This letter is in response to Michele Friedman’s letter to the editor (“Any Proposal to Lower the Legal Drinking Age Is Unwise, Irresponsible”) in the Nov. 25 issue of the News Transcript.
While I applaud you, Michele, for being upfront and brave enough to render your opinion on the drinking age, and I have no doubt about what you say about college life, I do, however, have a few legal problems with it.
First, under the current law, you are considered an adult when you turn 18 — you are allowed to vote, you can go fight for your country and you can be tried as an adult in a criminal matter.
In Pennsylvania, you are emancipated the day you turn 18. However, the only thing you are not allowed to do is have a drink. For those soldiers under the age of 21 who have died for our country, who were allowed to have an AK-47 in their hand but not able to legally take a drink, this is unconscionable.
While I agree that college drinking is a problem, a big problem, I also believe it is the “rush” of not being able to legally have a drink that makes them drink more because, as you stated, Michele, there are constraints on obtaining more — the all-too-common, “We want what we can’t have” or “We have it, so let’s drink all of it.”
It is up to the parents to educate their children to the rules regarding drinking socially and responsibly.
Most college, alcohol-induced deaths were due to “hazing,” and that is a problem.
Many states have laws on sororities and fraternities that would allow them to lose their charter if they violate such rules and regulations.
So, in essence, what I say is this: New Jersey needs to make a decision on what an adult is.
You’re an adult at 18 to vote and serve in the military, but you’re not adult enough to have a glass of wine. To be labeled an adult in one aspect but not in another is a clear violation of being considered a legal adult. Herein lies a very conflicting message.
So New Jersey either needs to classify us as adults at 18 with full rights, or at 21. On a personal level, I don’t think 18 is mature enough to have a drink, to fight for our country or to vote, and I would prefer 21, as maturity is setting in.
However, to be an adult in one area and not the other is very conflicting and sending the wrong message.
It seems that 18 is (an adult) when they need us to vote or need us to enroll in the service to fight for our country, but when it comes to decisions such as having a drink or declaring ourselves adults when it comes to financial aid, 18 is too young.
So which is it? Are we an adult at 18 with all rights and privileges, or is some aspect of that adulthood being purposely held back for someone else’s own self-preservation?
Deborah C. Gumpper
East Brunswick

