Carnahan Approves Petition to Lower Legal Drinking Age to 18 in Missouri
Ryan Russell: Muleskinner
Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: News
A petition has been approved by Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, which seeks to lower the drinking age to 18 by amending Chapter 311, which deals with liquor control laws.
The petition is being spearheaded on campus by Ben Casebolt, a UCM senior, and is supported statewide by an online organization called, "Missouri 18 to Drink." The petition requires 100,000 signatures in order to get the initiative onto the November 2008 ballot.
In Missouri, Michael Mikkelson is responsible for starting the ballot to lower the drinking age, but he is also backed by "Choose Responsibility," a non-profit organization aimed at encouraging young adults ages 18-20 to make their own decisions about the role of alcohol in their lives.
"The drinking age hasn't always been an issue. The drinking age isn't a big issue in other countries either," Mikkelson said recently on KMBZ, a Kansas City news radio station.
Mikkelson said the problem with the drinking age today is it is leading to a large number of underage binge drinkers. With alcohol being illegal to people under 21, it encourages minors to consume large amounts at a time, instead of having a drink or two in a public setting. Mikkelson also said the drinking age was not a problem before the age was raised to 21 in 1984, due to groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving lobbying in the early '80s.
When Central students were asked whether or not the drinking age should be changed, several different viewpoints were shared.
"I think the drinking age should be lowered. It would cut down on a lot of the drama associated with drinking today," said Darius Hagens, a freshman theater performance major. "I think that if the drinking age was lowered, that some people wouldn't do it because it isn't as much of a thrill when it is legal."
"Liberty, not prohibition, will lead to responsible drinking habits," said Holden Dunlap, freshman undecided major, who just returned from a tour in Iraq. I am old enough to go over to Iraq and get shot at for your freedom, but I am not old enough to go to the bar and have a drink. I think, if anything, some sort of amendment to the drinking laws should be made for soldiers."
The petition is being spearheaded on campus by Ben Casebolt, a UCM senior, and is supported statewide by an online organization called, "Missouri 18 to Drink." The petition requires 100,000 signatures in order to get the initiative onto the November 2008 ballot.
In Missouri, Michael Mikkelson is responsible for starting the ballot to lower the drinking age, but he is also backed by "Choose Responsibility," a non-profit organization aimed at encouraging young adults ages 18-20 to make their own decisions about the role of alcohol in their lives.
"The drinking age hasn't always been an issue. The drinking age isn't a big issue in other countries either," Mikkelson said recently on KMBZ, a Kansas City news radio station.
Mikkelson said the problem with the drinking age today is it is leading to a large number of underage binge drinkers. With alcohol being illegal to people under 21, it encourages minors to consume large amounts at a time, instead of having a drink or two in a public setting. Mikkelson also said the drinking age was not a problem before the age was raised to 21 in 1984, due to groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving lobbying in the early '80s.
When Central students were asked whether or not the drinking age should be changed, several different viewpoints were shared.
"I think the drinking age should be lowered. It would cut down on a lot of the drama associated with drinking today," said Darius Hagens, a freshman theater performance major. "I think that if the drinking age was lowered, that some people wouldn't do it because it isn't as much of a thrill when it is legal."
"Liberty, not prohibition, will lead to responsible drinking habits," said Holden Dunlap, freshman undecided major, who just returned from a tour in Iraq. I am old enough to go over to Iraq and get shot at for your freedom, but I am not old enough to go to the bar and have a drink. I think, if anything, some sort of amendment to the drinking laws should be made for soldiers."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 25
Brady Kub
posted 12/16/07 @ 2:20 AM CST
18, 19, and 20 year olds are treated like second class citizens! They can do everything but drink until they are 21. UNCONSTITUIONAL!! Adult at 18 means everything at 18!
Todd J
posted 2/29/08 @ 9:47 AM CST
Kinda think this is interesting with this legislation starting in Missouri. I grew up in Kansas City and graduated high school in 1984 when the drink age was raised on the Kansas side incrementally to 21. (Continued…)
Elaron
Justin Grandfield
posted 3/05/08 @ 8:12 AM CST
[QUOTE id="7fe441ac-a64b-4abb-8dec-0e49a2112fd6"]18, 19, and 20 year olds are treated like second class citizens! They can do everything but drink until they are 21. (Continued…)
Devynn
posted 3/14/08 @ 11:09 AM CST
if you can vote, fight AND die for your country, drive a car, and smoke, then you should be able to drink, too. with the exception of running for SOME public offices (president comes to mind) if you can do EVERYTHING BUT drink in this country at 18, AND be told you ARE AN ADULT, then why the hell can you NOT drink?! if YOU don't drink very often, there is NO SENSE in punishing the rest of us that do. (Continued…)
Svea
posted 3/16/08 @ 6:29 PM CST
I am from Germany where the drinking age is 16 and the driving age is 16. I spent my senior year at a high school in Illinois ans I was shocked how teenagers are treated. (Continued…)
KC
posted 3/21/08 @ 10:28 AM CST
I can understand everyone wanting to drop the drinking age back down to 18. If you can serve and die for your country, you should be able to have a drink too. (Continued…)
tom
posted 3/22/08 @ 9:57 AM CST
When I was 18 I had already been certified a sniper in the military, and yet in this day and age I wouldn't be "allowed" to drink.
When these young adults are shipped off to points across the globe there is absolutely NOTHING that prevents them from drinking off base and yet I don't see any epidemic crisis of under 21 deaths occurring overseas at our military installations
Bemused
posted 3/24/08 @ 12:48 AM CST
Apparently, some folks fail to see the flip side of the eighteen is old enough to join the military and risk dying for their country, but not old enough to drink coin. (Continued…)
Justin
posted 4/06/08 @ 2:20 AM CST
You people sound as if you are being denied the right to vote. C'mon. Is drinking really a 'right?' No.
paula
posted 4/24/08 @ 6:15 PM CST
The issue is not that 18 is more or less mature then 21. The issue is about responsibility. We don't teach 21 year olds how to drink responsibility, we assume that everyone will just "know better" when they do it. (Continued…)
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