Drinking on campuses

The Idea that there is not a binge culture among students below the age of 21 on college campuses is naïve. Statistics show that over 5,000 people under the age of 21 die each year from causes related to drinking. If there was more responsibility placed on these students from an younger age, science shows that the alcohol related deaths would be reduced significantly. The idea that alcohol is a “Forbidden Fruit” is the exact reason why people under the age of 21 are binge drinking to the extent that they are. 129 colleges and Universities like Ohio University all over the country are proposing a change in the legal drinking age.

Reasearch

After more Extensive research was completed, I realized that college campuses are truly beginning to attempt to tackle to issue with binge drinking and alcohol abuse. In one article entitled, Drinking While Young, the author described, “Teenagers want to drink because it’s a ‘Forbidden Fruit’. If drinking alcohol were legal at 18, proponents of lowering the drinking age argue, it wouldn’t be such a big deal, and those under 21 would be less likely to drink” (Pesall, 2008). This recent outcry for change in drinking age is being expressed highly on college campuses and many University Presidents are beginning to speak out on this issue. John McArdell, President of College of Middlebury, Vermont states, “The problem isn’t underage drinking per se, the problem is that underage drinking is now forced off campus, leading to a culture of dangerous, clandestine binge-drinking” (Alcoholism Weekly, 2008).

Research

After more Extensive research was completed, I realized that college campuses are truly beginning to attempt to tackle to issue with binge drinking and alcohol abuse. In one article entitled, Drinking While Young, the author described, “Teenagers want to drink because it’s a ‘Forbidden Fruit’. If drinking alcohol were legal at 18, proponents of lowering the drinking age argue, it wouldn’t be such a big deal, and those under 21 would be less likely to drink” (Pesall, 2008). This recent outcry for change in drinking age is being expressed highly on college campuses and many University Presidents are beginning to speak out on this issue. John McArdell, President of College of Middlebury, Vermont states, “The problem isn’t underage drinking per se, the problem is that underage drinking is now forced off campus, leading to a culture of dangerous, clandestine binge-drinking” (Alcoholism Weekly, 2008).

Organization for paper

My organization throughout my body paragraphs will include various subtopics about the legal drinking age. The support for these paragraphs will include numerous binge drinking statistics, as well as quotes from well-respected university presidents and administrators. After the introduction, I will go right into the history of the drinking age and why it was originally changed in 1974. After the brief overview of some of the challenges that our country is face with about alcohol consumption, I will look further into the opinions of numerous people from my field research around the Ohio University campus. I follow these interviews and comments up with my opinions about our situation with the drinking age in America and describe how the European countries have much more success with alcohol. I will conclude my essay with possible solutions to the problem and follow my main point that the drinking age should be changed back to 18, so the universities can further monitor the problem with alcohol in the United States.

Introduction

Imagine you are standing at your first college party and you asked, "Have a beer with your friends!" The moral dilemma that ensues is one of great controversy and debate all over the country. Since 1974, the legal drinking age has been set at twenty-one and the reasons for the change have caused heated arguments throughout the United States. My main goal of this paper is to examine the binge culture in America, as well as find reasons to support the eventual lowering of the legal drinking age. Alcohol consumption has been a highly debated topic in our society for years and it appears that this topic is finally gaining some leeway among University administrators and Presidents. The overall goal is to lower the amount of binge drinking in America, and subsequently lower the amount of alcohol related deaths each year in the United States.

Alcohol culture at Ohio University

It is obvious that the culture in Athens, Ohio is centered around the consumption of alcohol. Many places around the country only think of Ohio University as the "party atmosphere" and many times they don't even realize that we are an acclaimed university in our education. I really take that to heart because I am proud to be a student here at Ohio University and the rankings for party schools mean nothing to me. In my paper, I will ultimately show why the culture here at OU is so set on drinking and explore possible solutions to the problems involving alcohol on our campus. The drinking age is not a restriction here at OU because at almost every house on Friday and Saturday nights there is a large party that welcomes anyone who wants to "Have a good time" especially when there is binge drinking involved. The Sororities and Fraternities have numerous social and binge drinking is very prevalent at these parties. The entire campus seems to be proud of our bars on Court St. that only add to our reputation that OU is strictly a party school. Throughout my paper I will have a subtopic that includes why I believe that binge drinking is prevalent, and attempt to dispute that Ohio University is only a party school.

European Alcohol Age

I will research the amount of alcohol consumed by the European countries and show that there is much more binge drinking in the United States because of these limitations. It is a part of American society that if there are limitations, it causes youth in America to revolt and attempt to overthrow these limitations. The alcohol age is just another limitation that American youth has to deal with and ultimately rebel against. Alcohol in these European countries is looked at as normal and the amount of alcohol consumed by people under the age of 21 is far less than the United States for the simple fact that responsibility for alcohol is taught from a very early age, while society looks at underage alcohol consumption as almost taboo in some parts of the country. It is obvious that is why youth in America continue to abuse alcohol and will continue until society accepts that it is a privilage and should be handled in a responsible manner.