Alcohol the British way

We laugh at their monarchy, their backwards driving, the pretentious way they talk, but even Americans have to admit the Brits have got one thing right: alcohol. Does it really seem logical that on the 18th anniversary of my birth, as a citizen of the United States of America, I could have: purchased a firearm, sacrificed my life in a war for our nation, adopted a child, been sentenced to capital punishment, voted for the leaders of our government, but NOT, for fear of irresponsibility, bought alcohol? Well, naturally, if I am unable to drink responsibly I must certainly be responsible holding a semiautomatic colt 45-hand gun, or raising a newborn child, or shedding my blood on the field of battle or understanding the consequences of crimes I may commit. Am I the only one to see the blatant hypocrisy with which the government approaches today's youth? By sustaining such an inane law, I believe that the government is doing more harm than good. Here at Princeton, our unique and impressive approach to alcohol is at present under threat from the oppressive policies of the borough police. The police are, I believe, taking the entirely wrong approach to an issue that is plaguing college campuses nationwide, opening the door for reclusive "binge" drinking.

Dr. Ruth Clifford Engs of Indiana University, an internationally known health educator and alcohol researcher, agrees that a minimum drinking age of 21 is outrageously high. She advocates lowering the legal drinking age to eighteen or nineteen in order to create "more responsible alcohol consumption among college students." Dr Engs uses the story of Adam and Eve to highlight the "forbidden fruit" analogy, where teenagers see alcohol as a "badge of rebellion against authority and a symbol of adulthood." She believes, "We need to reinforce the norm of moderation by making it clear that the abuse of alcohol is completely unacceptable by anyone. This would help stress that it is not drinking that is the problem but rather drinking abusively that is the problem."

Clearly something must be done to modify this sacrosanct allure of alcohol with less focus generated on keeping alcohol out of the hands of teenagers and more on teaching responsible consumption. For Dr. Engs, the solution is to lower the drinking age, which she believes would "help send the important message that drinking is, in itself, not evidence of maturity . . . [but] that responsible consumption for those who choose to drink is evidence of maturity." Sadly however, this proposal would undoubtedly not only stoke the fires of conservatives nationwide, but it could possibly bring Mothers Against Drunk Driving to revolution. As much as we would like to think that we live in an idealistic world where every night Americans sit down at the dinner table to enjoy a family meal, the reality is far from this. Yes, ideally teenagers should learn to drink alcohol in a comfortable familial setting, yet doing this has been proven to be almost impossible and would only work through a cultural revolution.

In London, where I grew up, Carling, Heineken and Guinness were as accessible as Diet Coke and Pepsi — and equally esteemed. Pub life was social, pleasant, and far from outlawed — the exact opposite of the atmosphere I usually encounter in America, where the intent of most teenagers is merely to get completely "trashed." Since lowering the drinking age does not appear to be politically viable or socially pragmatic, alternative approaches must focus on the very root of alcohol's attraction; something must be done to demystify it. My suggestion is a government approved alcohol policy on college campuses. Here at Princeton the social scene revolves around the eating clubs; a place where students can drink alcohol in an informal setting, treating the substance as a relaxing, pleasurable experience promoting a mature and sensible environment. Sadly however, the Borough police, under the assumption that the eating clubs are illegally serving minors, are tightening the alcohol policies in the area. Such oppressive policies will undoubtedly drive underclassman to their rooms where they will drink harder and faster and wake up in McCosh.

The bottom line is that we must not treat teenagers as incapable and irresponsible individuals while holding them accountable for so many other more dire responsibilities; this doesn't work — it creates more problems than it solves. Teenagers across the country are leaving for college mentally and physically unprepared for the alcohol culture that dominates campus life. Something must be done to not only demystify the social significance of alcohol but also to try and somehow weaken alcohol's grip around student's lives. While following our European neighbors and abandoning the 21 year-old drinking age seems logical, the political repercussions would, I feel, prove to be too great for any such legislation to pass. Instead, college campuses must accept the role of allowing a new leniency with regards to alcohol, protecting their students. Alcohol must be accessible but offered in a relaxed setting where it is treated as an accompaniment to social activity, thus eliminating the desire for drunken debauchery. Americans far too often treat alcohol as a dangerous substance, but it is only dangerous because we have elevated it to taboo stardom through such rigorous laws and assiduous enforcement.