NJ21 Coalition opposes Amethyst Iniative
New Jersey residents unite against lowering the drinking age
Matt Neuteboom
Issue date: 10/10/08 Section: Local News
The Amethyst Initiative was recently launched in July of this year in order to catalyze debate on the current drinking age. Signed by many presidents of universities around the country, including Stevens' very own President Harold Raveché, the Amethyst Initiative wished to address the problem of binge drinking that still occurred amongst young people despite the minimum drinking age of 21. However, not all New Jersey residents are excited to lower the drinking age, and in response, have formed the NJ21 Coalition to keep the drinking age at 21.
Organized by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, the Coalition is comprised of State government, law enforcement, and non-profit organizations. The Coalition cites the dramatic decrease in alcohol-related death rates since the drinking age was raised as the primary evidence that the drinking age should not be lowered. Since the drinking age was raised to 21 in 1983, New Jersey has seen a 78 percent decrease in drunk driving accidents among 18-20 year olds, according to New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that age-21 laws have prevented more than 25,000 deaths nationwide.
New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey is also upset at this development, and has called for many universities, including Stevens, to present their drinking policy to examine what colleges are doing to fight binge drinking. At this time, lowering the drinking age also seems to be unpopular amongst New Jersey residents. According to a recent survey conducted by Farleigh Dickinson University, only 18 percent of New Jersey residents support lowering the drinking age to 18.
The Amethyst Initiative claims that raising the age level has done little to stop drinking amongst teens and college students. Instead, it has bred a culture of binge drinking and the allure of alcohol as a "forbidden fruit." Some NJ21 Coalition members, however, claim that college presidents wish to change the drinking laws due to the difficulty in enforcing them.
It is yet to be seen whether or not this new development will inspire other states to take a similar course of action. Although the Amethyst Initiative was originally signed to create unbiased debate over the drinking age, it seems as though it has also created passionate opposition amongst New Jersey residents.
Organized by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, the Coalition is comprised of State government, law enforcement, and non-profit organizations. The Coalition cites the dramatic decrease in alcohol-related death rates since the drinking age was raised as the primary evidence that the drinking age should not be lowered. Since the drinking age was raised to 21 in 1983, New Jersey has seen a 78 percent decrease in drunk driving accidents among 18-20 year olds, according to New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that age-21 laws have prevented more than 25,000 deaths nationwide.
New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey is also upset at this development, and has called for many universities, including Stevens, to present their drinking policy to examine what colleges are doing to fight binge drinking. At this time, lowering the drinking age also seems to be unpopular amongst New Jersey residents. According to a recent survey conducted by Farleigh Dickinson University, only 18 percent of New Jersey residents support lowering the drinking age to 18.
The Amethyst Initiative claims that raising the age level has done little to stop drinking amongst teens and college students. Instead, it has bred a culture of binge drinking and the allure of alcohol as a "forbidden fruit." Some NJ21 Coalition members, however, claim that college presidents wish to change the drinking laws due to the difficulty in enforcing them.
It is yet to be seen whether or not this new development will inspire other states to take a similar course of action. Although the Amethyst Initiative was originally signed to create unbiased debate over the drinking age, it seems as though it has also created passionate opposition amongst New Jersey residents.