by KYW’s David Madden

Amid calls from several colleges across America to consider lowering the national drinking age to 18, several New Jersey agencies are banding together to suggest that’s the last thing that should be pondered.

The Amethyst Initiative is promoting debate over a lower drinking age. More than 100 college presidents, including those at Arcadia, St. Joe’s and Delaware Valley, have signed on to the idea. Now enter the NJ21 Coalition including the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

Director Pam Fischer notes fatal drunk driving accidents in New Jersey decreased 78% since the drinking age was upped from 18 to 21, a quarter century ago:

“We want to continue to focus on the prevention aspects rather than giving up and saying, you know, we’re just going to throw in the towel and say it’s not working.”

Several other public and private groups are part of the coalition, which has a simple message. The system in place now is not broken. So there’s no need to change it.