The Problem Is Getting Worse

When talking about the problems associated with youth alcohol abuse, many consider the problem getting worse, which may in fact point the current philosophies and policies being fundamentally misguided.

Today, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Part of the National Institute of Health) released a study which describes the increasingly severe problem of youth alcohol abuse. Some quick stats:

Number of alcohol-related accidental deaths
1998: 1,440
2005: 1.825

Percentage of 18-24 year-olds who report drinking and driving
1998: 26.5
2005: 29

Percentage of 18-24 year-olds engaging in heavy and episodic drinking practices
1998: 42
2005: 45

Each of these statistics independently would be more than cause for alarm. However, all three? Not to mention the countless more statistics that have recently been reported: The number of drunk driving incidents is on the rise, the age that people start drinking is getting younger, and the ratio of excessive drinking practices to responsible drinking practices is increasing.

Is the drinking age effective? Maybe our more basic, underlying assumptions were false to begin with. Looking at how best to reduce the problems and harm associated with heavy drinking by people at all ages, and especially young people, requires more than "How can we enforce the drinking age better?" To really provide effective policy, we need to ask "Is the 21 year-old drinking age based on true and effective policy foundations?" We need rethink our initial assumption - we need to "rethink 21."

Study:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-06/joso-cdp061009.php

Edit: Additional Article:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/06/16/alcohol