From 21 to 18

Alcohol is an issue that our country has to deal with on multiple levels including things like driving under the influence, binge drinking and underage drinking. Underage drinking causes a plethora of problems all on its own however, there is a controversy gaining momentum in our country: lowering the drinking age.  The drinking age changed from 18 to 21 during the 80s and although the law meant to decrease harmful behavior critics are pointing out that it isn’t really working. 60 Minutes did a story on this topic that included the opinions of John McCardell, former president of Middlebury College, as well as the chief of police in Boulder, CO, Mark Beckner, and Chuck Hurley who is the executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. McCardell told 60 Minutes that “this law has been an abysmal failure” and I’m going to have to agree.

            I find it hard to believe that an adolescence can go to war and kill another, vote for the leader of this country, and participate in a jury however they can’t order a beer at a bar. Another problem with the 21 drinking age is that it has caused young people to drink underground which in turn creates things like binge drinking, pre-parties and frightens young people from calling for help in a deadly situation. Gordie Bailey, a student at UC Boulder, died from a night of binge drinking. His parents believe that if the drinking age were 18 his fraternity brothers would have had no problem calling for help and he would still be alive. Chief Beckner told 60 minutes about how they have had numerous crackdowns but have realized they aren’t being effective. He tells 60 Minutes the advantage to lowering the drinking age is that “we're not trying to enforce a law that's unenforceable. The abuse of alcohol and the over-consumption of alcohol and DUI driving. Those are the areas we've gotta focus our efforts. Not on chasing kids around trying to give 'em a ticket for having a cup of beer in their hand."

Although the number of traffic fatalities due to drinking has decreased since the increase of the drinking age, the number of fatalities due to drinking is increasing very rapidly. If the drinking age was changed to 18, college age drinking would no longer have to be underground which would result in less binge drinking at pre-parties and fewer alcohol related deaths.

Toddlers and Technology

The other day as I was sitting at my computer doing homework, my phone started vibrating. The caller ID said it was my sister so I answered and said hello. However, instead of getting a response I heard the noises that are common in my sister's household. I started thinking that maybe it was a butt dial until I heard my two and half year old niece say "hello!” That’s when I realized she was probably playing with my sister's iPhone and called me. After I realized this conversation wasn't going anywhere I hung up the phone. This isn’t the only time this has happened and as a loving aunt I definitely do not mind the accidental phone calls it just boggles my mind that a toddler knows the basic operation of a cell phone. 

I am sure my sisters felt the same way about me. Due to the fact that they are 12 and 13 years older than I, they remember getting their first microwave, which is something I feel like I’ve always known how to use. They also didn’t get their first cell phones until they were in college while I got mine in 7th grade.

As technology continues to evolve it is becoming the norm for every day activities especially with children. Instead of playing outside kids are playing video games. Instead of learning to read with books children now know how to use all of the Leap Frog Learning toys. The age at which children receive their first cell phone or laptop is decreasing. The question of whether this is a good or bad development is up for debate it just shocks me whenever I see a 7 year old with their very own iPhone 4.