State Capitol Report: A Critic Of Lowering Wisconsin’s Drinking Age To 19

The State Capitol Report continues when we talk with a critic of a state Republican plan to lower Wisconsin’s drinking age to 19.

The proposal is being pushed by Reps. Adam Jarchow, Rob Swearingen and Cindy Duchow. Jarchow said the bill would save the state “countless” hours and money enforcing drinking laws, especially on college campuses.

However, the drinking age would only be lowered if Wisconsin would not lose federal highway money. Any state with a drinking age lower than 21 could lose 8 percent of that funding. In addition, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who helps decide which proposals are voted on, does not support the measure.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving said it supports 21 as the minimum drinking age. It cited research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showing that an additional 500 people between the ages of 18-20 would be killed across the U.S. if the drinking age across the nation was lowered to 18.

Should Wisconsin lower its drinking age to 18 or keep it at 21? Let us know at 1-800-642-1234 or ideas@wpr.org. You can also tweet us @wprmornings or post on the Ideas Network Facebook page.

Note: We invited the Republican sponsors of the bill, but they were unavailable.