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Studies have shown that it is easier for US teenagers to get their hands on drugs (and not just soft drugs, either) than it is to get their hands on alcohol. I don't know about you, but I would really rather have it be the other way around. I'm not suggesting we lower the drinking age to 16. 18 or 19 is good.
The main issue here isn't really the drinking age--it's American attitudes about drinking. Because it still has a "naughty" connotation, Americans tend to do it in excess--regardless of what the drinking age is. Binge drinking in college is all too common (however, I do call into question the definition of "binge" drinking). Perhaps if we lowered the drinking age that attitude would change, and college-age folks would have more respect for alcohol and what it has the power to do.
Furthermore, I was raised in a household where alcohol was consumed on a social basis and I've been allowed to drink regularly since I was 15. Coming to college was a bit of a shock as suddenly I was among all of these people who drank to get drunk. I think that's the difference between the European and American attitudes--sure, young Europeans drink to get drunk but it's generally over several hours and among friends down at the pub or what-have-you versus young Americans who drink as much as they can as fast as they can in order to get shitfaced as soon as possible because they're usually not at bar (since they're not 21). I hope that this attitude changes over time, as it's what's damaging Americans--not the drinking itself.
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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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