College Presidents take Controversial Stand on the Drinking Age BALTIMORE, MD (wypr) - College presidents in Maryland and elsewhere have stirred up the proverbial hornets next with their support of lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18. Groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving are beside themselves. But maybe there's a middle ground. WYPR's Senior News analyst Fraser Smith comments n his weekly essay.

A few brave Americans, Marylanders and others, changed the culture e of drinking in America. They insisted that accidents caused by drunk were not accidents at all. They were criminal acts. Mothers, and others, with tragic stories prevailed upon lawmakers to make penalties more severe -- and insist on serious prosecutions. They've made great progress. They've changed the culture. Many of us have stopped laughing at the irresponsible behavior of drunks and drunk drivers.

But now come university presidents, of all people, urging a lower legal age for drinking.
In a sense, oddly enough, these campus leaders are in league with MADD and other groups. They say enforcement of the current minimum age is making the problem of youthful drinking worse. Some kids drink heavily - binge - before venturing out evenings. College kids are going to drink, the campus leaders say, so better to have an environment in which there was less reason to look for ways around the law.

The presidents are to be congratulated for stepping forward. They knew their position might not be understood or accepted. But they see the problem up close and personal every day. Parents and new students alike find themselves confronted by university officials promising severe punishment for those who drink before the age of 21. And yet, the problem continues and gets worse. Many know the problem exists, but without an immediate reason to act - a death in the family caused by a drunk driver, or a young person in a jam caused by drinking - there's no action.

The presidents want a national debate. MADD's founders stimulated a similar debate 20 years or so ago. If the presidents can be half as effective, they will save many lives and create a better society.


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