Lowering the drinking age, Pro? Con? Discussion Options

[kastigar]

I won't provide all the links - but it's been in the news quite a bit recently.

Several college presidents have signed onto a "Amethyst Initiative" which wants to lower the drinking age to 18 from the present 21.

("Amethyst Initiative" comes from the ancient belief that the amethyst stone guards against intoxication)

So - what's the consensus here?

[AdrianM]

I won't provide all the links - but it's been in the news quite a bit recently.

Several college presidents have signed onto a "Amethyst Initiative" which wants to lower the drinking age to 18 from the present 21.

("Amethyst Initiative" comes from the ancient belief that the amethyst stone guards against intoxication)

So - what's the consensus here?

I'm kind of torn with the whole thing. I know when I was 18 I was drinking, but since I knew it would be a rare occasion I'd over-indulge, so part of me thinks that it would get rid of the taboo of drinking. At the same time do we now set ourselves up for even younger kids sneaking drinks? Then it becomes an even bigger issue in high schools than colleges. What about those 18 year olds that have the maturity of an 8 year old? Making it legal for them would be a mistake, but should that then affect the responsible 18 year olds? I think it has too many what-if's attached to the idea.