MN Could Lower Drinking Age

State lawmakers in Minnesota are bringing forward a plan to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18, and even allowing those sixteen and seventeen to drink in bars in accompanied by their parents.

There are at least four state representatives who are backing the plan.

Tom Hackbarth, a Republican from District 48A said, "I think that bars and restaurants are having a difficult time right now with the smoking ban that went into place. I think with economic times the way they are, I've never opposed the drinking age being 18."

He says the proposal could help the tavern industry. However, Mothers Against Drunk Driving opposes this idea. - KSFY.com

MADD would oppose this.

College Presidents Seek Debate On Drinking Age

College presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities, including Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State, are calling on lawmakers to consider lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18, saying current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.

The movement called the Amethyst Initiative began quietly recruiting presidents more than a year ago to provoke national debate about the drinking age.

"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." - Associated Press

The age definitely needs to be lowered. According to Cam Brown, our American culture expert living in Germany, kids in Europe (where the drinking age is under 18) know how to drink. They know about moderation. Since society has pretty much determined that alcohol is fine for teenagers, there is no need for binges.