Social Brainwashing?

From the first time I heard about this initiative, I’ve often wondered what would happen if someone proposed an amendment to raise the drinking age.

It’s a ridiculous idea, but it’s a fun way to put things into perspective. Most of the people I have talked to about doing this say something like “That would never work. I’m an adult, I can drink whenever I want.” Well, that’s kind of the point that I am trying to make.

Adults who are 18 should have the same opinion. “I’m an adult, I can drink whenever I want.” Why don’t they? Because for as long as they can remember, the drinking age has been 21. That’s just the way it is, and, in their eyes, the way it always will be.

As with most movements–abolitionism, women’s right to vote, etc.–it takes a few people to wake the rest of us up and convince us that we don’t have to continue living as we have been. That we can change things and make them better.

I know that when I was 18, I thought it was unfair that I couldn’t drink until I was 21. But I was only 18. What kind of power did I have? I couldn’t change anything. And I probably would have gone on thinking at 26 if this initiative hadn’t come along.

So, think about this: what would you think if someone told you that you the new drinking age would be 30?