Minnesota Bill Would Lower Drinking Age to 18

The "hype" over this subject is ridiculous! When I was 18, the drinking age in my state was 18. I lived on a large university campus. I was about 25 when the drinking age was raised to age 21 due to the threat of a 10% cut in federal highway funding if the state didn't raise the drinking age to 21. I am now 50 and my daughter lives on the same college campus I lived on. Issues with binge drinking and alcohol-induced deaths on that campus for students under age 21 seems higher and far more out of control today than in the mid 1970s. Prohibition seems to grow the curiosity of what is prohibited. I firmly believe that lowering the drinking age will reduce the desire and thrill of obtaining and abusing alcohol. I rely simply on my own experience from when I was 18-21. Our kids move away from home and into college campus living where there is a drinking going on. They no longer have to worry about the "house rules" of their parents, even though the use of alcohol is illegal for them. This is nothing new! Drinking at age 18 on a college campus has been going on since college campuses were built 100 years ago, and outlawing its use hasn't had any successful impact on reducing use and abuse. Plus, I'm convinced that 90% of them probably used alcohol before they ever moved onto their college campuses. Contrast the binge and alcohol-related problems here in the USA with Europe. In Europe, 16-year-olds are allowed to purchase and/or drink beer and wine in public. They cannot purchase/drink hard liquor until age 18. Where ever you go in Europe, alcohol use is not a big deal or problem. I am in favor of lowering the drinking age to 18 in this country.