The question is, should Tennessee lower the drinking age to 18, and will it saves lives? Without getting into a right or wrong discussion with MADD, I will try to look at it from possibly saving lives down the road by introducing alcohol to young adults while they are possibly still at home and under adult supervision, and not away at college when they take their first drink. To date Middle Tennessee State University nor the University of Tennessee have come out with a formal stance to lower the drinking age in Tennessee, although I think they should, as they are aware it is prevalent on their campus.
From my experiences in college I have seen binge drinking from persons who did not drink an alcoholic beverage at all while they were 18, and living at home while in high school, and I have also had friends who grew up around parents who drank a beer or wine in front of them and at age 18 drank some themselves. Of the two types of people, those who never drank before college and those who did, I always thought, and still think the people who drank at age 18 before college where not so excited about drinking, I mean to say it was not so new to them. They had at some point been intoxicated before they got to college, and knew how to handle themselves better while drinking. The individuals who had never been intoxicated posed a great danger to others and themselves, they had no idea of their tolerance level of alcohol, and at this point they had no parental supervision. It seem like it would be better to understand the effects of alcohol on your body while still under your parents eye, and not alone either in the real world or college.
There are currently 7 states considering legislation to change and or lower the drinking age, however there may be issues with highway funds from the Federal Government if these considerations pass. Highway funds are very important to a state and can effect decisions on laws.
By lowering the drinking age in Tennessee it might allow a young adult to experience alcohol with some supervision, and not discover it on their own at college with no parental supervision. Lowering the drinking age in Tennessee would help demystify alcohol to young people, and let them realize in moderation it is ok. The fact is, kids in college are going to drink.
Posted by Daniel L. McMurtry
From my experiences in college I have seen binge drinking from persons who did not drink an alcoholic beverage at all while they were 18, and living at home while in high school, and I have also had friends who grew up around parents who drank a beer or wine in front of them and at age 18 drank some themselves. Of the two types of people, those who never drank before college and those who did, I always thought, and still think the people who drank at age 18 before college where not so excited about drinking, I mean to say it was not so new to them. They had at some point been intoxicated before they got to college, and knew how to handle themselves better while drinking. The individuals who had never been intoxicated posed a great danger to others and themselves, they had no idea of their tolerance level of alcohol, and at this point they had no parental supervision. It seem like it would be better to understand the effects of alcohol on your body while still under your parents eye, and not alone either in the real world or college.
There are currently 7 states considering legislation to change and or lower the drinking age, however there may be issues with highway funds from the Federal Government if these considerations pass. Highway funds are very important to a state and can effect decisions on laws.
By lowering the drinking age in Tennessee it might allow a young adult to experience alcohol with some supervision, and not discover it on their own at college with no parental supervision. Lowering the drinking age in Tennessee would help demystify alcohol to young people, and let them realize in moderation it is ok. The fact is, kids in college are going to drink.
Posted by Daniel L. McMurtry
Nashville DUI Lawyer, Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Daniel L. McMurtry, located in Nashville, Tennessee representing clients in Tennessee on Criminal Matters. Nashville Criminal Lawyer with jury trial experience in Tennessee and Mississippi.
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