A group of university presidents, including David Joyce of Ripon College, have signed the Amethyst Initiative, which has among its goals reopening debate over the nationâ??s drinking age. Their move is well-intended: Alcohol is frequently abused at college campuses around the country â?? including the University of Wisconsin-Madison and other UW campuses. Kids are hurting themselves. But this is actually a well-settled question.
It’s unwise to consider lowering the drinking age, especially if that lower age is 18, which would put alcohol into the hands of high school students.