Drinking down, not downing drinks, at the University of Iowa

Binge drinking's down to the lowest level in a decade, according to a  report released today by the University of Iowa.

In fact, the most recent National College Health Assessment numbers show that after years of climbing binge drinking rates, the UI reports that binge drinking actually was down 8 percent, after years of steadily climbing drinking rates.

Drinking and driving was down by 24 percent, drinking and fighting was down was down by 36 percent. Thirty-eight percent fewer students said they had non-consensual sex while under the influence of alcohol, according to the news release.

All sizable declines that should bury once and for all that once-persuasive, but increasingly debunked idea that banning underage patrons from bars is terrible policy.

Yes, young people will drink to excess, whether they're legal or not, but this report seems to clearly show that it doesn't have to be a life-threatening, harm-producing kind of binge. That's some very good news.