News @ Noon: 2 Bills Would Lower Minnesota’s Drinking Age [POLL, AUDIO]

ST. PAUL - There's a renewed push at the State Capitol to lower the drinking age in Minnesota. DFL Representative Phyllis Kahn of Minneapolis has introduced to bills.

One lowers the legal drinking age at bars and restaurants to 18 years-old. The other would allow any child of any age to drink at a bar or restaurant, if they are with their parent or legal guardian and they approve. Wisconsin, and a few other states, already have that law in place.

Kahn says her bills are timely because the state is no longer facing the threat of the loss of federal highway funds, if we have a lower drinking age.

Kahn's district includes the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus, which of course has a lot of bars and a lot of students.  With thousands of students on the campuses of St. Cloud State University, the College of St. Benedict, St. John's University, and the St. Cloud Technical and Community College it's a bill that could have a major impact on the St. Cloud metro area.

She says she's been getting a lot of support from her fellow lawmakers.

Kahn says there's a big problem of binge drinking among 18-21 year-olds, and lowering the drinking age would allow them to learn how to drink responsibly.

Kahn's bills would *not* change the drinking age for off-sale, you would still need to be at least 21-years-old to buy alcohol at a liquor store.