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monday, february 4, 1980
daily nebraskan
page 9
February
AT
Sth BP
E3BBMD W
BQ08
Feb. 13-16
FABS&BBSB
Feb. 6-9
States are raising
legal drinking ages
By Michelle Carr
If statistics are any indication, a national trend may be
developing to raise legal drinking ages.
In 1979, four states raised their legal drinking ages,
according to Barbara Koch, legislative aide for Sen. Ralph
Kelly of Grand Island, who is sponsoring legislation aimed
at raising the age in Nebraska from 19 to 21.
Two of the four states, New Jersey and Tennessee,
raised drinking ages from 18 to 19. Massachusetts raised
its age from 18 to 20.
Illinois also raised its drinking age, but before the law
change, a "home rule law" allowed each municipality to
determine its own drinking age, Koch said. Now, the state
has a uniform law of age 21 for drinking alcoholic bever
ages, she added.
In 1978 Iowa and Michigan raised their drinking ages.
Iowa raised the age from 18 to 19 and Michigan, from 18
to 21.
Koch said that several states are considering legislation
to raise the legal drinking age. A bill was introduced in the
Kansas Legislature to raise the age for purchasing 3.2 beer
to 21, she said.
Koch, who has been researching statistics for LB221,
said there is "definitely" a trend developing of states rais
ing the drinking age. ' ;
No state has reduced the legal drinking age since 1975,
Koch said, and 10 states have raised their drinking ages
since 1976. Currently, 25 states have a 21-age law, 11
states have an 18-age law and 1 1 states have a 19-age law.
Four states attempted to lower the legal drinking age
but failed. Missouri tried to lower the age from 21 to 18.
Oregon attempted to reduce the age from 21 to 18 and
later to 19. Iowa tried to lower the age from 19 to 18 and
North Dakota tried to change the drinking age from 21 to
19. - . . . .... .. ...
Of the 25 states which have a drinking age of 21, 1 1
have a lower restriction for beer or wine or both. Three of
the 25 states have an 18-age law for the purchase of 3.2
beer and seven states allow 18-year-olds to purchase beer
and wine. - "' -
Currently, four states that border Nebraska have 21 as
the legal drinking age. Those states are Colorado, Kansas,
Missouri and South Dakota. Missouri is the only border
state that requires a person to be 21 tQ purchase aU types
of alcoholic beverages. Iowa and Wyoming require persons
to be 19 to purchase alcohol. Wyoming changed its drink
ing age from 21 to 19 in 1973.
ltso Happening
AtTho Hilton
Feb. S0-S3
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