It's the Law!
At Risk, by John Perkins, Editor
A major dilemma for chapters today is the serving of alcohol during social functions to underage brothers, pledges and guests. The Risk Management Policy of Alpha Gamma Rho clearly states "No chapter members, collectively or individually, shall purchase for, serve to, or sell alcoholic beverages to any minor (i.e., those under legal "drinking age.") Most college students today are under the age of 21, the legal age in all states for alcohol consumption.
Serving alcohol to minors is a costly violation of the law. This issue was summed up extremely well in a recent article published in At Risk, the risk management publication of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. This is a reprint of John Perkins the At Risk Editor, article.
Many young people under 21, and fraternity members are certainly no exception, question the law of underage drinking ever now and then with such questions as:
"Why can I vote and not be able to drink?"
It's the Law.
"Why can I fight for my country and not be able to drink?
It's the Law.
Why can I get a driver's license and not be able to drink?"
It's the Law.
Why can I be tried as an adult if I get in trouble when they don't consider me adult enough to drink?"
It's the Law.
Why do I have to pay taxes and do every other thing that people under 21 can do and not be able to drink?"
It's the Law.
How the law got here is probably a very convoluted tale chronicled somewhere in volume after volume in the Library of Congress. For the purposes of this publication, however, we put forth the supposition that the "Powers That Be" were tired of seeing young people getting injured and killed due to alcohol, but the percentages are frighteningly different.
Philosophical differences aside, the inherent problem that college students face is that approximately 75% of students are under 21 years of age. If you are reading this article in hopes of finding a reprieve from this problem, you will be disappointed. If you're not 21, you cannot legally drink alcoholic beverages.
It's the Law!