Drinking Age to Drop to 18; Houses May Sell Beer, Wine

The legal drinking age in Massachusetts becomes 18 tomorrow, and many undergraduates, faculty, and administrators want the Houses to sell beer and wine.

On March 7 Daniel Steiner '54, general counsel to the University, will give the University's position on the sale of beer and wine at Harvard. He is acting at the request of the Committee on Housing and Undergraduate Living.

Steiner said yesterday that Harvard would like to authorize the sales, but he added that the University is still hampered by a state law restricting the number of liquor dealers in a specific area.

"I think our goal is to eventually obtain a license to sell beer and wine," Steiner said.

Donald S. Leritz '69, an agent for a local wine company, said yesterday that the state law lowering the drinking age did not include a clause dealing with colleges and universities.

An Oversight

"There remains a clause in older law which forbids universities from obtaining a license to sell beer and wine to students under 21," Loritz said. "I think, however, that this was merely an oversight, and that it will soon be changed."

A question remains about which part of the university should apply for the license. If Harvard bought a license, the individual Houses could not necessarily sell beer and wine, according to Zeph Stewart, Master of Lowell House.

"It is all very complicated," he said, "because we don't know whether a license would have to be bought for each House or whether Food Services could obtain an all-encompassing license."

Charles W. Dunn, Master of Quincy House, said yesterday he believes Harvard would benefit from the sale of beer and wine.

"A number of students told me that they would like beer and wine in the grills and dining halls, and if the existing problems get solved, we will seriously consider it," he said.