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William DeJong and Choose Responsibility’s Barrett Seaman recently debated the drinking age at Sonoma State University. An article from the college’s newspaper, The Sonoma Star, noted that underage binge drinking has increased significantly despite the 21 year old drinking age.

While the total number of drinking youths has remained fairly constant, there was a 56 percent increase in binge drinking from 18 to 20 year olds between 1993 and 2001. In addition, close to 5,000 people die every year due to underage drinking, including victims of drunk driving accidents from underage drivers.

During the debate, students also had the opportunity to weigh in on how “21″ affects them.

Choose Responsibility Blog

Ireland’s National Substance Misuse Strategy, published this month, argues that pubs, unlike drinking in sequestered environments, can encourage responsible drinking behavior.

An article about the report, published by the Irish Times, claims that supermarket alcohol bolsters binge drinking because of its accessibility and low cost. Pubs encourage responsibility because of the communal atmosphere and cost that are associated with consuming in public. The article quotes Dr. Joe Barry, head of the department of public health at Trinity College Centre for Health Sciences, who argues,

The real difficulty…is cheap drink in supermarkets. It appeals particularly to young people and those dependent on alcohol. Because drink in a pub is dearer, you’ll do yourself less damage there for the same amount of money spent.

Read the full article here.

Choose Responsibility Blog

A young Manitoba man accused of molesting three teen boys during a bizarre phony “ceremony” meant to rid them of evil demons won’t have separate trials to challenge some of the abuse complaints.
Manitoba stories

Manitoba may be known as a bilingual province, but there is no question which of the two languages is king.
Manitoba stories

An op-ed from the Cornell Sun, Cornell’s student newspaper, reflects on the school’s social culture and on the importance of creating safe spaces where alcohol is consumed.

The article, mentioning the Amethyst Initiative, speaks specifically about binge drinking as a result of the restriction of alcohol at student social events.

Choose Responsibility Blog

Great Britain, like the United States, realizes that binge drinking does not exclude any age group or demographic.

Prime Minister David Cameron seeks to oppose his country’s problems with responsible drinking with a higher tax on alcohol, as cited by Rupert Wolfe-Murray’s article “Where is Britain’s New Alcohol Strategy”.

This tax targets irresponsible behavior in all demographics instead of targeting a specific age group.

Choose Responsibility Blog

Sun Media wants to know how we see those who live in the other corners of our nation. So we’re asking you, how would you best describe your fellow Canadians?

Manitoba stories

Blood stains found on Mark Stobbe’s garage floor are
consistent with Bev Rowbatham moving or being
moved while bleeding, jurors were told Monday.
Manitoba stories

The Chronicle of Higher Education reported this week that college students’ tendency to abuse alcohol significantly exceeds the tendency to abuse alcohol in their non-student counterparts. The article, which cites a 2009 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, claims that 46.6 percent of college students have battled substance abuse versus only 30 percent of those not enrolled in college.

To make a conservative estimate, a traditional, four-year college might have a student body in which at least half of its students under the age of 21. Given the Chronicle’s news cited above where 46.6 percent of college students have had a drinking problem, arguably, at least half of these students with a problem were under 21.

Statistical information such as this refutes the impossible claims that current alcohol regulations in our country are preventing consumption by those who are underage. What’s more, the “bubble-like” college environment, where students are mostly surrounded by people their own age, can exacerbate unhealthy drinking behaviors. Many college students leave home without an understanding of how to imbibe responsibly and then mirror the dangerous habits of their peers, who have  just as little education on responsible consumption.

Choose Responsibility Blog

Adult father and son among the victims
Manitoba stories