Well, some do, as a way of dealing with on-campus binge drinking. Other presidents think it's a ********ing stupid idea. Here's the AP article... http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWXhmLxHPcv8q_iFiN7nLt7RP8CgD92L2IIO0 and here's an article that seems to be opposed to the idea... http://www.marketwatch.com/news/sto...25229F-FC15-45F8-A3E9-B8904308C9FD}&dist=hppr
I am a high school teacher and I think the high school kids have easy access now, I cringe when I think about half the kids in my school being able to drink legally.
I didn't read the articles, but I get the feeling that these college presidents just don't want the kids drinking in the dorms, which would happen less if they could go to the bars. On my campus, the powers-that-be don't care unless we get too loud or put pictures on the interweb.
My high school govt teacher told us how in his high school days there were quiet a few hung over 18 year old seniors in school throughout the school year. But it makes me wonder. I remember being 19 thinking I was some kind of champ because I was able to drink a 12 pack of MGD and several shots of evan williams in one sitting but as soon as I turn 21 it lost its excitement and I realized how stupid it was. If the drinking age had been 18 makes me wonder if me (and everyone else) would have thought drinking was the cool thing to do. Maybe 19 would be a good compromise? Pretty much rules out the majority of high schoolers from being able to legally get drunk on school nights.
If they have to lower it, I agree with your 19 suggestion. That would eliminate most high schoolers. This is just scary though. Drinking is such a part of high school at my school that it doesn't really matter how old you are. The freshman are partying it up drinking, taking pictures of it, and posting it on myspace.