CU considering whether to join push to lower drinking age

BOULDER – The University of Colorado at Boulder is discussing whether it will join a list of schools that want to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18.

It's known as the Amethyst Initiative and supporters started recruiting university presidents about a year ago to try and put pressure on lawmakers to change the drinking age.

The Amethyst Initiative takes its name from ancient Greece, where the purple gem amethyst was believed to ward off drunkenness.

About 100 schools nationwide, including Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State, have already backed the measure.

CU is discussing whether it will add its name to the list on Wednesday.

"There are some very high stakes here," said CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard.

He says CU isn't totally sold on whether the Amethyst Initiative will make a difference in Boulder.

"I think it's safe to say we need a lot of convincing that this is the right way to go. The research really shows that lowering the drinking age really doesn't do a whole lot to solve the problems we see among college age drinkers," said Hilliard.

Parents of CU students are also split on the issue.

"I think there a lot more consequences when you can drink legally," said Dodi Krug.

"Absolutely not, it gives them a free ticket to go out and drink," said Cathi Rangel.

"I don't think they're old enough, not responsible (enough)," said Nancy Griego.

The creators of the Amethyst Initiative say college students are going to drink no matter what and they tend to do so more dangerously when it's illegal.

Naropa University in Boulder has already shown its support along with Colorado College and Mesa State.

While the initiative directly targets the president of CU, several people, including the chancellor and regents will be involved in the final decision.

"We're a little bit skeptical, but we are willing to listen to good ideas and have an intelligent debate," said Hilliard.

9NEWS also contacted Colorado State University in Fort Collins, but the school did not have a comment.

The president of Metro State College in Denver said he personally backs changing the law, but won't sign the initiative until meeting with the school's board of trustees.