Spartanburg, S.C. - The
Amethyst Initiative, a recent proposal launched by John McCardell, President Emeritus of Middlebury College and endorsed by more than 100 chancellors and presidents
of universities and colleges across the United States to reduce the legal age for drinking alcohol, has grabbed national headlines and led to much discussion among parents, politicians and educators. Supporters of the Amethyst Initiative, many from prestigious institutions such as Duke, Dartmouth and Tufts, argue that lowering the drinking age below the current 21 would actually help combat alcohol abuse and curb underage and binge drinking. Opponents, however, say the move would increase deaths, brain damage, addiction, and other serious consequences to young people.
Dr. John Stockwell, chancellor of the University of South Carolina Upstate, has declined to add his name to the petition.
“I think the Amethyst Initiative is worthwhile because it has raised the issue of underage drinking but I do not think that lowering the drinking age is in the best interest of our young people or the solution to the problem,” said Stockwell.
Launched in July 2008, the Amethyst Initiative supports informed and unimpeded debate on the 21 year-old drinking age. Amethyst Initiative presidents and chancellors call upon elected officials to weigh all the consequences of current alcohol policies and to invite new ideas on how best to prepare young adults to make responsible decisions about alcohol use. They also want Congress to reconsider the decision it made in 1974 to deny federal highway money to states that permitted 18-year-olds to consume alcohol. Congress’ goal with this 1974 decision was to reduce the number of highway deaths caused by drunken drivers.
Supporters of the Amethyst Initiative point out that adults under age 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is a strong opponent of the initiative stating that “Underage drinking, particularly in the university setting, is a serious problem that requires serious reflection, which MADD is dedicated to addressing. But by supporting a lower drinking age of 18, some university presidents are shirking their responsibility and leaving the most difficult underage drinking challenges to our high school administrators. With many high school seniors reaching their 18th birthday, they will bring alcohol into the hands of their younger classmates. And alcohol has much more damaging and lasting effects among younger teens.”
According to MADD, there have been more than 50 peer-reviewed studies that specifically looked at the effect of the 21 law on traffic fatalities. Each one found that an increased drinking age significantly lowers alcohol-related fatalities. MADD, which fights alcohol among young people and backs strong punishments for drunk-driving, acknowledged that U.S. universities have particular problems with student drinking, with 30 percent of university and college students abusing alcohol, and approximately six percent becoming dependent.
Given these sobering statistics, USC Upstate is committed to the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse, and a special emphasis has been placed on strengthening student, faculty, and staff involvement. Just as USC Upstate works to educate its students about the implications of alcohol abuse, it is also teaching faculty and staff ways in which to recognize the signs that a student may be having trouble with alcohol.
“We want our students to be safe and smart where alcohol is concerned and we want them to be successful in their academic endeavors and often times alcohol can be a road block to doing well in the classroom,” said Erin Morgan, director of the University’s Alcohol & Drug Education Program, which actively promotes low-risk, healthy choices about the use of alcohol and other drugs by providing preventive and educational workshops and services, media campaigns, and substance-free events.
USC Upstate offers educational workshops to students that are designed to aid students in examining their own choices about alcohol and drugs and the perceptions about what is considered “normal” drinking in college. The workshops discuss beliefs that students have about alcohol and drugs and provide information on how students can reduce their risk for developing an alcohol and/or drug problem.
“Additionally we provide counseling and resources for students who might be experiencing problems with alcohol and mandatory workshops for students who have violated the University's alcohol policy, which follows the state laws,” said Morgan.
For more information, contact Erin Morgan at (864) 503-5195 or emorgan@uscupstate.edu.