How Bingeing Became the New College Sport Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How Bingeing Became the New College Sport - Essay Example The present research has identified that according to the U.S laws, persons who completed 18 years of age are matured enough to vote whereas only after the completion of 21 years of age, they are matured enough to drink. Even though the above law helped saving the lives of many youths from alcohol-related driving accidents and alcohol poisoning, it resulted in the creation of an unintended culture around forbidden alcoholism among the youths. College life is perceived also as an opportunity for drinking by the youths. â€Å"Drinking has been an aspect of college life since the first Western universities in the 14th century† (Seaman). In the 90’s the beer culture on college campuses was shifted to hard liquor culture. It is better to lower the drinking age to 18 even if some problems may occur initially. The initial thirst for drinking may settle after some time and the students will definitely concentrate more on studies thereafter, as witnessed in the Montreal's McGill University. Montreal's McGill University, which enrolls about 2,000 American undergraduates a year, reported that many students, when they first arrive, go overboard, exploiting their ability to drink legally. â€Å"But by midterms, when McGills demanding academic standards must be met, the vast majority has put drinking into its practical place among their priorities†. In short, drink age should be lowered to 18 from 21. In my opinion, lowering of drink age from 21 to 18 is not a wise step. It is a fact that the voting rights were allotted to those who completed 18 years of age. At the same time, we must visualize the voting right and drink age as two separate issues. Drinking will destroy the ability of a person to think rationally. Giving voting rights at 18 years of age is a strategy for developing political awareness and interest among students.