EDITORIAL: Lower drinking age won’t solve binge drinking

The nationwide effort to lower the legal age for consuming alcoholic beverages has pierced the Midwest. Fortunately, several Nebraska college presidents have refused to sign it.

Over 100 college presidents have signed a petition known as the Amethyst Initiative which seeks to start a nationwide debate to lower the drinking age from 21. Creighton University president Rev. John Schlegel refused to sign the petition at this point. He is adamant that the discussion should focus on the national problem of binge drinking on campus. He is right. Reducing the drinking age would not solve the problem of binge drinking.

Creighton has a unique program that stresses knowing when and how to consume alcohol responsibly. The program emphasizes the "0,1,2,3" guide, which outlines the amount of alcohol a student should consume. According to Creighton officials, students should consume zero drinks if they are underage or if they are taking medication. They should not have more than one drink in an hour, should not drink more than two days in a week and never have more than three drinks on one occasion.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman also has refused to sign the petition, saying "I do not think simple solutions usually lead to solving very complex problems." Perlman is correct on this point and he points to the UNL anti-drinking program that is focused on binge drinking among students.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving have also weighed in the issue and are strongly opposed to lowering the drinking age, saying that such a move would  lead to more fatal auto crashes where students are under the influence.

If anything, the Amethyst Initiative is raising the level of discussion and engaging college presidents with the problem. We see no reason to lower the drinking age, but agree with Creighton and UNL officials that binge drinking is a major issue confronting students. The personal, educational and social impacts of binge drinking among students are huge. While some students are oblivious to knowing how to drink responsibly, lowering the drinking age will not improve their awareness or personal behavior.

According to The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking, alcohol use by young people is physically and emotionally dangerous. Specifically, this report highlights that:

* Over 1,700 college students die each year from alcohol-related injuries;

* Alcohol related injuries occur to more than 600,000 students.

* Over 700,000 alcohol-related assaults occur on campuses.

* About 100,000 students are victims of alcohol-related sexual assaults or date rapes.

Parents and other adults need to take a firm hand in pointing out the consequences of binge drinking while students are on campus. Education can take on many forms, but personal example by adults would be a good place to start.

With college football tailgating season about to start, adults need to police the behavior of those enjoying the hospitality cooler. Underage drinking is never allowed and the "0,1,2,3" guide should be employed every Saturday.