Most states in America try desperately to enforce a minimum, legal drinking age of 21-years-old. Americans have varying ideas about what the minimum drinking age should be and how to handle alcohol education, especially with alcohol related injuries and deaths at an all time high. This 60 minutes clip highlights information on both sides of the argument over lowering the drinking age. It features the opinions of experts from MADD and Universities and also the Lanahans whose son, Gordie, passed away tragically from alcohol poisoning.
Michael and Leslie Lanahan believe a lower legal age could have allowed their son, Gordie Bailey,
to receive medical intervention before dying of alcohol poisoning. They feel fear of retribution prevented
friends from calling 911 for their son. They are now the directors of an organization started in his honor.
If you do think that a lower drinking age is appropriate, that does not mean you should break the law. Twenty-one is the law for many reasons, as explained in the clip, and needs to be respected. Binge drinking is unacceptably dangerous, especially the behavior documented in the above 60 Minutes video.
Here are some questions to consider when weighing this argument:
Why do students and young adults under 21-years-old so often disregard alcohol laws if they don't typically break other laws? What is the appeal of underage drinking?
Why do you think students and young adults in organizations expect other/newer members to binge drink?
Do you think lowering the drinking age would promote safer or more dangerous drinking? What would be the safety benefits? What would be the risks?
What can you do to help your underage friends make the choice not to drink?
To read more coverage of the Amethyst Initiative, visit this link: Amethyst Initiative on CNN
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