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ewing battle
A proposal to raise the drinking age sparks interest
S
tudents and businessmen alike Norma Dobler, a Democratic
let out a sigh of relief when a senator from Moscow, wasn't surprised
when the bill failed and felt
bill to raise Idaho's legal
drinking age from 19 to 20 failed. that raising the drinking age
The bill narrowly passed in the wouldn't solve the drunk driving
House in early February, but was problem.
gunned down in the Senate State Most people agreed with Dobler
Affairs Committee which tabled the when they discussed the issue with
bill by a 6-4 vote in early March. Gem reporters:
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"What the Legislature is wrestling
with is a very serious problem in our
state and in the nation -- drinking
and driving ... the proof is there that
it (the higher drinking age) will save
lives."
- Gov. John Evans
"The bill would not prevent drinking.
Instead, it would place more illegal
drinkers on the road causing
more accidents and crimes."
- Molly Ahlers
"Instead of raising the drinking age,
they should put harder punishments
on drunken drivers. That's the problem,
isn't it?"
-Tina Knek
" I can't see how a nation willingly
sends a young man to war, maybe
even to death, but this man can't go
to a bar and legally drink. If a person
has to accept adult responsibilities
at the age of 18, he or she
should be allowed adult privileges."
- Tina Koblick
"Moscow lives on a liquor diet. Take
it away from youngest college
students and Moscow will be overwhelmed
with thirst, not to mention
a lack of money."
- Bryce Romig
"People fail to see that raising the
drinking age will create more
highway deaths . . . because more
and more 18, 19, and 20 year olds
would be inclined to have car parties-
which would put them on the
road."
- Henry Lisher
"I'm a non-drinker seeing party life
going on around me. Alcohol is too
easily available to any age. Setting
a higher age limit wouldn't really
help; it would only make the problem
more private."
- Sherri Schvenbom
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~.t.ntrana by pt:rst'ns
•:. under 19 yrars of age
\prohibited by la~ .....
On the way up?
During the legislative session, many
students wondered if Idaho bars would be
restricted to those under 2l.llke the drink­
Ing establishments in Washington. (photo
by M. LaOrange)
40 Drinking Age Debate