Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Opinion

Germany may be on to something

Nick Somarakis
Opinion Columnist

The age to purchase and drink alcohol changed to 18 from 21 in the United States in 1984 during the Reagan administration. Since that time, the law has become a 22-year-old mistake.

Although it was originally intended to prevent younger people from consuming alcohol irresponsibly, it has actually led to widespread binge drinking and irresponsible alcohol consumption.

Recently, an 18-year-old University of Texas student died as a direct result of consuming six times the legal amount of alcohol that is allowed in Texas. In order to reach the level of alcohol in his blood system at the time of his death, he would have to have taken 15 shots in one hour.

It is the age requirement that causes young people to drink more than they would if consuming alcohol were legal.

When people feel their freedom to choose is threatened by a law that makes something illegal, they respond by rebelliously performing the illegal action, according to Reactance Theory.

It was the people reacting to Prohibition that caused the Roaring '20s to roar and gave rise to bootleggers and organized crime. It is people under the age of 21 reacting to the minimum drinking age law that causes them to drink illegally and in greater quantities.

The United States is encouraging irresponsible drinking habits because people under the age of 21 consume alcohol illegally and in greater quantities despite the legal drinking age. After they turn 21, they maintain the same drinking habits. When they get older they drink to get drunk, rather than drinking responsibly.

The United States should allow states the right to change their drinking ages according to the wishes of their constituents. If the government wishes to promote responsible drinking and prevent drinking and driving, they should approach it more like Germany does.

Germany allows for the consumption of beer and wine at the age of 16. This allows people to build up tolerance and enjoy alcohol without social pressure or dangerous consumption habits. They then can consume liquor and spirits at the age of 18.

The German law prevents binge drinking by encouraging people to drink responsibly, rather than encouraging illegal consumption.

There are already deterrents to drinking alcohol. Alcohol is expensive, and people who consume it have to pay a lot of money to keep that habit.

The Dram Shop law makes bars that sell alcohol to people who are drunk, or who are getting drunk liable. This means that if a person were to get drunk at a bar and crash, the bar could be sued for allowing that person to get drunk there, thereby helping to prevent binge drinking.

The drinking age of 21 is not preventing underage people from consuming alcohol. It promotes irresponsible drinking habits and there are already deterrents to drinking for people under the age of 21.

At 18, you are legally permitted to get married, have children, start a business, purchase a car and purchase a home.

You should be able to purchase a beer. The current law is not working and the minimum drinking age should be changed to 18.

Somarakis, an opinion columnist for The Daily Cougar, 
can be reached at nick_som1@hotmail.com.