No drinking at 18!

            The transition into college is exciting, stressful, and an adventure. Students are no longer “watched over” by their parents, and they begin to explore their new lives as adult individuals. During this process, students become bogged down by homework, their social lives, and homesickness. Students do not need an easy access to alcohol in their new life. Professors assign homework to reinforce what was learned in class. If students are drinking instead of doing their work, they will not learn the material and probably miss other classes because of the after effects of alcohol. This could cause the student to fall further and further behind and possibly not be able to continue his or her education. Alcohol may provide a very active social life for students. They will meet a lot of new people who enjoy drinking with them and begin to feel like these people are their friends. Later in the semester, the student may realize how the alcohol has changed his or her life. The student will also notice that in the process of losing his newfound love for alcohol he is losing all of his “friends” as well. Students will probably feel less homesick as the semester goes by. This feeling can diminish a lot quicker with the help of alcohol. Students would not be able to continue their late night partying at home with their parents’ supervision. Alcohol should not be accessible to students beginning college because they are at a too vulnerable stage in their lives. After students become comfortable with balancing school, finding true friends, and developing strong family relationships, alcohol can be added into the equation. At this time of their lives, students are mature enough to handle the responsibility that comes with drinking.