Drinking age debated

[Freddie Stubbs]

Coors says he favors 18; Schaffer doesn't, backs his tax record

By Jennifer Miller, Rocky Mountain News
June 24, 2004

Republican U.S. Senate candidates Pete Coors and Bob Schaffer called each other out Wednesday on issues ranging from the drinking age to cutting taxes.

Schaffer opened their third debate by asking the brewery executive if his position has changed since Coors told USA Today in 1997 that he felt lowering the drinking age would encourage young people to be more responsible.

"My position hasn't changed at all," Coors said. "We did fine with an 18-year-old drinking law in Colorado, kind of like a learner's permit in driving."

The drinking age in Colorado was raised from 18 to 21 in 1987.

more: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/election/article/0,1299,DRMN_36_2986180,00.html

[lovedems]

1. Instead of lowering the drinking age to 18

they should raise the enlistment age to 21.

Kids shouldn't drink and they shouldn't fight wars.

I vehemently oppose lowering the drinking age to 18 so Coors can make more money.

[hasbro]

4. I've always thought the drinking age should be 18

I think the raise has alot to do with binging in colleges and more drug use. HOWEVER, Coors motive is just to line his pockets.

[Not Me]

2. When I came of age,

Things were just the opposite...you could drink at 18, but not vote until 21. And military service, (I think) could be done at 17 w/parents signing off).

I guess I come out for one single age-of-majority.
Make it 18, 19, 20, or 21. But at that time, you are considered to be fully enfranchised with adulthood and be done with it.

[kcwayne]

3. One of the reasons the drinking age was lowered from 21 to 18

was because this country was drafting 18 year olds, sending them to Viet Nam to die, and they could neither vote nor buy a beer. Pretty interesting values for a country that could empower 18 year olds to kill, but determine they were not mature enough to drink.

When the draft kicks in, this will become an issue again.