risk drinking, especially on college campuses.

It is true that alcohol education programs advocating abstinence have been proven ineffective. But approaches that seek rather to prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol and reduce the likelihood of harm to themselves or others offer promise. For example, Outside the Classroom had produced AlcoholEDU, an interactive online program currently used by over 500 colleges and universities. This program increases practical knowledge, motivates students to examine their behavior, and decreases students’ risk of negative personal and academic consequences as a result of alcohol use.

In 2004, students who completed AlcoholEDU were 20% less likely to be heavy episodic drinkers and 30% less likely to be problematic drinkers. These findings provide evidence that “an interactive educational program can substantially reduce the negative consequences of high-risk drinking.”

Those who claim “education doesn’t work” have never really given education—as opposed to advocacy—a try.