Proposed Law Aims to Lower Drinking at to 18

A ballot initiative would lower the drinking age in one state to 18. Some think it's a great idea while others fear the worst.

According to a report by KTLA, a proposed law would make it possible for adults from the ages of 18 to 20 to join their over-21-year-old friends in ordering a beer in California. The Secretary of State in California has cleared the way for proponents of the ballot initiative to begin collecting signatures. This is the first step in getting voters to decide whether to lower the drinking age next November.

Currently, every state in the union makes it illegal to drink if you're under the age of 21. Some states have exceptions for religious reasons or parental consent, but no state has allowed 18-year-olds to belly up to the bar since the national drinking age was changed to 21 back in 1984.

Terrance Lynn, who has proposed the bill, says that it's about time California repealed what he sees as an unfair law. Lynn says,

This is about equal rights. 18 year olds have nearly every burden and privilege of adults … except the right to drink alcohol. This is a misguided aberration from 1984 that should be corrected.

Opponents point to statistics that they say proves drunk driving accidents dramatically decreased after the drinking age was raised in the 80s. If the proposal is turned into law California would lose $200 million in federal highway funds, although some argue that it would also dramatically increase tax revenues from additional alcohol sales.

What do you think about this proposal? Is it time to start thinking about lowering the drinking age?