Senate Plans Vote Next Week On Raising of Drinking Age

The Massachusetts State Senate will take a final vote next week on a bill that will raise the state's legal drinking age for alcoholic beverages to 19.

Since the State House of Representatives already passed the bill by a 147 to 82 margin, a positive Senate vote will send the bill on to Governor Michael S. Dukakis for final approval before becoming law.

Thomas H.D. Mahoney (D--Cambridge), who opposes the bill, said yesterday that the bill will probably pass, since in the two previous votes its passed by a margin of 20 to 14.

David Sugarman, an aide to Dukakis said he did not know if Dukakis will sign the bill, "The governor is still studying the issue," he said, adding that Dukakis "has said his son who is opposed to the bill is proving to be an effective lobbyist."

Mixed Reactions

Reaction to the bill was mixed throughout the Harvard community. "The responsible 18 year-olds are the ones getting hurt because the irresponsible 18 year-olds are going to find a way to circumvent the law anyway," Elena Cohen '79 said.

"It's an excellent idea to raise the drinking age to 19,"Dan Goldberg '79 said. There are alot of people in high school who aren't ready to accept the responsibility of drinking," he said. "There are alot of 19 year-olds in the same position, but a line must be drawn somewhere."

Bartenders in Harvard Square yesterday saw both advantages and disadvantages to the bill. "We might lose a few townies," Charlie Hughes, a bartender at Father's 6, said yesterday. Bob Pray, a bartender at 33 Dunster St. said he thought the bill "would create a good-sized hassle." "It's hard to tell the difference between 18 year-olds and 19 year-olds," said Pray.

At the Oxford Ale House customers have to prove they are 19 before being admitted, even though the law hasn't been passed yet. Patrick Melendez, an employee there, said yesterday. "We wanted more of a college-type scene," he said