2008 Woodie Awards
Thinking about drinking alcohol
Students question the government's view of adulthood
Issue date: 8/29/07 Section: Opinion
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Underage drinking has been a hot topic among American youth since the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed in 1984, making 21 the legal age to consume alcoholic beverages.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), an organization founded by angry mother Candy Lightner, jump-started the 1980s movement to keep alcoholics and irresponsible drinkers off the road.
The collaboration of MADD mothers paid off and now all of us have to wait until the ripe age of 21 to buy, sell or consume alcohol.
Fact: The United States is the only country in the world that has a minimum legal drinking age of 21.
Fact: You can buy, sell and smoke cigarettes at the age of 18.
Fact: You can buy, sell, watch and/or star in pornographic movies and magazines at the age of 18.
Fact: You can join the military, go overseas and risk your life at the age of 18.
Fact: You can get married, have sex, own homes and have children, not necessarily in that order, at the age of 18.
Just don't consume alcohol until you turn 21.
Vermont senator John McCardell is heading a campaign suggesting all persons at the age of 18 receive an alcohol license after enrolling in an alcohol education course.
However, if anyone with this privilege is caught disobeying drinking laws, the license will be revoked until the age of 21.
We think McCardell's proposition will increase drinkers' educations and in turn decrease the number of alcohol-related fatalities.
So, how did this controversial law get passed through three branches of government and 50 states?
The United States is a federalist country, meaning there are state and local governments presiding over certain areas and regions. However, with the power that the federal government has over the states, it can implement laws and force each state to accept those regulations or face consequences.
In this case, it is called "Withholding Funds for Noncompliance."
Ten percent of highway funding will be withdrawn from any state that refuses to make 21 their legal drinking age, according to the United States Code under Title 23 on Federal-Aid Highways.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), an organization founded by angry mother Candy Lightner, jump-started the 1980s movement to keep alcoholics and irresponsible drinkers off the road.
The collaboration of MADD mothers paid off and now all of us have to wait until the ripe age of 21 to buy, sell or consume alcohol.
Fact: The United States is the only country in the world that has a minimum legal drinking age of 21.
Fact: You can buy, sell and smoke cigarettes at the age of 18.
Fact: You can buy, sell, watch and/or star in pornographic movies and magazines at the age of 18.
Fact: You can join the military, go overseas and risk your life at the age of 18.
Fact: You can get married, have sex, own homes and have children, not necessarily in that order, at the age of 18.
Just don't consume alcohol until you turn 21.
Vermont senator John McCardell is heading a campaign suggesting all persons at the age of 18 receive an alcohol license after enrolling in an alcohol education course.
However, if anyone with this privilege is caught disobeying drinking laws, the license will be revoked until the age of 21.
We think McCardell's proposition will increase drinkers' educations and in turn decrease the number of alcohol-related fatalities.
So, how did this controversial law get passed through three branches of government and 50 states?
The United States is a federalist country, meaning there are state and local governments presiding over certain areas and regions. However, with the power that the federal government has over the states, it can implement laws and force each state to accept those regulations or face consequences.
In this case, it is called "Withholding Funds for Noncompliance."
Ten percent of highway funding will be withdrawn from any state that refuses to make 21 their legal drinking age, according to the United States Code under Title 23 on Federal-Aid Highways.
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