2008 Woodie Awards
"If we had a different, more European approach, it would make drinking safer," he said. "I think that it would cut down on binge drinking and encourage drinking in moderation."
Prior to the 1980s, especially during the Vietnam War, many states, subscribing to the argument that people old enough to fight in wars should be able to drink alcohol, lowered the drinking age from 21 to 18.
In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which required "all states to raise their minimum drinking age to 21 within two years or lose a portion of their federal-aid highway funds."
The Mother's Against Drunk Driving Web site notes that researchers saw a 28 percent decrease in teenage highway fatalities after the nation raised the drinking age to 21.
GW law professor Peter Meyers, who specializes in drug policy, said it would be possible to change the alcohol laws, but noted that politicians have sought to crack down on youth drinking in recent years.
"Sure you could pass a law lowering the drinking age," he said. "There might be financial consequences, but there is no legal reason why they couldn't do it, and there is nothing in the Constitution or an overriding law. There is nothing to preclude it. So, it is purely a policy question."
The Metropolitan Police Department received a $1 million grant in August to curb underage drinking.
Koroknay-Palicz said there has been nationwide support for changing the drinking laws, despite efforts by groups such as MADD and the Center for Science in the Public Interest to make them stricter.
"We are getting growing public support," he said. "I've seen polls even without public education effort, where 45 percent of the sample was in support of lowering the drinking age. We are getting momentum behind us."
Prior to the 1980s, especially during the Vietnam War, many states, subscribing to the argument that people old enough to fight in wars should be able to drink alcohol, lowered the drinking age from 21 to 18.
In 1984, Congress passed the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, which required "all states to raise their minimum drinking age to 21 within two years or lose a portion of their federal-aid highway funds."
The Mother's Against Drunk Driving Web site notes that researchers saw a 28 percent decrease in teenage highway fatalities after the nation raised the drinking age to 21.
GW law professor Peter Meyers, who specializes in drug policy, said it would be possible to change the alcohol laws, but noted that politicians have sought to crack down on youth drinking in recent years.
"Sure you could pass a law lowering the drinking age," he said. "There might be financial consequences, but there is no legal reason why they couldn't do it, and there is nothing in the Constitution or an overriding law. There is nothing to preclude it. So, it is purely a policy question."
The Metropolitan Police Department received a $1 million grant in August to curb underage drinking.
Koroknay-Palicz said there has been nationwide support for changing the drinking laws, despite efforts by groups such as MADD and the Center for Science in the Public Interest to make them stricter.
"We are getting growing public support," he said. "I've seen polls even without public education effort, where 45 percent of the sample was in support of lowering the drinking age. We are getting momentum behind us."
