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In a recent package in The New York Times, a group of authors, educators and intellectuals took to the pages to debate whether or not lawmakers should consider lowering the legal drinking age to 18 or 19, and what possible effects that could have.
With most college students eagerly awaiting their 21st birthday, many would be perfectly happy if they were able to purchase alcohol legally a little sooner.
“It’s not like if you’re underage you can’t get the alcohol, so it doesn’t even make sense really,” said Shayna Crane, a student at Monroe College in New Rochelle. “Who decided that 21 is the right age?”
Iona College student Stephen Irving said he believed that if the drinking age were to be lowered, it would lead to more responsible behavior from those partaking in the alcohol.
“A lot of the issues that come up are when people get caught with fake IDs, or worse, drinking and driving,” he said. “But I know a lot of that comes from having to sneak around. If a 19-year-old could buy alcohol, he wouldn’t have to sneak around and be shady.”
Although the legal age to purchase alcohol remains 21, Mount Vernon resident Darryl Irving said he believed that younger people, especially students and even teenagers will find ways to get the booze if they want it.
“If it’s 18 or 21, I don’t think it really makes a difference. It’s not all that difficult to get some alcohol if you want it,” he said. “Until they start enforcing the laws a little better, I just don’t think it will matter.”
What do you think? Vote in our poll and continue the conversation in the comments below.
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