Published: September 05, 2008 03:01 pm            

KISSEL: Sifting through change, good and bad

This “Amethyst Initiative” is a tough one to understand. Or is it? (The word amethyst comes from the ancient belief — or hope — this violet form of quartz protected the wearer from drunkenness.)

Everyone’s heard and wondered about the 100 university presidents who’ve made an issue out of lowering the drinking age to 18.

And why not?!?

If you can leave your country to fight and die, certainly you can drive to a mini-mart and buy a Mike’s. Right?

Well, not now. But maybe that mark of “adulthood” should be given those who do serve their country.

Other arguments against the current law is that by using fake IDs, “students make ethical compromises that erode respect for the law” as well as the belief that “alcohol education that mandates abstinence” isn’t working while promoting an off-campus “binge drinking” environment.

One of the problems with lowering the drinking age to 18 is my belief teenagers are getting younger — and older — at the same time.

“Younger” in the sense that as lifespans increase, adolescence stretches, too. When does somebody really become an adult nowadays? Having reached a kind of “stable” maturity?

That depends. But for quite some time, the age seems to be getting higher.

“Older,” however, in that the range of options and consequences available to teens is greater than ever. It all started when kids got credit cards and their own phones and advertisers started gleefully targeting their marketing at them beyond the typical He-Man action figures and boxes of Kaboom! cereal.

While kids may have more power, one thing they rarely have is more experience.

And when it comes to driving, it’s much better to have your first out-of-control skid, at-the-wheel mini nap or even a fender bender when you’re sober.

Because no doubt, most kids will have poorer judgment — if any — about drinking and driving.

By the time 21 rolls around, most drivers will have had three years experience before emerging into the world of legalized alcohol consumption.

Of course, that won’t be enough for many, who’ll suffer accidents — and some will involve alcohol.

BTW, I’d love to know what people under 21 have to say about

        

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