Whether over the legal consumption age or under, it is no secret that college students drink. On campuses across the country, students are being arrested and charged with drinking-related crimes that often result in hefty fines and loss of academic and social privileges. The typical consequences that occur after an alcohol-related incident are generally rather unnecessary and beg the question: Why hasn't the drinking age been lowered yet?

There used to be a time when an 18-year-old could make the executive decision to not only drink a beer, but choose to risk his life to go off to war. But that was 1974, and times have since changed. By 1987, the legal drinking age was set at 21 for all alcoholic beverages, but why did things change? Why do we live in a generation where teenagers can sign their lives away by joining the army, but they can't even sip a beer? 

Experts say that the human brain is not finished developing until age 21, hence the drinking age. While I understand the scientific reasoning, I think it's time that it should be challenged. After all, shouldn't I be the one deciding whether or not I want to screw up my brain? Furthermore, the average drinking age around the globe is 15.9 years old, and there are 50 countries whose legal drinking age (LDA) is under 18. The United States is one of seven countries in the world with an LDA of 21. Yes, you read that correctly. One of seven countries in the entire world. 

So why is this issue important to me? Because at only 19-years-old, I have seen several friends' lives do a 180 because of alcohol infractions that are completely ridiculous and absurd. I have watched people lose the ability to study abroad and gain incredibly valuable cultural experiences. I have listened to nightmares of friends who have had to spend thousands of dollars on lawyers just to get an underage consumption violation off their records. In many of these situations, the "criminal" was not acting out or drunkenly committing other (more severe) crimes or even doing anything wrong for that matter. What it usually comes down to is being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

As a college student living on campus, I want to see the police catching thieves or rapists or murderers. I don't want to see any more people being arrested for having a few beers with their friends; it serves no purpose. If the LDA were set at 18, there would be less pressure to sneak around using fake ID's in order to purchase alcohol. Additionally, a lowered drinking age would teach teenagers how to drink responsibly. 

It's time to stop wasting time and taxpayer dollars arresting innocent college students. It's time that 18 becomes the new 21.