New Bill Would Lower The Legal Drinking Age In Wisconsin

A new bill proposes lowering the drinking age in Wisconsin from 21 to 19 years old.

The bill was unveiled last Wednesday. Three Republican lawmakers are pushing for the proposal. One is the former president of the Wisconsin Tavern League. Another Rep. owns a Wisconsin supper club.

In order for the bill to become law, two things would have to happen. The bill would have to gain much more support from heavy hitters. If it doesn't, the idea won't even be considered. Highway funding would also have to take a hit, due to a law that was passed in 1984. Under said law, any state that has a legal drinking age under 21 loses a cut of their federal highway funding.

As of now, Wisconsin state law says you can drink alcohol if you are underage as long as you are with a parent, guardian or spouse who is of age. The new bill would allow anyone 19 and up to drink without one.

The lawmakers behind the bill say there would be several benefits to lowering the drinking age, like saving money in other areas, putting less time and effort into enforcing drinking laws and reducing binge drinking in college.

The main argument here, according to the bill's author and its supporters, is simple: if you are old enough to serve our country, you should be old enough to drink a beer.

What do you think?