Restaurant+Owners+Group

Restaurant Owners Four state representatives are supporting that restaurants in the state of Minnesota want to lower the drinking age to 18 years of age, and even allocate 16 and 17 year olds to drink in their place of business if they are with an adult. The current ban on no smoking in the establishments is distressing the business and affecting the income of the business. For this reason, the restaurant owners are in favor of minimizing the drinking age so they could get some of the business and money back they lost from the smokers. [|Shakers Restaurant]

Reasons for restaurant owners to favor lowering drinking age: - More business from the younger crowd, to replace the smokers the business lost due to the smoking ban. - Twelve million kids drink underage a year, this mostly being in "hidden" places. Restaurants may gain business if they will be able to serve the young adults in their establishments. - Being able to limit how much the young adult consumes in a controlled enviornment, instead of an uncontrolled enviornment. - Owners believe that if they were able to serve the young adults, they could be teaching them responsible drinking habits from the early age of 18 years old, and possible 16 years of age and older if accompanied by a person 18 years or older. - More 18 year olds will act more mature, and if not, being in a controlled enviorment they can controll this or kick out the person.
 * FIVE REASONS FOR BEING IN FAVOR OF LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE:**

 Our group found online an [|interview] between two doctors, and we decided to use this due to the relevance on the topic we are researching. The doctors are discussing the drinking age law change and what their opinions are. Doctor Engs stated “I propose the drinking age be lowered to age 18 or 19 and permit those of legal age to consume in socially controlled environment such as restaurants and official school and university functions. Currently, we prohibit 20 year olds from sipping champagne at thier own weddings!"   **MEDIA - Video Clip:**
 * INTERVIEW WITH DOCTOR RUTH CLIFFORD ENGS OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY:**

media type="custom" key="3652421" [|Tom Hackbarth], a Republican from District 48A said, "I think that bars and restaurants are having a difficult time right now with the smoking ban that went into place. I think with economic times the way they are, I've never opposed the drinking age being 18.

=
======
 * ABOVE: PICUTRES BELOW: GRAPHS AND STATISTICS**



media type="custom" key="3663237"
 * UK YOUTH DEBATE ON LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE**