Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Students and members of the Oread Neighborhood Association have found something they agree on: lowering the drinking age.
Candace Davis, vice president of the Oread Neighborhood Association, said that before the drinking age in Kansas was raised to 21 in 1985, noise and rowdiness was not as much of a problem as it is now. Students went to bars where they could drink 3.2 beer if they were over the age of 18.
Contributed photo
State Representative Marci Francisco said partying was more regulated and order was easier to keep when the drinking age was 18.
Francisco, who is also a founding member of the Oread Neighborhood Association, said this was because bars are places of business, where someone is in charge of what goes on inside the bar. Also, there was a dialogue kept between the bar owners and the neighborhood, she said.
“The drinking laws are difficult,” Francisco said. “A lot of people have come to school and want some additional opportunities; 3.2 beer gave people some opportunities.”
The idea of lowering the drinking age is also supported by Dennis Hawver, one of the Republican Party’s candidates for the gubernatorial primary election.
Hawver said he was able to drink 3.2 beer when he turned 18, and he does not want to deny any 18-year-old that right. If a person is able to fight for his country, then he should be able to drink, Hawver said.
Hawver switched his party from the Libertarian Party to the Republican Party on Aug. 19, 2005. He will be running in the primary on Aug. 1, 2006.
“It seems to me if people assume certain social responsibilities, they should get other responsibilities in return,” he said.
Kirk Matthew, Overland Park freshman, said he agreed with Hawver that lowering the drinking age was common sense.
“If we’re able to vote and fight for our country, we should be able to drink,” Matthew said.
Francisco said lowering the drinking age would not create an immediate, positive change in the neighborhood.
There are statistics that show the number of car accidents involving drunk drivers increases as the age of the drivers decreases, she said. Getting people to drink responsibly is still an issue.
“You don’t solve an abuse problem by changing the way it is abused,” said Carol von Tersch, a member of the Oread Neighborhood Association.
Sarah Fiske, Denver junior, thinks the drinking age should not be lowered because of problems with drunk driving.
“Eighteen-year-olds have just gotten their licenses, and they don’t have the maturity to handle the responsibility,” she said.
Francisco said the residents of the Oread neighborhood are no way opposed to students hanging out in the neighborhood.
She said the residents love where they live and would move if they had too much of a problem.
“We love the location, we like activity; we just have to be careful,” she said.
— Edited by Alison PetersonCity discusses student housing issues
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