Should we lower the drinking age to 18?

A group of more than 100 college presidents, including one from Wisconsin, is urging government to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18. Do you think this is a smart move?

We want your opinion. Do you remember drinking when the legal age was 18 in Wisconsin? If you had to wait until you were 21, did you feel it was unfair? What do you think the consequences would be of lowering the age, in terms of drunken driving accidents?

For details, check out this editorial: Drinking age deserves a debate

Read Comments

A person is not an adult at 18! Certain rights and privileges are granted to a person upon attaining that age, but the use of mind-altering substances is not one of them. The reason is that most 18 year olds do not have the maturity or wisdom to use alcohol wisely. I think that giving them the vote was a very foolish thing to do, and was done by politicians eager to capture another "gimme" segment of our society. How can one go from a situtation where everything is given to them and vote on how government should actually govern without expecting more handouts to be given? Impossible and another example of the corruption that is rampant among politicians!

- Grant, Brookfield, WI

Yes, I believe the drinking age should be 18. I don't understand how we can determine a person an adult at 18, BUT say they cannot drink. Now, although I believe the drinking age should match the age in which a person is deemed an adult, I also believe we need to tighten up and get tougher on drunk drivers.

- Kris, Cudahy, Wisconsin

One of the main concerns about lowering the drinking age has to do with driving. I don't think there's any question that we have a culture of drunken driving in this country.

We have one of the highest drinking ages in the world; rather than promoting a culture with a healthy regard for alcohol, this promotes very "either-or" underage experiences with alcohol (either abstinence or binge drinking). I don't have any illusions about the drinking age changing the culture in and of itself. Kids aren't just binge-drinking because it's illegal; they're binge drinking because they grow up in a society that takes an "either-or" approach to alcohol -- among many, many other things. If they're not this either-or approach at home, they're learning it from their friends or from media.

We need to challenge the culture not only of alcohol dependency, but of automobile (and oil) dependency. Other countries from France to Ecuador have much tougher penalties for drunken driving (and a lower BAC requirement) -- and many have made multi-modal transportation a much higher priority.

- David, Wauwatosa, WI

I feel it should be 21 for everything, because the parents still have to foot a bill for college tuition if their child applies for a grant. And get down on the liquor store owners who are knowingly selling to people of age and giving to the underage. Hold these kids accountable; don't just slap them on their hands and let them go.

- parent, Cudahy, WI

They tried that once before and it was a complete failure, what I can't understand is all of the negative press that goes on about how horrible drunk driving deaths are (and I agree) your talking about allowing kids to drink earlier. The youth today can't drive as it is with out killing innocent people, and your discussing allowing them to drink.

- Rick, Muskego, Wi

Angela and Tracy, it seems like your positions are that if breaking the law is a problem, we should just change the law to conform to actual behavior. That would seem to mean that we should allow pedophilia, teacher-student sex, robbery by poor people, etc. all legal because there are socialogical reasons to do so. When you grow up you will probably think like adults!

- El gato, Brookfield, WI

Our young brave men and women are leaving families and other loved ones to fight for our country yet they can't walk into a store or bar and get a beer! At 18 you can vote! All adult decisions but heavens no, don't allow them to buy a beer legally! Give me a break! Lower the age to drink or raise the age to join the military and vote!

- Sue, St Francis WI

While I personally thing that age 19 is reasonable and fits more in line with society, I think it is important to realize that part of the concern with the drinking age has nothing to do with "rights." Science has proven that the brain does not actually mature until about age 25 and the teen brain is especially susceptible to damage from alcohol. The part of the brain that is still developing throughout the teens and early twenties is the part that contains the logic center. It is risky for teens to drink because alcohol can permanently damage that portion of the developing brain. Alcohol has a much stronger influence on teen brains than on adult brains. There's actually a lot of science behind the age 21 law.

- Jane, Prairie du Chien

If we hold youths accountable for any crime, even waive them into adult court before they are 18; then I ask all that do not want the drinking age dropped how they justify that you can pay the price of any crime are considered an adult at 18 for any other purpose except drinking? It would be understandable to me if the same people that do not want the drinking age lowered were also advocating for the legal age of an adult be changed from 18 to 21!

The problem I see with the current situation is that for any other purpose you are legal to make your own decisions and live with the consequence but when it comes to drinking at 18 you can't make and adult decision; but you still can pay the price of breaking any law!!!

So maybe just maybe all of you out there that do not want adults drinking at the age 18 need to look at the bigger picture and ask yourselves; How do you justify they are old enough to make other life decisions?

- Tracy, West Allis, Wi

Partying is a part of the college culture. I have friends that have carried a 4.0 for over 3 semesters of college now that party every single weekend. I have seen peers drink themselves to the point of poisoning but neglect help for fear of a ticket. If I ever got to the point where I needed medical assistance, I would not call for help for fear of a ticket. I think it would be safer for the drinking age to be lowered.

There are many arguments for just letting soldiers drink at 18 - which while I believe it should be lowered - I have a problem with this stipulation. A person that decides to join the military is respectable and doing a great service for this country, however, I don't think I deserve less rights than these people. I chose a different route - and in some people's eyes a more commendable one. Either way you slice it someone is getting jipped.

And in response to the horrifying thought that 18, 19, and 20 year olds would all hop in their cars and go run some kids over while intoxicated, it is ridiculous. The difference between right and wrong is pretty clear - and I would hope that our country would know and respect that once you hit about age 12 its common knowledge that driving drunk is wrong. I've never heard any stories - from all of my friends and family - of young person's driving drunk. The most common story I hear is a middle aged man drinking and driving - so maybe we should put the drinking age from 18-40, and then 60+ - cut out that whole middle aged drunk driving age.

- Angela, Cudahy

I remember waiting for that day when I turned 18, although, drinking was not my first thought, it was freedom, I was at last an Adult!
Every weekend we'd gather at Clubs, enjoying our youth.. including drinking. We knew when we had enough and we always had a designated driver. This was our escape from the work week and a way to meet people our own age, and have fun. A drink back then was maybe a buck - now it's $5.00 I can't image a college kid or anyone else being able to afford going out to the bars!
I think you should be able to drink at 18, and, whether you're 18 or 80 and you're pulled over for drinking and driving you need to be held accountable and spend some time in jail.

- fortysomething, Wisconsin

It's nice to see how some of you take this as a joke. Will you think it is a joke if someone close to you is injured or killed by a drunk driver,

- NOT FUNNY,

I drunk at 18 some lower. It no make me bad guy. Me good guy. Alcohol good. Young drink not make damage brains. Beer good. Low age for alcohol drink good. Summerfest. Drunk crash car bad. Tailgate fun. Good to young drink early.

- Jack Daniels, Pre-med UW-Madison

Lower it to 18.

If you can drive a car at 15 1/2,
Pick up a gun and fight in a war at 18,
Vote at 18,

You can certainly have a beer at 18.

Just think if you get married before you turn 21, you can't even drink at your own wedding.

- anonymous,

18 to young to drink mainly because there are so many 18 year olds in high school. 19 should be the appropriate age for legal purchase and drinking of alcohol.

The law was at 18 when I was in high school and there were many students that chose a liquid lunch before returning to class - typically these same students were kicked out or left school before graduating - thus; were not college material.

Make the law 19, the colleges can relax and allow the students to be responsible adults and the high schools can remain alcohol & smoke free zones.

- Bob, New Berlin

well maybe we should raise the legal of age to 21 also i feel that there should be no legal drinking for students on camnpus through the entire united states these students and there families are paying for these young folks to get a better eduction so that they can further get better jobs later in life not to go their to have drinking parties so why waste there hard earned money, and their parents money to go to school to have big drinking parties what is wrong with the administration at these colleges that they feel they should allow drinking on their campus's the students should be thinking about only one thing and is there education,if students are caught having drinking parties on campus they should be thrown off that campus permanently maybe than they will realize why they are their in the first place to get educated not to party.

- diana jaroszewski, oak creek/south milwaukee/cudahy

I don't know why everyone is so bent out of shape over lowering the drinking age.

If a person is considered an adult at the age of 18 then they should be subject to all the rewards AND consequences that come with crossing that threshold.

I see CONSEQUENSES as being the problem not the drinking age. The legal consequences for irresponsible drinking are laughable. Many of the responses point to operating while intoxicated as a top concern.

WI law basically offers a slap on the wrist for first offenders. A fine and license revocation.

Second thru fourth offenders get fined, revoked and may (not will) see jail time.

Not until a FIFTH offense is it considered a felony.

I don't believe WI law requires the person to attend counseling for alcoholism or safe driving, at any time nor does the law permit the State to confiscate the motor vehicle with which the crime has been committed.

Revocation is a joke. Countless times, I have seen people leave the court room without a license only to get in their car and drive away.

If I shoot a deer illegally, not only will the DNR take my gun but they will take my vehicle.

If I am a drug dealer, the police will take my car and other property ASSUMING that it was all purchased with drug money.

If I drive a car under the influence of alcohol I get a slap on the wrist. Bad Boy!!!

TAKE MY CAR AWAY FROM ME...I have abused my privilege (not right) to drive on WI roads and have put myself and others in harms way.

Lower the drinking age to 18.
Let adults be adults.
Promote responsible drinking.
Create tougher driving laws.
Punish offenders to the maximun extent of the law. No negotiating.
Confiscate vehicles used in the offense and sell them at public auction.

I have no problem with 18yr olds drinking. I DO have a problem with ANYONE drinking and driving regardless of their age.

- bill, west bend

Drop the drinking age and end THC prohibition.

Tax the hell out of both.

- Concerned Citizen, West Allis, WI

If you haven't done your job as a parent before your kids are 21, I'm not sure they will be any better prepared to be responsible at 21 than they were at 18.

My son and many others are fighting for this country. They are issued weapons and trained to use them. 18, 19 and 20 years old - but they can't legally drink?

Was it just last weekend that three underage college girls were involved in a bar stabbing?

Looks like the law isn't working being set at 21.

Part of the attraction to underage drinking is "getting away with it". WE make it a big deal by making it such a big deal.

Take that component away and part of the attraction is taken away.

There have been car and locker searches at schools - what is being found is not alcohol but drugs.

Both are equally challenging to obtain by underage drinkers. Which battle is more important to fight?

I'd rather see the time and money spent enforcing the drinking age shifted to the battle on drugs.

Talk to your local law enforcement, heroin use is on the uprise and it's more common than most think. Do some research on opiate addiction - I'd rather deal with my child's alcohol use.

- Parent, Muskego

I'm 21, and I don't know one person who waited until they were this age to drink. My group of friends started in high school and never looked back. And in college, it's even worse. There aren't enough cops on the planet to stop what already happens regardless of laws, so why not lower it and make it a little easier for everyone?

Personally, I've always wondered why it's not the way it is in Europe here. There's little to no binge drinking in my age group because there has never been a restriction on alcohol. No one abuses it because it's always been an everyday part of their life. If you grow up with a glass of wine next to your plate at every dinner, by the time you're an adult it's no big thing.

- .., Madison

"Outlaw alcohol. Problem solved."

Nice...let's outlaw church too. And while we're at it outlaw all foods but lettuce to fight obesity. I'm obviously not serious about either of those, but how about "Do some parenting!" instead?

Parents fall into three categories: 1) Good parents that have open communication with their kids; 2) Bad parents that shouldn't be allowed to have a goldfish much less a son/daughter; and 3) Parents with blinders on thinking their child does no wrong.

If we had more #1's, then a drinking age of 18 or 19 would be no problem. Since there are too many 2's & 3's, I'd say leave it at 21.

Is there a way to write a law to sterilize the folks that get 2+ DUIs so they don't reproduce?

- PF, Milwaukee, WI

Lower the drinking age.
Raise the driving age.

- anonymous,

No way should the drinking age be lowered back to 18, Kids are not ready to handle its effects. Altough many 18 year olds today, could be responsible enough to handel it, these are not the people we have to worry about.
How many of us know an irresponsible 18 year old? All of us, thats who we need to worry about, 18 year olds make bad decisions when sober, driving too fast,not paying attention to the road, not following or respecting the rules of the road, I can go on and on. DUMB IDEA, 21 comes soon enough don't rush it.

- JDR., hales corners

I think the drinking age should be 19. If it is 18, too many 18 year olds are still in high school and that is not right. But what is not right, is that these adults, because they are adults can vote, go to war, be held responsible as an adult for anything they do, smoke, buy lottery tickets, get credit cards, sign legal contracts and documents, buy a home, go to prison, BUT CANNOT HAVE A BEER! Is that really right? they will sneak around and binge drink somewhere and then get into a car and drive to a party or wherever they are going for the night and take risks, not only driving, but binge drinking. Us moms must remember when we were in college or after high school graduation the drinking age was 19 or 18 for some. Were we reckless in our drinking expeditions? Think about it. If you raise your kids to be responsible they will be responsible. yes there are going to be bad apples that ruin it for others, but that is anything we do in our lives. There are bad apples everywhere we go for something or another. I have a child in college who works hard and attends college, but they like to go out on weekends, where can they go? Chuckee Cheese? there is nowhere for them to go and hang out with friends, unless it is someones house or a restaurant? They want to dance and socialize. We really need to rethink this about 21 legal drinking, then make everything about becoming a legal adult be 21 also.

- Mom, Waukesha, WI

Lowering the drinking age to 18 would only lower the age of people trying to sneak into bars from 19-20 to 16-17. On the other hand it might lower drunk driving accidents since everyone's mommy would have to pick them up from the bar becuase they don't have their drivers license yet.

- Adam, Milwaukee

Hey Daniel, maybe they should raise the age to purchase 'cancer sticks' to 21 also...

- Julie, New Berlin, WI

i yhink we should have the drinking to 18 if u can buy cigrattes you can drink

- daniel, waukesha, WI

There would be far less incidents if the drinking age is lowered to 18. It would allow young adults access to a safe and controlled environment to drink, i.e. bars, clubs, restaurants, etc... rather than out alone on the street in shady and often dangerous situations. Too many people are going to drink underage no matter what the legal age is, they will still be inclined to do it anyway no matter what. We might as well provide a place for them to drink safer and more responsibly (at a bar).

- Matt, Brookfield

I think the drinking age should not be lowered to 18. Kids are going to drink, Young adults are going to drink. But lets not blame the 18 year olds for the driving drunk issues. If you raise your children with the facts and talk to them. They will far surpass driving drunk. I have a freshman in college. He does not even have his drivers license. Not by his choice but by the choice of us, His parents. He has lived without them. And surprise, he has lived without having to go to the bar for a drink. He is going to make it. And the fact of an 18 year old having to go and have a beer after a history class. That is Bull. Go home and talk to your parents. My son is no angel he has drank behind the backs, but he has been at home and not hurting and killing anyone. People as young as 12 have been shot to death. Maybe we should ban everything. Parents need to involved in their young peoples lives. Be there for them. Or should beer and alcohol replace Parents?
NO to lowering the drinking age.
YES to parents being parents!!!

- Mom in Milwaukee, Milwaukee

It amazes me how hypocritical adults are.

They seem to forget that they were drinking at 18 --- or younger --- it is not a matter of whether 18 year olds will drink --- but under what conditions they drink.

The most alarming aspect of the 21 year old drinking age, is the extent to which the police try to catch underage drinkers.

I know of a situation in Thiensville in which 6 police cars were trying to catch less than a dozen 18 year olds who were having a quiet get together one evening (they had just graduated from Homestead).

The kids scattered --- and you would have thought there was a mass homicide from the police response.

You would think we would have learned from prohibition ...

I think drinking by kids is a given -- and if we were intelligent about it, we would try to control what we cannot prohibit.

Bring back the beer bars for those 18 and 19 years old ---- they are a good way for kids to learn about the effects of alcohol in a bit slower way than chugging shots of Tequila !!

Put into effect rules under which the bars monitor driving situations to avoid drinking and driving tragedies.

Start treating 18 year olds like adults and they are more likely to act like adults.

- David Tatarowicz, Shorewood

i think that ppl will drive drunk anyways if they are 18 or 21. you can stillg et alcohol easily when your 18 so it wont even matter. and for joetta brown. people already drink at age 18 so why does it matter. they cant stop it

- andrew, racine,wisconsin

I think it should be changed to 19. I honestly can say that I never have taken a drink, but I know my friends have and will continue to.

When I was in high school, people drank all the time, and I was kind of left out because I didn't want to do so. All you people wouldn't believe how much drugs high schoolers do these days. I mean seriously, look at your kids myspaces...parents need to take initiative too!!!

I agree that there needs to be strict enforcement of education and consequences of drinking and drugs.

- 19 year old, Greendale, WI

The drinking age should stay at 21yrs
The reason for this is, if they lower the age to 18yrs,More car accidents will begin, most young people can't conduct themselves under the influence of Alcohol, more fights and shootings will occur,it is already bad as it is.
They should leave it at the age it is now.

- Joetta Brown, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

lower it because then i cant get busted for underage drinking next year!

- Patti, Germantown, 17

Outlaw alcohol. Problem solved.

- W.A.M., Treasure Chest, WI.

At the age of 18 you are legally an adult. In some situations, you are treated as an adult at the age of 17.

I think that if alcohol is a problem in your life it isn't starting between 18 and 21, use began long before then.

Alcohol and other drug abuse education begins at home and long before any legal drining age.......

Instead of burdening the legal system both for time and the expense to fight the 18-20 year old underage drinking, spend that money on education and treatment.

Increase drunk driving penalties -

I remember the drinking age going from 18 to 19 and then to 21. There wasn't a decrease in underage drinking, just an increase in tickets.

And right now, with the drinking age at 21, it already IS in our high schools and even in our middle schools and it's at the house party's on the weekends.

Not to mention it already is in cars on the road - whether the offenders are 16 or 56.

- Kim, Muskego

No, that would not be a good idea. I think 20 would be a good age.

- p, milwaukee, wi

Lower it back to 18, or even lower. We need to take a look at what we can do about alcohol education and showing by example and put our efforts there.

In many places in Europe, the drinking age is 16. Kids have wine at dinner. What do they do about public drunkeness? There isn't any. It's not an issue. People just don't get drunk. They just have wine with dinner and it's not a big deal. In Italy, you just don't see kids partying it up and stumbling down the street and getting into cars.

When kids see adults in WI go to bars and get buzzed up, drunk driving news stories on TV every night, parent's parties with flowing drinks, tailgating where the adults are so drunk they make asses of themselves... kids absorb their environment and making the drinking age go up and down is really not a factor in what they eventually decide to do. Even if kid's own parents are shining examples, kids still absorb our cultural issues with alchohol.

Wisconsin in particular has big time indulgence issues - alcohol and food. I have friends from California - they think it's very strange that at WI holiday family events there is a lot of drinking going on. It's not about the legal age, and raising it won't stop teen alcohol abuse. It's time we looked into the mirror in Wisconsin and questioned our indulgence in alcohol and food that makes us one of the fattest states and the highest consumers of brandy in the entire US.

- Julie, Brookfield, WI

I think 19 would be an appropriate age. As many have stated before at 18 you can vote, fight for your country in the armed services...heck there have been some 18 year old's who've become elected officials! Let's also be sensible. Drinking and driving is a huge problem. Continue to enforce tough laws and educate on the issue. 19 would hopefully keep alcohol out of High School (the 18 year old senior couldn't go buy booze for his classmates), but remain consistent with other rights afforded to us before 21.

- Jay, Wauwatosa, WI

This is another example of a well-intentioned law having unintended consequences. I am (unfortunately) old enough to be one of those who was 19 when the WI law changed from 21 to 18. Here is what happened: we stopped drinking in the dorms and houses in Madison and took it to the bars, now that it was legal. Result: we drank less, because we actually had to pay cash money for everything we drank ( as well as what we wanted that someone else to drink, if you catch my drift).

House parties are unregulated and incentives for binge drinking.

Change the law to 19, try to keep booze ouot of high schools, and bring the yound drinkers into bars where the market and people who risk liquor licenses will be the best safeguards against binging.

- Old Tosan, Wauwatosa, WI

I feel that the drinking age should be reduced to 18. You are an adult at 18, you can join the army, own your own place, move away, anything you want,... except have a drink.

Realistically, kids have been drinking ever since high school. Even the kids you would not expect to drink do. The one's with the good grades, on the sports teams, girls and boys. I'm not saying its an excuse for one to drink, I am just telling it as it is.

Now getting behind the wheel drunk is a totally different thing. Throw the book at them and get them off our roads. And give them a new ID (not their drivers license, the state keeps that) that does not allow them to buy or to be served alcohol. Put it right on the ID that they are not allowed to buy alcohol.

- 19 yr old Jay, Muskego, WI

ITS SIMPLE.......NO!!!!!!

- m, West Allis

No I don't think it is a good idea. I do understand that college students under the leagal drinking age are still drinking. I believe the legal drinking age should go up not down. There are already too many accidents with our young adults involved and in a good number of them there is alcohol involved. I think we need to find a way to educate our young adults about the effects of alcohol and driving while intoxicated.

- Laura, Muskego, WI

Drinking age should be 19. If you can go die for your country and vote - you should be able to drink. I'd say 18 - but I think 19 does a better job of keeping it out of the high schools.

- Bill, Germantown, WI

No, the drinking should not be lowered to 18 years of age.
I know kids will drink anyway but there are a few rule followers and you are more mature at 21 than you are at 18. I just think of myself and my friends.
Some things are worth waiting for and its not going to affect the amount of kids that drink; If they are going to drink they are probably doing before 18, so changing the law will not have an impact.

- Carrie, Germantown, WI

So let me get this right there's talk about making the driving age 18 and now there's talk about making the drinking age 18 hmmmm what will that bring? New drivers with intoxicants in their blood. I'll stay off the road thanks.

- Chip, Muskego, WI

I echo the sentiments of others on this forum: drop the drinking age to 19 and raise the penalties for drinking and driving.

College-aged kids drink. They just do. Rather than write and enforce laws that are unrealistic, help those who work with kids of this age (those college presidents who started this debate)manage them with common sense, pragmatism and a safe environment.

- parent of 18 & 19 year olds, wauwatosa

I think you should be able to drink once you get your high school diploma, no matter what age you are. If you aren't responsible enough to finish high school, you definitely aren't responsible enough to drink.

- CJB, West Allis

drinking age = 19 years old
driving age = 17 years old

- Mom of 3 teenagers, brookfield

I love the comments that state "they do it anyway". Wake up, have we not learned from past mistakes? Why was the 18 year drinking age changed back to 21? Stop making it easy for kids to drink, they will be better off for it. Parents need to stop being a friend and start being a Parent. Yes it's harder, but aren't our kids worth it? Leave it at 21!

- Patrick, Whitefish bay, Wi

19 - reasons as metioned below.

Also, kids think they are indestructible, as most of us thought @ one point in time.

Drivers Licenses should have 2 stages:
16 – permits
18 – Final License – This would include a final course which would include the dangers of driving as well as drinking and driving.

The last few months there have been so many articles about people how have been killed in drunk driving accidents, some of these repeat offenders have not figured things out. Kids in their final license stage should be reviewed and quizzed of several of these incidents, possibly even visits to the sites, shown cars afterwards as well as “community service” visit to these courses by some repeat offenders and how it affected them.

Also.. the final step is Mom and Dad. You smell alcohol on your kids breath, time to take the keys away!!

- Dan, Brookfield, WI

How about lowering the drinking age and raising the driving age to 18.

- anna, milwaukee, wi

"If you can vote, join the military and die for your country, get married and assume all the responsibilities of adulthood at 18, then yes the drinking age should be lowered to 18. If society believes that 18 is too young and that another age is more appropriate, then raise the age required to vote, join the military, die for your country, etc."

This argument has been around forever and is as weak as they come! In the military one is trained to obey orders at the command, and irresponsible youngsters are turned into obedient fighters. They MIGHT be equipped after training to handle alcohol responsibly, but it is obvious that most youngsters are not only drinking, but they are doing so irresponsibly. What needs to happen is that the drinking age needs to stay the same and penalties for irresponsible drinking need to be much stiffer...say capital punishment for a second DUI? I'll be it would almost eliminate DUI offenses! Seriously, if you injure a person you should do time. If you kill someone, you should do at least 20 years at hard labor! Kill a biker and get the chair sounds sweet to me.

- El gato, Brookfield, WI

Lower the drinking age?

With all the deaths and injuries from drinking and driving accidents. Although, if you are the one under the influence of alcohol and you then get into an accident, is that really an accident to start with, because you should -- being a college president -- have know your actions of drinking and driving were a poor choice?

Not to mention all the other problems caused or made worse by alcohol.

Instead of lowering the age, change the names of the colleges who want this, to giant taverns where you learn to get drunk!

Hell no to lowering the drinking age. Aren't we killing too many of our 18-21 years olds now, not to mention all of those of legal drinking age who die?

That's why I didn't go to college. I already know more than the presidents' do. Morons!

- Patrick Clement, Greenfield, WI

I believe that the drinking age should be lowered. It would probably solve and the "crave" for alcohol in high school. However, most 18 year olds are still in high school. So, I believe that the drinking age should be 19. that way, they are out of high school and into the real world.

- Jess Wolf, Milwaukee, WI

I remember drinking as a teenager, before I was of legal age. It's a deadly combination when you're a new, inexperienced driver. When the age was raised to 21, I think it helped keep liquor further out of the reach of high schoolers. I think it's okay to lower the drinking age to 18 if they raise the age of getting a drivers license to 18 as well.

- Mo, Germantown, WI

Age is not the issue. I know some 15 year olds (my daughter) more responsible than some 40 year olds (an female acquaintance with five DUIs). The legal drinking age can be any number and people will still make the decision to drink or not to drink (and how much to drink) based on their maturity level, how they were raised, any underlying mental illness, and peer pressure.

In other countries, children drink alcohol with their families at meals and the drinking age in public is much lower. There is no excitement about sneaking around and drinking the forbidden alcohol. Therefore, it is less problematic.

If there needs to be a legal drinking age, drop it to 18, when a person is legally considered an 'adult.' At age 18, a person can vote, get married, smoke cigarettes, serve in the military, sign legal documents, and make their own decisions. So, why not let the adult make his/her own decision to drink or not to drink? Take the excitement and allure away from alcohol and you will have less problems with it. Period.

- LAT, Tosa, WI

What's so special about drinking alcohol? It makes you fat. It makes a lot of users sick. It often gives you a headache or worse. It kills brain cells, so it makes you stupid. Many would describe it as being an acquired taste and that's just a fancy way of saying it doesn't honestly taste that great unless, of course, you mix it with something that has a lot of sugar in it. It wrecks your judgment and your coordination. It makes everything seem super funny, but later the same things seem super sad. It's expensive and addictive. It is a known destroyer of careers, families, and lives.

And even with all of that against it, it is legal and sought out by many. When something is that bad for you, why would we want to encourage younger people to think that our society believes alcohol is okay for them to use, too? People really need to ask themselves why they want this stuff so badly.

- SEO, Elm Grove WI

Why shouldn't we change it to 40? The funny thing is that many of the issues arise from those over the legal drinking age. Why not raise it? I turn 40 pretty soon, so it would give me a reason to celebrate. Besides, I have been driving for many years, so I would be able to drive myself home after celebrating. Unfortunately, there are also many underage people that do drink and many do not get caught until they have driven drunk numerous times, so they are over 21 when they are finally caught. The drinking age changed when I was getting close to 18, but I was still able to buy alcohol and drove afterwards too many times while trying to hide it from my parents. I am up in the air on this one. Parents need to stress the importance of not driving. There are too many problems that arise from drunk driving and the consequences are just too high. When my child is old enough, there will be a curfew and friends will come to my house more often than my child goes to others. If more parents took this as their point of view, there would be fewer issues, because otherwise children would not be seeing their friends very often. The parents that support their children in breaking the law should never be parents. If they find out that their child is drinking or doing anything that violates the law, they need to take action. Unfortunately, many parents are ignorant and don't even realize that some parents are supporting this and providing alcohol to their chil.

- Why not......change it to 40, Franklin

If you can vote, join the military and die for your country, get married and assume all the responsibilities of adulthood at 18, then yes the drinking age should be lowered to 18. If society believes that 18 is too young and that another age is more appropriate, then raise the age required to vote, join the military, die for your country, etc. We can't have it two ways and say you're an adult and not let adults make their own decisions.

- Sue, Brookfeld, WI

I'm definitely in favor of lowering the drinking age. A lot of the problems could be reduced if alcohol consumption were demystified and there was serious, constructive dialog between parents and children. I don't oppose lowering the age to 18, but 19 isn't a bad compromise, either. With the current law, it's easier for teenagers to get pot than beer, and many do.
One significant change needs to be to Wisconsin's drunk driving laws. They need to be much more severe. Obviously the lion's share of DUI's are being committed by people over 21 already. They need to be truly punished if we are to help younger drivers to learn to be more responsible.

- parent, wauwatosa

18 is only fair, and logical. Can marry, sign a contract, join military..and if a minor is caught drinking under age with out parents consent and presence, then we should fine the minor, not the bartender or clerk. This seems to work well in Arizona. And the minor pays the fine for themselves not the parents, by proof of a job! Obtaining a bartenders license dose not give someone magical powers to guess a young persons age, or detect forged IDs. The teen knows what they are doing is wrong, they should pay the price. Also this 21 law has caused more problems, that could be avoided if a bartender or bouncer were present.

- Gregg, St. Francis

Lower the drinking age.
Raise accountability.
Stop letting drunk drivers off the hook.
Change DWI to a felony.
Confiscate their license AND their vehicle.
Recall judges who are soft on offenders.
Prosecute contribution to minors. Stores and taverns can lose their liquor licenses which are valued in the thousands of dollars and/or lose of the business altogether.
Contribution to minors by non-business persons should be equally severe.
Any age is too young to drink if you can't drink responsibly.

- Mr Bill, Hartland, WI

I definetily think that the drinking age should be lowered to 18 for numerous reasons. First, if the drinking age was 18 for most adults then it doesn't make much sense in raising it three more years. Also if you are considered an adult and are legally allowed to fight in a war. Then why can't you drink a beer? Doesn't make much sense to me, i think america should make age limits more universal instead of different for each individual thing. (like 16 to drive, 18 to register for the draft, 21 to drink) Keeping age limits just makes more sense to me, and 21 sure seems like a long time to wait to legally drink a beer in public.

- Tyler christman, wauwatosa, wisconsin

Alcohol, whether beer, wine, or hard liquor is an "intoxicant".

It changes your behavior, and causes problems in marriages, addiction, and traffic accidents.

Why do we even promote this lifestyle in the first place? And now at 18..NO!

Tom Gerlach

- Tom Gerlach, Franklin, WI

Kids are doing it anyway. If you can vote and join the military, you should be able to drink.

- Janice, Whitefish Bay, WI

Funny how drinking is immediately associated with drinking and driving. The problem in this state is the judges who don't throw the book at drunk drivers; change those laws first - drive drunk once lose your car. As for the peacenics, the military does a better job turning 18 year olds into responisble adults than most of the parental population. Make it 18 and deal with the consequences and blame the parents when it all goes bad, as it is their fault. Kids drink, smoke, have sex and do drugs; most don't but it will happen regardless. And please, if you don't like the culture, move away and quit whining.

- CPL CACHE, Germantown, WI

Hell yes!!!!!!!! im 84 yrs of age, drink beer all day and never had a health problem. start em young i say. 18 yrs old too old i'd say 14 or 15 would be pretty good.. i need to go, have to buy some more beer before the wife gets home.

- Don Pope, Milwaukee, wisconsin

Damn Right the drinking age should be 18. We all remember the good ol days of when turning 18 meant something. you can smoke at 18 , what the hell is the diffrence. Been drinking my whole life and only smashed up 3 cars pretty good for an 90 yr old man.

- Jerry Mccarthy, Elcho, Wisconsin

19! Why only talk about 21 or 18!?

- parent, Whitefish Bay, WI

Definitely NOT....we have enough problems without doing that....they do not need to drink at the age of 18....

- Evie Andersen, Walworth, Wisconsin

For those with their heads in the sand and want to keep the age at 21 (vs. 19), I ask: why not fight to raise it to 30 or whatever age you believe EVERYONE is responsible?

- 50ish parent of 20 and 19 year olds, Milwaukee

In my opinion, adulthood should begin at age 19...drinking, voting and fighting in a war! All three should be after a student graduates from high school and is out on their own.

- Cathy Laszewski, Wauwatosa, WI

I think it should be 19, therefore kids in high school won't be able to buy alcohol. The way kids need to sneak around makes it really dangerous. I visited Germany, and it was really great how the parents could keep an eye on the kids when they were drinking.

- Dan, wauwatosa, wi

I worked at a liquor store and I do have to tell you most of the underage kids that are drinking are getting it from their parents. They come in and buy them the alcohol, it doesn't matter what age you are, look at the records, Wisconsin is one of the worst states for drunk driving offenses and a high percentage of them are over the age of 21. In fact, if you really look, they are repeat offenders. We need to make the laws tougher and get it through peoples heads the first time they offend. Many continue to drink and drive because nothing really happened to them the first, sencond or third time they offended. We always seem to wait until soembodys life is taken before we really do anything about it. That is where things need to change. There are a lot of responsible 18 year olds and a lot of unresponsilble 20-30 year olds. Age doesn't matter.

- citizen, Cudahy,WI

The drinking age should be 18 AND out of high school. As someone who works with 30+ high school and college age people, I can assure you the drinking age does not discourage one person from drinking if they want to. All the 21 age does is force those under 21 to drink at home parties, or other places where they have access to alcohol. If the age were lowered, these people could go to local bars and taverns which would help business and provide at least some control by a bartender. If someone is old enough to vote and serve in the armed forces, they are old enough to drink. I see plenty of people in their 40's, 50's and 60's that aren't mature enough to drink repsonsibly. Age has very little to do with it.

- Jeff, Wauwatosa, WI

Please no! The drinking age should remain at age 18. The common argument that "Kids do it anyway, so we should just let them - it will prevent binge drinking," is ridiculous. Anyone who has been amongst a crowd of 21-23 year olds knows that the drinking age has nothing to do with binge drinking. Binge drinking is a cultural phenomena, which can only be prevented through education, and teaching young people to be responsible for and respectful of themselves. 18 may be the age at which a person can vote, or serve in the armed forces, but some 18 year olds are also in high school. Lowering the drinking age to 18 would open the Pandora's Box of irresponsibility and risk, affecting more than just the 18 year old who decided to have a beer at lunch.

- Amy Busateri, Oak Creek, WI

If you have to lower the age it should be 19, because they should at least be out of high school. If they're 19 they are either in college or out of school all together.

- Andy, Milwaukee, WI

No, the drinking age should remain the same. Don't we hve enough drunk driving accidents?

- Mildred, Glendale, WI

Age does not matter, its the maturity level. Once out of high school, welcome to the Real World and that Real World should include the right to go to public places that have alcohol. What do we expect our graduates to do for social life - they can't even go to Bushy's for a fish fry and have a soda because Bushy's has a policy where you have to be 21. Let's change it to 19 to keep it out of the high schools, but let the graduates have a social life. You can do it all at 18 - abortion, war, college, tatoos, smoke, why not have a Corona!

- age does not matter,

No. We already have big problems with drunk driving and this will only make things worse. However, I would allow anyone actually SERVING ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY to drink alcohol provided they are at least 18 years of age.

- mark, West Allis

The age should be lowered to 19 and maintain the absolute sobriety law currently in place. Raise the driving age to 17. In the 28 years of driving, I have had two accidents where I was rear-ended and t-boned by two differnt 16 year olds.

Underage drinking has not been reduced under the 21 law. It has created an underground market where 21 yrs olds are alcohol conduits for their minor friends. (For a fee, minors place their orders on Thursday for their weekend supply.) Driving laws such as restricting the number of passengers along with more stringent DUI laws are what has really changed since 1982, thus lowering the number of alcohol related incidents.

- Ofcourse, Wisconsin

I think for those who serve - definately. We got to go to other countries and do it anyway!

Otherwise, NO!!! Teenagers now a days have no responsibilities or discipline the way it is. Add alcohol and what do you think will happen?

Maybe if kids were raised better these days they wouldn't be so irresponsible. Stop giving them everything they want and be a parent. That will make society a better place.

Until then..NO under 21!!

- Shannon Allain, Muskego WI

Yes. If you raise your kids right, they'll be fine. If the drinking age is 21, they'll do it at 18 anyway.

- Carol, Wauwatosa

no way, too many irresponsible 21 year olds we don't need even more at 18, plus they think that drinking and driving is fun at 21, it would be worse at 18. NO WAY too Risky!!!!

- trina spence, milwaukee

I think that reducing the drinking age would be a good step towards teaching alcohol responsibility. I believe that making alcohol taboo increases it's desire.

Also, since most of our children our out of houses and working or in college by age 21 we don't have the opportunity as parents to legally help them make good choices.

In addition to this initiative I would also like to see greater enforcement of the drunk driver laws.

I hope there will be true debate of this issue.

- Christine, Wauwatosa, WI

Isn't the federal funding that Wisconsin receives for the upkeep of roads and bridges tied in some way to having the state drinking age at 21? I seem to have heard something about that in the past. If that is the case, I'm sure we couldn't afford to go lower and lose that money.

- Mariah, Wauwatosa

Certainly 18 - 20 yr olds are drinking already, and flaunting the laws in the process. Is an 18 yr old ready to drink responsibly? The current (drinking related) crimes and issues in high schools and campuses prove otherwise.

The voices that are decrying the 21 yr old limit are the same voices who have made drinking in high school a lifestyle. Limits, while not popular to those under them, save lives. The only reasoson to change that is because we'd rather have more "happy" 18 yr olds, than living ones.

And yes we do send 18 yr olds to war, if any 18 yr old would like to attend 6 months of intensive training in order to earn his right to drink....be my guest.

Most people feel that this is a personal decision, it's their life, let them throw it away. But unfortunately other people bear the serious brunt of the burden of an irresponsible drinker. Much the mother of son lost to a drunk driver. Or the family forced to bury their college freshman, who died playing drinking games to impress his new frat buddies. Or even the girls who will have to fend off even more alcohol fueled sexual advances, or maybe live with their own poor choices made while under the influence. The drinker is not alone, we are all affected.

And extra 3 yrs, is that so much to ask? Will it prevent all of these bad things from happening, no, but maybe in 3 years drinking won't be your main priority. given the current drinking culture (beer pong, etc) to lower the drinking age is to take away the final limiting factor that may be slowing some people down. It would certainly take away law enforcements only tool with which to deal with large groups of young kids binge drinking, with no other purpose in mind than to drink as much, as fast as they can.

- Bret, West Allis, WI

No. Because people will die. It's a prolife issue.

- kellamd, cudahy, wi

If, at 18, you can go to war and (God forbid) take someone's life, you should be able to sit down and have a drink afterwards.

- Natalie, Mequon, WI

I think lowering the drinking age to 18 is a bad idea. I grew up in Cudahy in the 70's/80's when the drinking age was 18. It was no problem for us to get served at bars or liquor stores when we were as young as 15. SORRY MR PEKAR! And, yes, we all drove under the influence. With a higher age of 21 it is more difficult for the teens to buy alcohol. Only about 25% of the population exercises it's right to vote and a much smaller % joins the military. But if you put alcohol in front of 18 year olds, I bet 80% or more of them would drink. And I'm guessing a majority of them also drive. That is a deadly combination. At least when college kids binge drink, they do it on campus. The university presidents are just trying to cover their butts in case an 18 year old drinks himself to death in their dorm room.

- Jim, Cudahy

I firmly believe the drinking age should not be lower than the age of 21. There is substantial data to show that the change in the lawful drinking age from 18 to 21 years has saved lives. In the United States, Wisconsin is ranked the worst in the nation based on the percent of total traffic fatalities that involve a drunk driver. This is shameful and we should not even consider changing our laws to allow even younger people the opportunity to drink and drive. We should focus on changes in Wisconsin law to enforce the current age requirement and strengthen the laws against drunk drivers. This will take a considerable amount of work to change the culture and social acceptability of drinking in our state. Everyone has their own personal perspective on this topic, some of the opinions do not appear to be well thought out. Mine comes from the perspective of a mother who lost her 18 year old son when a drunk driver killed him two years ago.

- Ramona Erickson, Greenfield, Wisconsin

No I don't think that the drinking age should be lowered, that is just making it all the easier for young teens to get drunk and drive.
This proposal will do the exact opposite of what it was trying to do.

- Chris Phillips, Greenfield, WI

Not only should we lower the drinking age to 18, we should also legalize marijuana!

- Tommy Chong, Cudahy

I have been bartending in Cudahy for a long time. Sometimes people can act like JACKASSES and they are maybe in their 30's or 40's, now, mix them with the 18 yr. olds and alcohol and what do you get? Pure mayhem!! I don't care to hear "I HAD A HARD DAY IN HISTORY CLASS", "I DIDN'T MAKE THE CHEERLEADING SQUAD gimme a shot and a beer." Give me a break! Bartenders in Cudahy have enough to deal with----we are babysitters,peacemakers,secretarys,mothers,fathers,shrinks. I personally don't think lowering the drinking age is a wise idea. Sure, at that age, if not younger, you can smoke, take drugs, go to war, buy a gun. But hey, one of the 4 will kill them before they reach 21. Don't you want to see them grow??

- Bartender in, Cudahy

Growing up ing Wauwatosa, and being raised by parents who didn't drink. I gained a very interesting perspective on the community in which I lived. Living In milwaukee "the beer city", I also have a very interesting perspective on the city and the larger community in which I lived. When adults drink alcohol, their actions are in no way different then that of my peers. To a certain degree it some what scares me. I really do find it quite disturbing.

I can vote, drive, legally work, purchase cigarettes, porn, and fight in a war by the time I am 18. But I cannot purchase alcohol? This also is kind of disturbing.

Reality is if we did bring the drinking age back down to 18, a lot of things will also have to be considered? Should we then raise the age in which a teen can drive? etc. etc.

Personally I do think the drinking age should be lowered to 18. It is human nature to want to break rules and defy authority. If religious, It was a grown adult that chose to eat the apple. Lowering the drinking age could possibly lower this temptation. Allowing the consumption of drinking alcohol to become a norm. Allowing teens to feel more comfortable about making that decision; hopefully then preventing stupid decisions.

sorry I ramble at times...

I really just think some "grown ups" just need to step off their soap box. It's pretty unnecessary. A youthful perspective is not always a bad thing. I believe it was "To Kill a Mockingbird" that taught me that."

yet again I ramble.... my apologies

hopefully this will sway the discussion into a different direction. Now i am going to step down off my soap box.

good day

- tosakid, Wauwatosa, WI

The drinking age should absolutely be lowered. The idiots that drink and drive will do it no matter what the drinking age is. I can guarantee you that college aged students do not have any difficulty getting alcohol when they really want it. We are fooling no one by having the age at 21.

- Brent, Brookfield, WI

As a former high school teacher I vividly recall the era of the prior 18 drinking age, which resulted in frequent episodes of intoxication in high schools as 18 year olds brought it in to play big wheel to their friends.

Guess the college wizards are unaware of anything beyond their Lands of Oz.

- Robert Roesler, Muskego WI

I believe that this issue needs to be addressed. As the mother of a college freshman I can say I would have no objections if universcities had a policy where students could drink on campus as long as they stayed there. I do not think that the day you turn 18 you should be able to go to a bar and have free accsess to alcohol. After all a lot of people turn 18 while they are still in high school. I am torn on this issue as I know military recruiters can hang out in the highschools to prey on students as young as 16 or 17. Send them off to Iraq (or whatever other godforsaken oil rich country the US is currently sticking its nose in) and put a gun in their hand, tell them to kill or be killed but you can't go to a restraunt and have a glass of wine or a beer with dinner??? I believe the drinking age should remain at 21 but there should be situations were it is legal for kids at 18 to drink.. Such as on campus or at a house party as long as there is a responsible adult present to make sure there is no driving. Through high school my daughters(Senior Year) attended many parties where the parents provided alcohol however they also had the rule that you leave you keys at the door or get dropped off by another person. Our household never hosted such a party due to the fear of legalties, however I would much rather see teenager drinking under a parents/college supervision than driving around in a car drinking or using a fake ID to get into bars and then drinking and driving or getting drunk and into an unsafe situation. I think the more forboden you make things to teenagers the more some of them want it. I now have a 16 year old still at home and unfortunatley she has in the past year had to see a close friend die in a car at a high rate of speed with alcohol involved and lose a close friend(also a teenager not old enough to drink) to the Iraq war. I don't know which I fear most for her lowering the drinking age or being preyed upon after gym class by a military recruiter.I have always trusted my girls to use good judgement, I have tried to wisley "pick my battles" I have always told them if they or any of thier friends were drinking and about to drive to call me, and they have. My 18 year old would not think of getting into a car after drinking or with anyone who was drinking and I think its because we never made a big issue out of drinking at 18 as long as it was supervised and the dangers were made clear. Bottom line the drinking age at bars should remain at 21 but thier needs to be a seperate set of laws for 18 year olds. The age to send a child off to war should also be 21. Military recruiters have NO buisness being in the highschool!

- Mom of College Freshman, Cudahy

I am not for lowering the drinking age per say, but for making an adult an adult. At 18- you can vote, marry, kill or die for your country, sign a contract, but you can't have a beer. That is stupid. The only reason WI changed the drinking age was because we were going to lose Federal Money for our highways. Our hand was forced. WI did not originally want to change the age.
Pick an age of majority and stick with it. 18, 21, 50...pick one and give ALL Adult responsibilty at one age.

- Erin, WI

Yes.

- A Parent of 18 to 21 yr olds, Whityefish Bay, WI

I strongly support lowering the age to 19 (keep out of high schools). No I am not 18 or do not have kids of my own. The drinking age was 18 when I was in college. I have three boys 23, 21 and & 18. The "forbidden fruit" factor is right on. By the time the kids are 21 the novelty has worn off!
Keep and enforce the strict drunk driving laws. Put more time and energy in eliminating the drinking in the 13 and 14 year olds. Wake up and understand where the problems are!

- Chris, New Berlin

If you think the drinking & driving is bad now~wait until you see what's gonna happen if the legal age should be lowered.
I was one that was able to drink (legally) when I was 18~then by the time they changed it back to 21~I was then 21 as well. So,there was no stopping me. I started drinking at 18 and didn't stop until I was 30 yrs old and pregnant with my 1st child. If I did not get pregnant,I probably would still be drinking today and probably in need of rehab. If this is the kind of behavior you want our 18 yr olds to have~then go for it. Otherwise,I strongly suggest that the legal age stay at 21.

- Patti, Cudahy,Wi

No. Wisconsin already is number one in so many (negative) drinking categories. Are we going for domination in ALL of them?! Let's put a bunch of legally drunks on the road at the age of 18 so we can kill more bikers, bicyclists, pregnant women and children! Yeah, maybe we can be number one in those categories too!

- Ron, Oak Creek

Yes, the drinking age should be lowered. Students who attend college are drinking. You are able to vote at 18...why not make it leagal to drink. Do you think those in the military should not be able to drink. Hell if I was serving in Iraq and was 18, 19, or 20 I would need to drink!

- None of your buisness, Wauwatosa, WI

I never understood how the 21 yr old drinking law was even constitutional to begin with. If one turns 18 and is granted "adult legal status, voting, enter contracts, serve in military ect., how can one not be allowed to drink. This law was passed to keep alcohol out of the schools. Has it worked? As a parent of teens, let me say it hasn't. It has only forced it underground. Tell me how many college parents feel absolutely stupid telling their adult children "don't get caught drinking." You know I said "don't get caught." I did not say "don't drink." That is because we know the law is wrong and the law is ignored. We have criminalized what should be an adult fuction. For the dogooders out there, how would you react if we told seniors we would take away their right to vote because some of them are senile. We would keep the senile from voting,which may be good, but it obviously is not "right." Allowing other adults their rights should not even be in question. The dogooders have forced drinking underground where these new drinkers never learn how to drink and act responsibly. If you drink w/other adults, you learn acceptable behavior. Yes it is a good goal to get booze out of high schools. If you think this law has done it, you are fooling yourself. Punish the behavior of "furnishing minors." Make the penaties severe." Let adults drink.

- Joe, Tosa

Yes, I believe the drinking age should be lowered but not to 18. I think the drinking age should be 19.

- Shari, Mequon, WI

Let's lower the standards and expectations yet again.

What good can come from lowering the drinking age? At the age of 18 if you are fighting for our country you may be responsible enough to drink a beer, but there are MANY others who are not. I question whether some 21 year olds are responsible enough.

If you support lowering the drinking age you are 1) eighteen years old or 2)you have never had kids of your own. Nothing good can come from it.
We need to step up as parents and stop trying to be friends with our kids. We keep lowering the standards and our kids will suffer for it.

What will an 18 year old do who has had too much to drink? Most will not make good decisions. What experience do they have in decision making? You become an "adult" at 18, but you have not made any adult decisions in your life it is just the begining.

I think we have enough alcoholics in this world. So at 18 instead of going to a movie now you can sit in a bar! Great!Let's start the downward spiral a little earlier in our kids lives. Maybe we can lower the drinking age and let them carry concealed weapons at the same time.

- Sam, Cudahy, Wi

You can get a license at 16. You can get a learner's permit at 15. You can get a job with limited hours at 14. You can legally babysit at 11. So why isn't the legal drinking age 11? That would only be fair because if a person is old enough to be trusted with the care of young children, shouldn't they be trusted enough to legally purchase and consume alcohol? Many Wisconsin kids have been drinking a beer now and then since the age of two when a family member (usually Dad or that funny uncle most of us have) first noticed how hilarious it was for Junior to tip up his own beer bottle and really enjoy it. So lower the drinking age to 11, but age two would really be so much better. We need to keep our Wisconsin traditions alive even if more of us have to die premature deaths to do so!

- Elizabeth, Wauwatosa WI

Those college presidents are just trying to solve a couple of their own, unique problems with this idea. If the drinking age were lowered, the costs in time and money for running the campus police unit would go down, and the constant complaining by parents that the college or university doesn't do enough to control the underage drinking problem would simply and legally go away.

- Glen, Elm Grove WI

NO! NO!

We already have too many drunks on the road! Yes, I know they already drink any way but lets not condone this!

- Donna, Cudahy Wi

No. There are enough young lives taken due to substance abuse!

- Julie G, South Milwaukee

How stupid can people be? No, we should not lower the drinking age. We should raise it to 90 years of age. That way the drunks won't cause as much damage to themselves and others. Also, the long-term effects of drinking won't make that much of a difference.

I'm 50 years old today and I'm not from here. I turned 21 in my home state of Kentucky where people have long had the good sense not to let teenagers legally drink. In the 24 years I have lived in Wisconsin, I have been appalled at how much drinking is a part of the state culture and how much money people here waste on alcohol.

And in terms of the number of drunken driving accidents that will occur if the drinking age is lowered, I think the rate will go up most dramatically. Sure, underage people also drink and drive, but nearly every single DWI arrest I read or hear about involves drivers of legal age. If the age is lowered, that will not change. Only then, there will also be plenty of 18, 19, and 20-year-olds getting pulled over or worse.

And as far as that tired, old arguement about being old enough to fight if you're old enough to drink, that's just silly. I'm sure our underage service personnel stationed overseas have access to plenty of alcohol if they want it, just like their counterparts at home do. I also don't think 18, 19, and 20-year-olds have any business going off to war either. I know if I were in the military, I would much prefer it if my fellow soldiers weren't teenagers with automatic, high-powered weapons strapped on.

Wake up, Wisconsin. Encourage your citizens to find better and more constructive ways to spend their time and money instead of trying to find a way to let your children get legally drunk three years sooner.

- Susan, Wauwatosa WI

I beleive that the age should be dropped to 18. They can vote,drive,pay taxes, get married and go to war.
Statics are showing the most of the drunk drivers arrested are between 25 and 60.
If the young adults want to drink they are getting the alcohol to do so.

In the state of wisconsin you can have at least 5 OWI before any thing is done.
Once you are charged you just get a hand slap.
If I was caught with a small amount of drugs I would be sent away for a least three years.

- Teri Bossert, Greenfield.WI

There should be no drinking age. This would take the thrill out of reaching an age and finally be able to drink...as if it's some kind of goal. Parents need to take more responsibility in teaching kids that it's ok never to drink, but if they do decide to drink, to do it responsibly. I have 3 teens and I've talked to them at length about this. If we take away the idea of "being a rebel" by drinking, it minimizes it's importance.

- Joe, Brookfield

You have got to be kidding. This should not even be on the table for discussion.

Why add 'fuel to the fire' and create more of an opportunity for drunk driving situations, etc.

We are new to this State - moving from Michigan - and I have never seen a State (and it's people) so accepting to the culture of alcohol.

We need less drunks on the road rather than more.....now that is a novel idea.

- Bob, Germantown

Should be 19, not 18 to keep legal drinking out of high school. 21 is stupid.

- Me, Waukesha, WI

I think it should be kept at 21. I am from the age when it was legal to drink when you were 18. But I think this is more of a safety issue than an issue of being a legal adult(at age 18) and not be able to drink.
Most kids have at most only 2 yrs or less of vehicle driving experience and to add in the ability to drink will cause an even greater impairment to these youngsters combined with the inexperience they have behind the wheel. I truly believe that kids do "grow up" quite a bit between the age of 18 and 21. That really makes a difference in the attitudes and the choices they make when 18 compared to 21.

- Dave W, Muskego, WI

NO WAY! YOUNG PEOPLE ARE STILL IRRESPONSIBLE AT AGE 18 AND TO COMBINE THAT WITH DRINKING, TEXTING, CELL PHONE USE WOULD BE THE DEATH OF ALL OF US!

- Beverly, Milwaukee.WI

Yes it should be lowered. It doesn't mean I think that 18 year olds are responsible enough. But, they will do it no matter what...I did.

Plus, I know it's cliche but - if you are old enough to die for your country, you should be able to drink a beer.

- Katie, Glendale, WI

Why don't we tie it to high school graduation? If you graduate from high school you can drink. If you choose to drop out, you can wait until you're 21. Maybe more kids would stick it out to get the diploma.

- Lori, Franklin

I do believe that they should lower the drinking age to 18. I believe if you can drive 3000 pounds of metal at high speeds down a road, or go to another country and kill people (military), then you should be allowed to drink. Both of those activities are a lot more dangerous than someone under the age of 21 drinking a beer. Where else in the world are you considered a "legal adult", but you're not allowed to drink "adult beverages"?

- Bryan, Oak Creek, WI

I could accept the legal drinking age being lowered to 20. Most 18 year olds still have strong feelings of invincibility and lack self control. I think a legal drinking age of 18 could be too big of a distraction for teens entering adulthood. Most 18 year olds are still in high school and I feel the incidence of underage drinking would definitely increase.

- Michele Parliament, Wauwatosa, WI

I think the legal drinking age should be lowered to 19. In my opinion, 18 is too young - some of the seniors in high school are 18. Having some kids legally able to drink alcohol would just be an invitation to trouble for the classmates who are under 18.

Kids in college are going to drink regardless of the legal age and removing the "forbidden fruit" factor might just allow alcohol to lose some of its allure. It seems like some of the best college party stories I hear involve evading the cops and avoiding underage drinking tickets! When I was in college (the late 1970s), I'd had my fill of drinking by the time that I reached 21. I'd seen enough within my social circle of the negative aspects of drinking in those 3 years - the automobile accidents, the stupid choices made while intoxicated, the dependency - that I all but gave up alcohol and even now only drink on rare occasions.

Anyway, like my father always says, if they're old enough to vote and to fight in a war, then they should be considered old enough to drink as well (at least the 19 yr olds).

- Mary, Germantown, WI