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Study: Lowering drinking age leads to more binge drinking

By WTOP Staff

Paula Wolfson, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – There is new evidence that lowering the drinking age may result in more binge drinking and not just among the young.

Researchers at the Washington University Medical School in St. Louis followed 39,000 people who came of age in the 1970s when 18 or 19 was the minimum drinking age in many states. They found that those who could get a drink legally before they turned 21 were more likely to be binge drinkers years later.

The study showed that they were not likely to drink more frequently or consume more alcohol overall when compared to people who grew up in states with a higher drinking age. But they were more likely to binge when they did consume alcohol.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers binging five or more drinks in about two hours for men and four or more drinks in two hours for women.

The study results did not come as a surprise to Babette Wise, director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital.

“We know that when people start drinking at a younger age, whenever that is, that they are more likely to develop problems,” she says.

But another aspect of the study shocked her. The researchers say the men in the study who did not go to college turned out to be bigger bingers.

In the overall study, researchers found that men who grew up in states with a lower drinking age were 19 percent more likely to binge drink more than once a month. When they looked at just men who did not go to college in those states the likelihood jumped to 31 percent.

“I work with college students a lot and there is a serious problem there, and I am trying to understand why in less-educated, more blue-collar areas they would be drinking more,” says Wise.

She says more stress and less opportunity may be factors. And she suggests that many of these bingers may see alcohol as a cheap form of entertainment or view binging almost as a sport.

Wise says starting to drink at an earlier age certainly did not help their emotional development.

“People who start drinking at a young age, especially binge drinking, they are stunted developmentally,” she says. They have a more difficulty dealing with problems, stress and sadness.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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