Our great country, the United States of America, has a higher percentage of alcoholics than Germany. There are more drunk driving-related deaths per person in the U.S. than in France. How can this be? The drinking age in both Germany and France, along with most of Europe, is 16, while in practice it is much lower. The legal drinking age in the U.S. is obviously 21. I’m sorry to say, but the way our government handles alcohol is about the worst way to go about it.

I lived in Brussels, Belgium, for four years. I first ordered a beer in a bar when I was 15. To some of you, this may come as a shock, but I was responsible enough to drink when I ordered that beer. The reason: My father and the school I attended took away the mystery of alcohol for me. They taught me moderation and how to respect alcohol. I have never driven with any alcohol on my breath. Granted, the driving age in Belgium is 18 and there were several ways of public transportation to get home when I had been drinking, but that just decreases the number of potential drunk drivers.

As an 18-year-old, I can smoke, have sex, father children, vote, die for my country, and make contracts. Many of these carry much larger responsibilities than drinking beer, such as raising children. Perhaps a more common-sense approach towards alcohol is called for, where 18- to 20-year-olds are treated like the adults they are supposed to be. I guarantee there would be less alcohol-related problems if every school taught teens how to handle and respect alcohol. How about a system where you have to take a class in high school about drinking and you can drink legally once you pass that class and are at least 18? Also, drunk driving penalties would need to become more strict, like the rest of the world, and more accessible public transportation would be wise. This seems too practical for the U.S. to implement. I think that a 21-year-old who just started to drink in the current system is more likely to be a hazard to society than an 18-year-old drinker who was taught how to handle alcohol.

Alcohol will never go away. It should not be seen as an evil but as part of our everyday life. We just need to learn how to deal with it more effectively. It is sad that it is illegal for me to enjoy a beer with my father in my own home. Something needs to change. I plan not to drink over Veishea because of the risk of getting caught. However, I’m sure many students will out of spite for “Prohibition Veishea.” If you treat them like adults, they will act like adults.

Greg Weber

Freshman

Chemical engineering