Raising Awareness about Lowering the Drinking Age

I've posted before about how ridiculous the notion is of the Amethyst Initiative : to lower the drinking age to 18.  Many university presidents have signed on to the project. However, I could not find a single benefit to the general population of this initiative.  The cynical side of me says that the main reason these university presidents signed on, is to eliminate the legal responsibilities a typical university would have due to the many binge drinking parties that occur, and  probably the many accidents that occur on campus  due to alcohol abuse.  

While I still feel that the initiative poses no positive affect in and of itself, it has spawned dialogue across the country to discuss this issue and I have read a few articles about they types of things schools and communities are doing to educate young people about the dangers of alcohol abuse. This is a very good side affect of the Initiative. 

For example, here is an article in the Chicago Tribune that discusses the issues colleges face related to binge drinking.  The article identifies that this particular university president proposed giving hands on lessons in responsible drinking.  The article also states that this school offers lectures, online courses and it was even suggested that the school have a Freshmen social, with drinks, to help identify the differences between social drinking and abusive drinking.  

My point is this: newspapers and web articles have begun to appear  across the country that raise the issues universities have in this area.  This is a very positive step.  Only through discussion and sharing of ideas will the issue of binge drinking be solved or at least reduced, or managed.  I hope these university presidents are sharing their best ideas with others (including with high schools and middle schools), and perhaps together, they can put together a national program so that every incoming freshman is exposed to the same teachings, tools, techniques, to educate students about this damaging affliction.