Drinking Age May Stay at 18 Until the Beginning of Summer

The Massachusetts House of Representatives yesterday pushed the effective date of the drinking age bill to June by removing a preamble making the bill effective April 1.

If the state Senate approves the removal of the clause, the bill will become effective 90 days after it is signed by Gov. Edward J. King. King may sign the bill this week.

The House approved the removal of the preamble by a vote of 44-0. State Rep. William G. Robinson said yesterday he is certain the Senate will agree with the House decision when it meets today.

Robinson said if the measure had taken effect on April Fool's Day, "the legislature and the governor would have been a damn laughing stock." He said he believes high school and college students would be less likely to protest the drinking age hike in June, when they are not in school.

State Rep. William F. Galvin said yesterday the date the bill becomes effective should be postponed until the summer. The transition to the higher drinking age might be unnecessarily wild because of promotions by bars that cater to younger drinkers, Galvin said.

But Maureen Devlin '81, who is 19 years old, said yesterday she plans not to celebrate just before the higher drinking age goes into effect. She said she will probably drink more after the legal age hike because "partying is more fun when it's illegal."

Devlin said she is sure she will still be able to get liquor in bars even when the legal age is increased. Raising the drinking age will only raise decadence, she added.

State Rep. Dennis J. Duffin said Monday, "This issue is an engraved invitation to young men and women in my district to visit New York." Duffin, who opposes the raise, is one of several legislators from districts that border states with drinking ages at 18 years.

The bill would not affect present laws permitting 18-year-olds to work in establishments that sell alcohol. It also provides that 20-year-olds who do not have a driver's license may get a special picture identification for $5 from the Registry of Motor Vehicles.