New York to raise age of legal drinking

Press, 3 July 1985, Page 41

New York to raise age of legal drinking

Reuter Albany . The New York State legislature has approved a measure that will make New York the last major industrial state to increase its legal alcohol purchasing age from 19 to 21, as of December 1. “New York State having accomplished this fact, the need for a national drinking age becomes diminished,” said State Senator Frank Padavan, a Republican, who sponsored the bill in the state senate. ‘“We love our kids, we’re not doing this to be punitive,” Senator Padavan argued in debate. Opponents charged the legislation would not reduce alcohol consumption, nor directly be responsible for saving lives.

“You are only going to make closet drinkers out of them,” said Senator Richard Schermerhorn, another Republican. “They are going to get it, and the only way you are going to get a handle on this problem is through education.” Congress had threatened to hold back SUS9O million ($198.12 million) in Federal highway aid from New York state if the state did not increase the age limit. “What this bill does is create a border problem with Canada,” cautioned Senator Dale Volker, a Republican. Ontario allows 19 year olds to purchase alcohol; in Quebec province the age is 18.