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MADD Myths and the OLCC denies rule change

From the wondering people at Mother Against Drunk Driving, who have long stopped pretending it is not a prohibitionist organization, Why21.org dispels the Myths & Facts about the 21 Minimum Drinking Age Law. First of all, to understand who we’re dealing with here, look at the answer to the “European Myth:”

Perhaps the best example of fact versus myth when it comes to the “European Myth” is a look at what happened in New Zealand.

Can we get Alec Murphy in here to teach some geography? As for the Myth, “If I’m old enough to go to war, I should be old enough to drink:”

A person’s brain does not stop developing until his or her early to mid-20s.

Then there is, “A special license for 18-20 year olds that allows them to drink alcohol if they complete a 40-hour alcohol education course will teach them to drink responsibly.”

The idea of an alcohol education course is equivalent to driver’s education courses and the DARE program, which are both proven to be ineffective.

First, the last thing the state needs to do is create a 40-hour alcohol education course, unless it is taught by my old P.E. teacher and involves a tub of moonshine and myriad high-fives. And secondly, the opinion that D.A.R.E. was ineffective is still up for debate. Without it, I probably would not have been interested with smoking chalk and pounding chalkboard erasers. I feel the program graduated a good crop of educated alcohol enthusiasts into society. Finally, “Lowering the drinking age will encourage young people to be responsible consumers and drink under supervision at bars (or on college campuses) rather than at uncontrolled, private parties:”

Youth drink with the goal to get drunk. They are not “wired” in the brain to asses risk and to be responsible when it comes to risky behavior. There is no class or situation that will prompt a teen to drink responsibly when alcohol flows freely.

I’m pretty sure that the situation of getting a DUI, having to drop $2,000 and go through 16 weeks of pee-tests and “what is alcoholism” would prompt most teens to drink more responsibly next time. A swift cane to back probably works too, but that’s inhumane.

In other news, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission decided last Thursday not to adopt a rule that would allow the 18 and over crowd into music venues that sell alcohol. The three who were opposed went with the, “we don’t know what will happen so we shouldn’t do it” argument, along with the Oregon Partnership-led plea that alcohol is the Devil’s incumbent drink of choice. The board said it will reconsider the rule change in February.

  1. Timothy says:

    What if you’re brunette with brown eyes? Out of luck? Got to settle for Kiwis?

  2. Guy says:

    Aussie girls will (along with a few other things) buy you drinks if you’re an American with blond hair, blue eyes and a handsome smile. They’ll eat you right up.

    Hit their gold coast during “schoolies Week” when all the kids who just graduated high school go out and party for half a month.

  3. Ossie says:

    Father Chris Riley sounds like a jerk.

  4. Well, looks like I’m moving to Australia. See you guys later.

  5. Alex says:

    Here’s a different situation ALSO from Oceania, a report about alcoholism in Australian teens
    http://www.ibnlive.com/news/aussie-girls-selling-themselves-for-beer-study/54469-17.html

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