Like many colleges and universities across the nation, we at N.C. State have invested significant time and effort into the issues that surround the use of alcohol by a college-age population.
It is a multi-layered issue involving the age of our students, peer and societal pressures, the reality that many students are away from home for the first time and the fact that at 18, they are legally adults for most activities.
We certainly are open to further conversation regarding various means of addressing the inappropriate use of alcohol by college students. Recent discussion, that the Amethyst Initiative fueled, has focused on young adults, ages 18-20, who cannot legally drink, but are engaged in destructive behaviors such as binge drinking.
As a university, it is incumbent on us to educate our students about alcohol and to encourage informed decision-making when it comes to drinking, as well as other decisions.
NCSU has a number of programs in place designed to help students make well-informed decisions about alcohol, to help them cope with peer drinking behaviors and to avoid the pitfalls of underage and binge drinking.
AlcoholEdu is a mandatory program for students at NCSU under the age of 21. The program provides students with science-based information on the effects of alcohol and its effects on the body and mind – including the role alcohol plays in society and its effects on learning and memory.
While I appreciate much of the sentiment behind the current discussion, it is relatively easy to point the finger at the drinking age as the cause of most binge drinking. What is much harder – and much more necessary – is to examine all the issues related to binge drinking in our culture, in general and our campus culture, in particular.
We need to ensure that everyone – regardless of age – understands the difference in “good” and “bad” drinking behavior and takes personal responsibility for his or her health, as well as the well-being of others.
I encourage discussion, but am not convinced that a change in the drinking age to 18 is a positive move.
E-mail your thoughts on the drinking age debate to [email protected].
