Wisconsin is one of many states that are considering lowering their drinking age from 21 to 19, considering that people 18 and older are eligible for military service.

Missouri and Minnesota may lower the bar to 18.

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, said such a move by Wisconsin could have tragic consequences for teenagers in Lake County, who might cross the border to buy alcohol.

"If such a law would pass, it would create a blood border on the highways, much like it was before the laws were changed," he said.

Kirk said making 21 the drinking age -- in effect in Wisconsin since 1986 -- has saved more than 20,000 lives a year. Lowering it would create thousands of unnecessary deaths, he added.

Vermont, Kentucky and South Carolina are considering a limited reduction of the drinking age just to favor military personnel.

As attorney general in 2001, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said he would support a national drinking age of 19.

However, in 2007, Wisconsin had the worst drunken-driving rate in the country.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, setting the driving age at 21 has decreased fatalities among 18- to 20-year-olds.

Those who have their first drink before they are 19 are significantly more likely to become alcohol dependent, to drive after drinking, and to sustain injuries that require medical attention than those who did not drink before 19, according to data released by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.



*Hic*

I remember when it use to be 18, we use to have a senior in HS friend drive up there and buy us beer. I dont know about this, good/bad? I guess it all depends on the individual.

really bad!

This is pure crap... I had to wait till I was 21 to drink legally... Only fair to make them do the same



That's nation wide, not local the 20,000 figure.



Well that's just stupid. Stop selling booze to any age group and you'll get the same results.

I don't know Fins, if kids under the age of 21 want to drink, they will find a way to get it..I agree that age 21 is a bit more mature, in some cases, but then again you get dip sh*t's who have no responsiblity whatever the age...To me, if the stats show that over 21 has saved 20,000 lives a year then my opinion would be to stay with this law...I don't know what the age is for driving there, but here it's 17, changed over to 18 if you were born in a certain year..(can't remember which year)...So now if you have an 18 year old just driving and a 18 year old drinking age, I consider that a problem...

When I was a kid the drinking age was 18. Most 18 year olds are beginning to have adult lives. They work, they can serve in the military, etc. Not letting them drink is ridiculous in the context of what else they do.

I also think that if someone wants to catch a buzz, they're going to catch a buzz. Why not let them do it with something legal that has been produced in compliance with health standards?

Drinkig age here in Alberta and over in Quebec is 18, and it hasn't caused anarchy.

Honestly, a lot of people start drinking before 18, so it's a pretty fair bar (no pun intended).

It is OK to drink , just DO NOT DRIVE ! 18 or 21 what ever, we all need to be responsible of our actions.
same with Drugs , legalize some of it and it might become even less of a problem IMO . POT for example.
I bet we would have less child abuse , less stressed out people . Plus the medicinal purpose .

Over here it is 18, but I think it'd be a good idea to increase it to 21. People are hopefully more mature by then.

I just don't trust stats. MADD tries to take credit for lowering highway fatalities dramatically in the last 20 years. Granted, highway fatalities per x number of drivers have dramatically decreased, I'd give a tiny bit of credit to seat belt laws and airbags, though.

Saying that raising the drinking age to 21 has saved 20000 lives is like my saying that I picked up the rake that was lying in my yard, so I saved 4 people from tripping on it and breaking their necks.

Alcohol related driving stats are inflated as well. Any accident that involves someone who has been drinking is considered "alcohol related" for the purpose stats. This means if the driver has never touched alcohol in his life, and the passenger has been drinking when they hit a tree, it's alcohol. If a totally sober driver runs over a piece of jagged metal, pops a tire, loses control and jumps the car onto the sidewalk where it hits a guy drinking wine at a sidewalk cafe - yep, that's alcohol related too.

People will learn responsibility when they are given responsibility. When you can get a license at 16, there's a certain percentage of people who will do stupid things for a while (raising my hand, here). If you made 25 there would still be a certain percentage of people who would do the same stupid things for a while. Learning to drink responsibly is pretty much the same thing. There are people who are destined for severe alcoholism unless they pretty much avoid the stuff. I've seen 60 year old men who had to have their kids come pick them up at the bar because they were passed out.

When I was in college, when you would walk up to the dorm and see someone lying out in the yard in a puddle of puke, 9 times out of 10 it was someone who had not drank before and didn't know what it would do to them. The people who had keggers in high school, knew what their personal limits. This is going to apply whatever the drinking age is.

well, most of us drank before we were 21 anyways. I know I'd be lying if I said I had never touched alcohol until then. And, actually, I'd have to say my drinking has decreased since those years. People will do stupid things no matter what their age. I never drove while I drank then and I don't do it now. I also have to say that from the ages of 18 to 21, I didn't change very much. No magic "maturity" came over me, no instant "realization" or anything. I was the same person. . .

Yeah, this is what I'm talking about. Most people drink too much when they first start drinking. Especially when you factor in the "forbidden fruit" concept of knowing it was both illegal and your parents wouldn't want you doing it. After an adjustment period, people settle into whatever their personality dictates is going to be their drinking pattern for life. For the vast majority of people, this drinking pattern is a responsible one. Again, there are people who will never settle into a healthy lifestyle, and they should stay away from alcohol, twinkies, and Vegas.

The way I look at it is this: When you let a dog off a chain, the first thing he does is tears around the yard at full speed. After that, he settles down.

I think of all the "problem drinking" in college as the same phenomenon. There are kids who never drank in high school, these kids often go a little crazy for a while until the novelty of being able to drink wears off. I think this would happen regardless of what the actual legal age was.

I grew up in a tiny town in north Georgia. There wasn't a lot to do besides get a gang of friends in a pasture somewhere and drink if you were planning a party. The day I turned 21, I didn't drink any alcohol at all (even though I had 2 restaurants offer me free drinks when my friends tried to embarrass me by having them sing the "Happy, Happy Birthyday!!" song at me).

Heck at 18 they want you to die for your Country so why not be able to get High with your Country?

good question . i wonder who can answer it .

If you are old to die for this country or for any country you should be able to buy beer only at 18.

Adults over 21 cannot control themselves drinking, drinking is so much more serious of a disease than it is made out to be and it is made out to be very serious. Heres a great quote from a eighth graders who was caught drinking where I teach a couple of years ago. Uhhh, what's the big deal, it's alchohol, it's not like it's a drug or something.

children are wise .