[boz130]

Okay, here's another old guy's perspective. Back in 1974, Illinois voted to allow 19 & 20-year-olds the right to drink beer and wine. That meant that you couldn't partake of the "hard stuff" until you were 21.

This didn't stop us in northern IL from crossing the border and enjoying libations in the land of cheese, Wisconsin. The barkeeps were "supposed" to make us wait until we were 19, but that was never enforced much (boy, I remember a walkout to Whitewater...).

This little social experiment lasted all of two years because the policies weren't strictly enforced ("Hey, if they're in my bar I'll serve 'em whatever they want."). Having worked as a bar bouncer back in those halcyon days, I can vouch for the fact that there were plenty of under-18's with fake ID's.

I don't recall the exact numbers, but a higher percentage of Illinois 19 & 20-year-olds died in car accidents during the two-year period than in previous years. That's why it switched back to 21 for everything in Illinois in 1976.

Of course, by that time I had already turned 21, so it didn't affect me as much as some of my younger brothers. The bottom line is this: if you're looking for a scapegoat, undergrads, ask your parents. We screwed it up, and the federal crackdown will keep things this way.

Interfraternally,
Bill F.