Lower Drinking Age Has Minors Speaking Cajun

Louisiana has always been known for two reasons: its resistance to intrusion by the federal government and its love of liquor.

From its vehement opposition to segregation to its move to protect the teaching of creationism, Louisiana is a state which cherishes its local traditions--and the right to celebrate them.

In 1986, the state complied with federal law and raised its minimum drinking age from 18 to 21.

But last year, when the Louisiana legislature attempted to stiffen penalties against alcohol vendors who sell to minors, the Louisiana Supreme Court quickly moved to reverse its decision.

By a 4-3 verdict last Friday, the high court overturned both the penalties and the minimum drinking age itself, saying that the law unconstitutionally discriminated against young people.

The decision makes Louisiana the only state in the nation with a drinking age under 21.

By defying federal statute, Louisiana is vulnerable to sanctions, including the loss of roughly $18 million in annual federal highway safety funds.

Still, Louisiana State University (LSU) students hailed the decision and celebrated with a rush to the local tavern.

"I've been drinking since I was 15. It's a Southern tradition," said an LSU sophomore who requested anonymity. "I'm Southern, so I'm big on tradition."

But opponents of the decision plan to block the move by requesting that the court review its decision. The minimum drinking age will technically remain at 21 until the request is considered, according to Rusty Jabour, public information officer for the Louisiana attorney general's office.

Jabour said his office has been notifying citizens and bar owners that the minimum age is still 21 during this transitional period.

But many New Orleans bartenders said they have been serving the flocks of 18 to 20 year-old students, who are searching for something to quench their thirst.

Andrew F. Dunn, a bartender at Ottoman Tavern 2, said that the bar has "seen a vast increase already."

"The two nights of the weekend [after the ruling] we did really well," he said.

Many Louisiana students attending Harvard said young people who want to drink will find alcohol, regardless of the legal minimum drinking age.

"People find ways around the age limit," said F. Arthur Jones '99, a Louisiana native. "It's pretty easy to get into bars."

Hubert B. Nguyen '99 agreed. "I don't think [the age limit] will have any impact on the drinking because [bars] were pretty lenient to begin with."

LSU first-year Samuel T. Singer, who transferred from Vanderbilt University last fall, justified the younger minimum age on pragmatic grounds. An earlier exposure to alcohol teaches people to drink more responsibly, he said.

"In Louisiana with the drinking age being lower, you grew up with it being lower so students are a lot more mature about it," Singer said. "Up at Vanderbilt they were out of control. Here [at LSU], whenever we go out we have designated drivers."

Despite widespread support among newly-legal students, officials from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have voiced vehement opposition.

MADD National President Katherine Prescott said in a statement that the law will lead to more alcohol-related car accidents and signals "a huge step backward in our fight against drunk driving and underage drinking."

"[S]tates with differing minimum drinking ages create 'blood borders' where young people travel across state lines to drink and then drive home dangerously impaired," according to Prescott.