College presidents who have signed a petition urging Congress to study lowering the legal drinking age have caused quite a stir recently.

The presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities have organized an effort to get lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18. The movement, now known as the Amethyst Initiative, believes current law encourages dangerous binge drinking.

"This is a law that is routinely evaded," said John McCardell, former president of Middlebury College in Vermont who started the organization. "It is a law that the people at whom it is directed believe is unjust and unfair and discriminatory."

Changing the law would free college administrators from the headaches of dealing with underage drinking on and around their campuses. It is questionable that it would temper binge drinking among young people.

University of Northern Iowa President Benjamin Allen has joined many of the college and university presidents who do not support the petition.

"I would have felt more comfortable with the letter if it said we need to look at a myriad of solutions or possible solutions," Allen said. "As it stands, if you sign it, it is basically saying you think that the drinking age is too high."

In 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed 49 studies published in scientific journals and concluded alcohol-related traffic crashes involving young people increased 10 percent when the drinking age was lowered in the 1970s and decreased 16 percent when the drinking age was raised.

Another study by Mothers Against Drunk Driving showed a 60 percent decrease in alcohol-related traffic fatalities a month for 16- to 20-year olds between 1982 and 2006. Non-alcohol related fatalities increased 32 percent during that time.

These are eye-opening numbers.

We understand there are legitimate arguments - such as the one that 18-year-olds can make life-changing decisions like entering the military - arguments that carry a lot of weight and expose double standards.

However, as long as research is showing that the loss of young lives is significantly decreased by a legal drinking age of 21-years-old, we will err on that side.

Meanwhile, college administrators should be looking at better enforcement methods, preventive education and stronger deterrents to underage drinking on their campuses.