TO THE EDITOR:
Aidil Ortiz Collins’ (“Underage drinking bad for NC public health,” Apr. 25) comment that “it’s not bad if fear motivates behavior, especially if the modified behavior allows us to lead longer and healthier lives” is a naive and Machiavellian view.
For a state that is facing budget cuts on its education, highway and prison systems as well as other essential state funded projects, the alleviation of some police force specifically meant for victimless crimes would not be a terrible blow to public health.
The United States’ drinking age is drastically high compared to many other countries of a similar standard of living. Yet its average life expectancy is ranked 50 in the world.
The national drinking age has not helped the U.S. in this regard. If public health is what Collins is worried about, why would he not want this taxpayer money to be spent on fighting obesity and heart disease, leading causes of death in the U.S.?
My own experience with ALE was when I was in the presence of friends who were drinking underage. I was not tested for consumption, nor did I have a drink in hand. I was ticketed nonetheless. While this may not be “coercive” per se, it still demonstrates the corruptness of this system.
The current drinking age is only criminalizing an inevitable act, and ALE is taking taxpayer money out of the hands of an education system and infrastructure redevelopment that desperately needs it.
Wood Robinson
Sophomore
