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More than 100 college and university presidents nationwide, including leaders from Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State, are debating changes to the drinking age and calling on the public to think about it. In a statement, top university officials said the current legal drinking age "is not working" and has dramatically increased the risk of binge drinking on college campuses. Instead, they believe the drinking age should be lowered from 21 to 18.
The movement is called the Amethyst Initiative, as the stone was believed to be the antidote to the negative effects of intoxication. The group asks on their web site: "How many times must we relearn the lessons of Prohibition?" Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer."
I applaud their initiative and think we would all be better off if the drinking age were lowered. It is a negative legacy of Prohibition and has caused decades of problems in this country.
The Recession is Affecting the Drinks Market
According to recent research from The Nielsen Company and Bevinco drinks sales at bars and restaurants are dramatically down. More than 40 percent of bar managers and bartenders surveyed report they have seen a decrease in consumer traffic, while 25 percent note a decrease in the number of drinks ordered and 22 percent say that customers are ordering less expensive drinks. Beer seems to be the least affected by the economic downturn and 14 percent of those surveyed said customers are ordering more well and house drinks.
I am not sure I want to drink to that. Here's wishing you well,
Liza the Wine Chick
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