The recent spike in minor in possession charges throughout New Orleans has many students questioning the efficacy of the crackdown on underage drinking. To actually get to the root of the issue, however, individuals must also scrutinize the current drinking age.
American citizens can buy cigarettes at 18. They can vote in state and national elections at 18. They can risk their lives to serve in the United States military at 18. However, they must wait another three years before they can legally purchase or consume alcohol. The current drinking age contradicts every other law governing adulthood in the United States and conflicts with our nationally held notions of adulthood. Do government officials really believe 18-year-olds can independently manage every aspect of their lives until it comes to alcohol, when they suddenly lose all sense of personal responsibility?
Even if consuming alcohol did require additional maturity, it seems unlikely that this ability is gained in three short years. There is little difference between an 18- and 21-year-old, particularly when it comes to how they interact socially. 21st birthdays do not suddenly and automatically rid individuals of their inclinations to act unwisely, and they certainly do not ensure infallible responsibility.
In effect, the drinking age does not grant citizens extra time needed to mature. Rather, it teaches those under 21 how to effectively break the law. When faced with the limit, individuals seek ways to successfully evade the drinking regulations. Frequently, the result is unsafe drinking practices, such as binge drinking.
There is no magic solution that will make individuals drink responsibly. However, entrusting 18- to 21-year-olds with the right to drink and allowing them dominion over their personal decisions will likely improve individual responsibility.
Simply increasing the number of minor in possession charges will not eliminate, or even significantly reduce, underage drinking in New Orleans. Instead, officials should work on lowering the drinking age and encouraging responsibility to tackle the problem.
