John McCardell, president emeritus of Middlebury College, recently began advocating for a qualified lower drinking age. People ages 18 to 20 would be given a "drinking license" similar to a driver's license after completing a required alcohol education class.
Although many young people agree that the drinking age should be lowered, this proposal just isn't the way to do it. Just as having a driver's license doesn't always make someone a responsible driver, a drinking license wouldn't guarantee responsible drinking. If it did, some people over 21 who we know should have one.
If there is one good thing about the proposal, it's that it helps to encourage national conversation about underage drinking and what to do about it. Like it or not, underage drinking is a reality, particularly among 18- to 20-year-olds. Hopefully, McCardell's proposal will encourage thoughtful debate about the issue and not just become another rule for young people to break.
