Amethyst Initiative Seeks Lower Drinking Age

A debate over the drinking age is raging on college campuses across the country.  More than 100 university presidents have started an initiative aimed at possibly lowering the legal age from 21 to 18.  The News On 6's Chris Wright reports the presidents of some big-time universities like Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State have signed on to what is being called the Amethyst Initiative.  The idea is that a lower drinking age could translate to less binge-drinking on campuses.

School is back in full-swing in Stillwater.  Classes are in session, the band is practicing for the upcoming season, and the beers are flowing once again.

The Amethyst Initiative urges lawmakers to consider allowing younger students into places like Eskimo Joe's.  Its authors feel that by letting kids drink at 18, the forbidden fruit allure of alcohol would be taken away, and that would mean less binge-drinking.

Bar patrons say it's not a bad idea.

"You're not allowed to do it, so you want to do it more.  Once you turn 21, you're allowed in the bars, it's not as much fun," said OSU senior Peter Hightower.

The more than 100 presidents who have signed the initiative say alcohol abuse is a huge problem on campus.  According to a recent report, more than 150 college students, including 19-year-old OU freshman Blake Hammontree, drank themselves to death between 1999 and 2005.

But, OU, as well as OSU, will not join the initiative.  It's a decision that has generated a mixed response in Stillwater.

"I think lowering it wouldn't affect binge-drinking at all. If you're going to binge-drink, you're going to binge-drink, whether you're 21 or 18," said OSU senior Kevin Sloan.

"If somebody's going to rebel then that's what they're going to do first.  So, if you want to keep kids from rebelling, then it's a good idea," added OSU sophomore Jake Chilcoat.

"I understand why people drink when they're 18, cause it's a rush. They like to not get caught," said OSU sophomore Jessica McCauslen.                  

But, law change or not, some underage students say they plan on partying this semester.

"For sure, I plan on drinking regardless of me being 21 or not," said OSU freshman Kristen Cabbel.

The University of Tulsa says it has no position on the initiative. 

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is strongly opposed to this idea.  They point to studies that show that the number of drunk-driving deaths has been reduced drastically since the drinking age was raised to 21 in the 1980's.