Key Members of Congress, Public Health Experts and Educators Cite
Effectiveness of 21 Law
New Nationwide Insurance Survey Reaffirms Public Supports 21 Drinking
Age and Parents Do Not Want to Send Teens to Party Schools
WASHINGTON and DALLAS, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As students
head back to school, more than 100 college and university presidents have
signed on to a misguided initiative that uses deliberately misleading
information to confuse the public on the effectiveness of 21 law. The
initiative is led by another organization with a political agenda of
lowering the drinking age in the name of reducing college binge drinking.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030421/MADDLOGO )
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) National President Laura
Dean-Mooney said, "Underage and binge drinking is a tough problem and we
welcome an honest discussion about how to address this challenge but that
discussion must honor the science behind the 21 law which unequivocally
shows that the 21 law has reduced drunk driving and underage and binge
drinking."
MADD, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the American
Medical Association (AMA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB),
Governors Highway Safety Association and other science, medical and public
health organizations, and all members of the Support 21 Coalition call on
these college and university presidents to remove their names from this
list and urge them to work with the public health community and law
enforcement on real solutions to underage and binge drinking. Additionally,
MADD is asking the public to write letters to their Governors and college
presidents to support the 21 law and ask those on the initiative list to
remove their names.
"As the mother of a daughter who is close to entering college, it is
deeply disappointing to me that many of our educational leaders would
support an initiative without doing their homework on the underlying
research and science," said Dean-Mooney. "Parents should think twice before
sending their teens to these colleges or any others that have waved the
white flag on underage and binge drinking policies."
What the Experts Say
Top science, medical and public health experts as well as congressional
and state leaders agree on the effectiveness of the 21 minimum drinking age
law in saving lives.
University of Miami President and former U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, said maintaining the legal drinking
age at 21 is a socially and medically sound policy that helps parents,
schools and law enforcement protect our youth from the potentially
life-threatening effects of underage drinking. "As a three-time university
president, I can tell you that losing a student to an alcohol-related
tragedy is one of the hardest and most heart-rending experiences
imaginable," Shalala said. "Signing this initiative does serious harm to
the education and enforcement efforts on our campuses and ultimately
endangers young lives even more. I ask every higher education leader who
has signed to reconsider. I am old enough to remember life on our campuses
before the 21 year drinking rule. It was horrible."
"The traffic safety and public health benefits of the 21 minimum
drinking age law have been well established, with the Department of
Transportation estimating nearly 1,000 lives saved each year as a result. I
strongly support this lifesaving law, and will not consider any effort to
repeal or weaken it in any way," said Congressman James L. Oberstar (D-MN),
Chairman, U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
"Drunk driving needlessly kills thousands of young people every year.
That's why I wrote a law to create a national drinking age of 21 and why we
fight so hard to reduce drunk driving and save lives on our roads," Senator
Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) said. "This small minority of college
administrators wants to undo years of success -- that defies common sense.
We need to do all we can to protect the national drinking age -- a law that
saves the lives of drivers, passengers and pedestrians across the country
each year."
"Countless lives have been saved since Congress raised the national
minimum drinking age to 21 in 1984. We need to maintain this important law
and the life-saving protection it gives our teens and others on the roads,"
said U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-LA), a member of the Subcommittee on
Transportation and Infrastructure of the U.S. Senate Committee on
Environment & Public Works.
"Age 21 drinking laws are effective in preventing deaths and injuries,"
said NTSB Acting Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. "Repealing them is a terrible
idea. It would be a national tragedy to turn back the clock and jeopardize
the lives of more teens."
Adrian Lund, president of IIHS, said, "This initiative aims to lower
the drinking age without proposing a realistic substitute. It reflects
ignorance about the years of research comprising the scientific
justification for 21 laws. Sound policy should be based on sound science.
What is the evidence that education programs would be an effective
replacement for minimum drinking age laws? There is none. If states lower
the drinking age again, more teens will drink and drive and more will die."
The Public's Perspective
The public strongly disagrees with efforts to lower the drinking age.
According to a new survey released today by Nationwide Insurance, 78
percent of adults support 21 as the minimum drinking age and 72 percent
believe lowering the drinking age would make alcohol more accessible to
youth.
"While advocates argue a lower drinking age will curb teen binge
drinking, our survey shows only 14 percent of Americans agree and 47
percent believe it will actually make a huge problem worse," said Bill
Windsor, Associate Vice President of Safety for Nationwide. "Americans feel
so strongly about teen binge drinking more than half say they are less
likely to vote for a politician who supports lowering the legal limit or to
send their child to a known "party school."
The Science Behind the 21 Law
As one of the most studied public health laws in history, the
scientific research from more than 50 high-quality studies all found that
the 21 law saves lives[1]. In addition, studies show that the 21 law causes
those under the age of 21 to drink less and to continue to drink less
throughout their 20s[2]. The earlier youth drink (average age of first
drink is about 16), the more likely they will become dependent on alcohol
and drive drunk later in life[3].
College Binge Drinking
There is a perfect storm of affluence, opportunity and tolerance on
college campuses. Access to alcohol on college campuses is a particular
problem -- where underage students drink because they can and they are in a
high-risk environment where enforcement of the law varies widely.
In fact, research shows that more than 30 percent of college students
abuse alcohol and six percent are dependent on alcohol -- rates much higher
than for young adults who are not in college[4]. Research also shows that
the problem of binge drinking is worse among college-age students in
college versus those who are not in college[5].
"By signing onto this initiative, these presidents have made the 21 law
nearly unenforceable on their campuses. In fact, I call into question
whether or not these campuses are bothering to enforce the 21 drinking
age," said Dean-Mooney.
Solutions
Some universities are taking strong steps to enforce the 21 law and
change the drinking culture in their campus communities. Solutions to the
problem are centered on enforcement of the 21 law, sanctions for adults
providing alcohol to those under 21, changing the environment found on many
college campuses and tightening alcohol policies on campuses, and working
with local establishments in college communities selling alcohol to sell
responsibly and to ensure those under 21 are not being served.
The U.S. Surgeon General issued a call to action to solve the underage
and college binge drinking problem in 2007. Several steps have been taken
by communities and MADD will engage parents and other health and safety
leaders this fall on the topic to ensure parents specifically are armed
with the tools they need to combat underage drinking early -- before peer
pressure begins.
Dean-Mooney added, "It does not make sense to increase access to
alcohol when there are already so many problems with underage drinking. As
it stands, about 5,000 people under age 21 die each year due to underage
drinking[6]. This is not to mention the sexual assaults, violence, and
injuries."
About Support 21
The Support 21 Coalition is a group of leading health and safety groups
in support of the 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age Law and includes the
American Medical Association, Center for Science in the Public Interest,
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, Governors Highway Safety
Association, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, International
Association of Chiefs of Police, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, National
Liquor Law Enforcement Association, National Transportation Safety Board,
National Safety Council, Nationwide Insurance, Pacific Institute for
Research and Evaluation and National Council on Alcoholism and Drug
Dependence.
For local contacts, visit http://madd.org/Local-Chapters.aspx.
(list of college presidents' names, colleges and city/states below)
University Presidents Shirk Responsibilities
Amethyst Initiative Signers as of 8/18/08
President College City State
President Vincent American International College Springfield MA
Maniaci
President Jerry M. Arcadia University Glenside PA
Greiner
President Ronald Avila University Kansas City MO
Slepitza
President Elizabeth Bennington College Bennington VT
Coleman
President Scott D. Bethany College Bethany WV
Miller
President Bobby Butler University Indianapolis IN
Fong
President David Castleton State College Castleton VT
Wolk
President Mark J. Cazenovia College Cazenovia NY
Tierno
President Carmen Cedar Crest College Allentown PA
Twillie Ambar
President Esther Chatham University Pittsburgh PA
L. Barazzone
President John Clark University Worcester MA
Bassett
President Anthony Clarkson University Potsdam NY
G. Collins
President James Coe College Cedar Rapids IA
R. Phifer
President Rebecca Colgate University Hamilton NY
S. Chopp
President Robert College of Idaho Caldwell ID
Hoover
President Mary College of Notre Dame of Baltimore MD
Pat Seurkamp Maryland
President Frank College of St. Joseph Rutland VT
Miglorie
President Richard Colorado College Colorado CO
Celeste Springs
President Dennison Columbus College of Art & Design Columbus OH
Griffith
President James Dartmouth College Hanover NH
E. Wright
President G. T. Davis & Elkins College Elkins WV
Smith
President William Dickinson College Carlisle PA
G. Durden
President Robert Drew University Madison NJ
Weisbuch
President Richard Duke University Durham NC
Brodhead
President Donald Eckerd College St. FL
R. Eastman III Petersburg
President Theodore Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown PA
Long
President Thomas Elmira College Elmira NY
Meier
President Richard Endicott College Beverly MA
E. Wylie
President Jeffrey Fairfield University Fairfield CT
von Arx
President Kendall Georgia Southwestern State Americus GA
Blanchard University
President Janet Gettysburg College Gettysburg PA
Morgan Riggs
President Sanford Goucher College Baltimore MD
J. Ungar
President Jack Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter MN
Ohle
President Joan Hamilton College Clinton NY
Hinde Stewart
President Hampden-Sydney College Hampden VA
Walter M. Bortz -Sydney
President Ralph Hampshire College Amherst MA
J. Hexter
President Susan Hanover College Hanover IN
DeWine
President Nancy Hollins University Roanoke VA
O. Gray
President Barbara Johnson State College Johnson VT
Murphy
President John Johnson & Wales University Providence RI
J. Bowen
President S. Kenyon College Gambier OH
Georgia Nugent
President Daniel Lafayette College Easton PA
H. Weiss
President Stephen Lake Forest College Lake Forest IL
D. Schutt
President Thomas J. Lewis & Clark College Portland OR
Hochstettler
President Carol Lyndon State College Lyndonville VT
Moore
President Leonard Maine Maritime Academy Castine ME
Tyler
President Thomas Manhattan College Riverdale NY
J. Scanlan, F.S.C.
President Richard Manhattanville College Purchase NY
Berman
President Tim Mesa State College Grand CO
Foster Junction
President Ronald Middlebury College Middlebury VT
Liebowitz
President Frances Millsaps College Jackson MS
Lucas
President Mary Mitchell College New London CT
Ellen Jukoski
President Moravian College Bethlehem PA
Christopher
Thomforde
President Robert Morehouse College Atlanta GA
Michael
Franklin Jr.
President Joanne Mount Holyoke College South Hadley MA
V. Creighton
President Peyton Muhlenberg College Allentown PA
R. Helm
President Randy Murray State University Murray KY
Dunn
President Thomas Naropa University Boulder CO
B. Coburn
President Fran New England Culinary Institute Montpelier VT
Voigt
President Debra Nichols College Dudley MA
Townsley
President Robert Occidental College Los Angeles CA
A. Skotheim
President Lawrence Oglethorpe University Atlanta GA
Schall
President E. Ohio State University Columbus OH
Gordon Gee
President Phil Pacific University Forest Grove OR
Creighton
President Loren J. Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma WA
Anderson
President John Paul Smith's College Paul Smiths NY
Mills
President David W. Pomona College Claremont CA
Oxtoby
President Robert Quincy University Quincy IL
A. Gervasi
President Robert Randolph-Macon College Ashland VA
R. Lindgren
President William Rhodes College Memphis TN
E. Troutt
President David Ripon College Ripon WI
C. Joyce
President Gregory Robert Morris University Moon Township PA
G. Dell'Omo
President Pamela Saint Joseph College (CT) West Hartford CT
Trotman Reid
President Timothy Saint Joseph's University (PA) Philadelphia PA
R. Lannon
President Arthur Saint Leo University Key West FL
F. Kirk
Vice Chancellor
Joel L. Cunningham Sewanee: University of the South Sewanee TN
President Carol Smith College Northampton MA
T. Christ
President Paul Southern New Hampshire Hooksett NH
LeBlanc University
President Beverly Spelman College Atlanta GA
Daniel Tatum
President Daniel St. Lawrence University Canton NY
F. Sullivan
President
Elisabeth S.
Muhlenfeld Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar VA
Chancellor Nancy Syracuse University Syracuse NY
Cantor
President Robert Towson University Towson MD
Caret
President James Trinity College Hartford CT
F. Jones, Jr.
President John Trinity Lutheran College Everett WA
M. Stamm
President Lawrence Tufts University Medord MA
S. Bacow
President Walter University of Hartford Hartford CT
Harrison
President Louis University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio TX
Agnese Jr.
President Jennifer University of Maryland Baltimore MD
Hunter-Cevera -Biotechnology Institute
President C.D. University of Maryland--College College Park MD
Mote Jr. Park
Chancellor William University System of Maryland Adelphi MD
E. Kirwan
President Steven University of New Haven New Haven CT
H. Kaplan
President Geoffrey Vermont Law School South VT
Shields Royalton
Chancellor Robert Vermont State Colleges Waterbury VT
Clarke
President Ty Vermont Technical College Randolph VT
Handy Center
President Tori Washington and Jefferson College Washington PA
Haring-Smith
President Kenneth Washington and Lee University Lexington VA
P. Ruscio
President L. Washington College Chestertown MD
Baird Tipson
President Michael Westminster College (UT) Salt Lake UT
Bassis City
President J. West Texas A&M University Canyon TX
Patrick O'Brien
President Sharon D. Whittier College Whittier CA
Herzberger
President James Widener University Chester PA
T. Harris
President M. Willamette University Salem OR
Lee Pelton
[1]Wagenaar & Toomey, 2002
[2]O'Malley & Wagenaar, 1991
[3]Grant & Dawson, 1997. Hingson et al, 2003. Hingson & Kenkel, 2004.
[4]Knight et al, 2002
[5]Slutske, et al, 2004; Johnson, et al, 1997
[6]Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage
Drinking, 2007
SOURCE Mothers Against Drunk Driving
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Related links:
http://www.madd.org
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030421/MADDLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk
photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Misty Moyse of Mothers Against Drunk Driving,
+1-469-420-4558, misty.moyse@madd.org; or Melanie Fonder,
+1-202-572-2956, melanie.fonder@gmmb.com, for MADD
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