As I mentioned, the legal drinking age was 18 years when I was a college student. I learned to pour a good pint at Thursday Pub Night at the student union. ;-) I do not think 21 years old is reasonable, but I do have reservations about 18 and the reason is this. Back in my day you started 1st grade as young as five years old. As long as you turned six by the end of December, you were eligible. This meant you graduated high school at age 17 and turned 18 while you were in college.
These days, parents send their kids--particularly boys--to first grade at 7 and even 7 1/2 years old in some cases. Which means there are plenty of high school students out there who are 18. I do not think it bodes well to allow high school students to legally buy alcohol because of their proximity to the younger students. Too close, too close. Lower the drinking age to 19 when most kids are more likely to be off to college or out of the house working and supporting themselves.
Butler University president Bobby Fong (who supports lowering the age) commented that he learned to drink socially in the homes of college professors and other adults, and that it was appropriate drinking which fostered responsible attitudes towards alcohol. College students these days drink without any adults present and it is a furtive, destructive activity for too many of them. My 19 year old daughter told me that one of her friends was caught drinking on campus and subsequently had to take classes about alcohol use. One of the things that came out was that police who arrest underage drinkers are seeing higher and higher blood alcohol levels. That's frightening. Why is it? Because it's not legal for them to be drinking and since they can't keep or carry the alcohol, kids finish the bottle or case right on the spot.
Great point about 18 year olds being in high school- our son will be an "old" senior. I don't think booze and high school is a great mix, so 19 would be the way to go if there was going to be any change.
University of South Carolina had a campus bar in the student union. Lots of beer, great bands- and we could walk. Now kids have to get in cars to go to many places- which seems more dangerous. Not only is the alcohol illegal for them to drink, but it is further away.