Final project - Broadcast

MOST COLLEGE KIDS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO FIGHT, VOTE, AND JUDGE THEIR PEERS. BUT - ARE THEY TOO YOUNG TO DRINK?

IF THE AMETHYST INITIATIVE HAS THEIR WAY, THE DRINKING AGE WON'T REMAIN AT 21 FOR LONG.

(external shot, Middlebury College, McCardell walking across campus)

PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE, JOHN MCCARDELL, STARTED THE AMETHYST INITIATIVE IN JUNE 2008. HE FOUNDED THE INITIATIVE IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING NUMBER OF BINGE DRINKING INCIDENTS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

THE GOAL OF THE AMETHYST INITIATIVE IS TO OPENLY DISCUSS THE BENEFITS AND PROBLEMS OF CHANGING THE DRINKING AGE TO 18.

(sound bite/video from interview with Jane Curtis, director of CU's Health Promotion Services Department):
"The issue of binge drinking on most college and university campuses exists and is a complex health issue that many of us are working on."

SURPRISINGLY, REACTIONS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE MIXED. SOME AGREE WITH THE AMETHYST INITIATIVE'S LOGIC.

(sound bite/video, interview with Michael Lang, exterior of Virginia Tech)
“I feel if you can go to war and risk your life, you should be able to drink beer. At age 18, you become a legal adult and are given many ‘freedoms’: to vote, hold public office, serve on juries, serve in the military, fly airplanes, sign contracts and so on. Alcohol should be one of those.”

OTHER STUDENTS THINK LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE WILL LEAD TO CHAOS.

(sound bite/video, interview with Nikki Antonucci, exterior of WCU)
“I think all the stupid 18-year-olds would go crazy and drink and get into a car and kill themselves or someone else."

THE AMETHYST INITIATIVE CITES 134 COLLEGE PRESIDENTS AND UNIVERSITY CHANCELLORS AMONG ITS SIGNATORIES. HOWEVER, ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE NTSB, THE AMA, AND MADD OPPOSE THIS INITIATIVE.

(sound bite/video of MADD President Laura Dean-Mooney, in MADD HQ)
"The discussion must honor the science behind the 21 law which unequivocally shows that the 21 law has reduced drunk driving and underage and binge drinking.”

STUDIES SHOW THAT OVER HALF OF COLLEGE STUDENTS AGED 18 TO 20 USED ALCOHOL IN THE PAST MONTH. MANY OF THOSE SAME STUDENTS REPORT PERSONAL INJURY, SEVERE EMOTIONAL EPISODES, AND SEXUAL PROMISCUITY.

(sound bite/interview, Alex A, Scranton U campus exterior)
"Beer goggles, that's all I have to say."

DESPITE THE DRINKING AGE BEING 21, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A SHORTAGE OF ALCOHOL AVAILABLE TO UNDERAGE COLLEGE STUDENTS.

(sound bite/video, Michael, VT)
"If you want alcohol there is an easy way to get it and you'll be able to find it, no problem.”

ADRIENNE SAIA, NEWS TEAM BOULDER.