As people worry minors make up one-fifth of the nation's drinkers, the real focus should fall on anyone drinking a fifth in a single sitting.

An alcoholic is an alcoholic is an alcoholic, whether 12 years old or 44. The fact one-fifth of drinkers are underage pales in comparison to the fact people drink to the extent they do.

People are dying from over-drinking whether it be of their own abuse or at the hands of others. We see this tragedy often in college towns in stories such as Bradley McCue's.

McCue was an MSU parks and recreation student who died after drinking 24 shots on his 21st birthday on Nov. 5, 1998.

While underage drinking is wrong in the sense of its dangers, this happening is inevitably etched into the American psyche.

The 21-year-old requirement establishes a better enforcement of maturity and good use of judgment. The idea is used to save lives. Americans have become more skilled behind the wheel by age 21. They are able to draw upon better judgment on whether to drive following alcohol consumption.

Regardless of an alcoholic 45-year-old crashing a Jeep into a mailbox or 15-year-old drinking safely inside a house while dying of alcohol poisoning, the issue does not address the dangers of binge drinking.

Just as safe-sex advertising has turned from abstinence to condom usage, drinking has to turn from sobriety to moderation. This behavior is going to happen unless somehow miraculously the whole of America forgets its love of cold ones and their accompanying commercials, magazine ads, radio spots and sporting-event endorsement.

Likewise, we need to follow through with increased education and alcohol counseling. In the short run, danger can be curved by tying bars together with taxi services.

Instead of raising the push to stop underage drinking, let's try lowering the cut-off point.