Did you know that approximately 17,000 college students die each year in alcohol related deaths, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)?  That is why nearly 100 college presidents from some of the most prestigious schools in the country are proposing that lawmakers lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18.  Their proposal is designed to curb the allure and underground culture of college drinking.  By making drinking illegal for a bulk of college students, it drives it into hiding or off campus, where it is difficult for campus police and officials to address. 

Minimum drinking ages were established in the United States after the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.  In 1988, studies showed an increase in alcohol-related auto accidents involving 18 - 20 year olds and all 50 states raised the legal drinking age from 18 to 21.  Alcohol related fatalities have dropped 56% since an all-time high that year and the greatest decline was in the 16-20 year old age range, according to NIAAA.  This initiative has sparked outrage from groups like MADD that claim that raising the drinking age to 21 has saved 1,000 lives per year.

The top five drinking cities in the U.S. are Austin, Milwaukee, San Fransisco, Providence and Chicago.  So far, there are no presidents from Colorado colleges or universities that have signed the initiative.  Find out more at    www.amethystinitiative.org and let us know what you think.  Will college drinking become less appealing if it's not illegal and will it reduce the binge-drinking that campus officials are worried about?