And the survey says...

In an informal survey, we asked college students in America about drinking. Not surprising, the results revealed that 97 percent consumed alcohol before the legal drinking age. On a more serious note, the survey asked whether they had ever driven a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. For this 69.7 percent said that they had driven a vehicle after consuming alcohol. Just as many of us do, 97 percent surveyed reported that they go out drinking with a group. When asked where they learned about drinking responsibly, the majority said they learned from parents or family, with friends being a close second.

A topic that had been in the news lately is the drinking age in the United States. South Carolina Rep. Fletcher Smith (D-Greenville) has recently proposed a bill that will lower the drinking age for enlisted men and women. Smith says, “It doesn't make any sense to prohibit a young soldier, Marine, airman, or sailor from having a drink ... They've proven they're adults ... They have the maturity that the average 18-year-old wouldn't have.” Do you agree or disagree? Read more on this issue at Charleston City Paper: http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A40055

From those surveyed, many feel that the drinking age in the US is too high. More than half felt the age was too high but that the drinking laws were appropriate. And when asked if they thought people in Germany had a drinking problem almost 94 percent said no. This is a little surprising since Germany is known for its beer gardens and festivals, like Oktoberfest.