Dukakis to Veto Bill to Raise Drinking Age

Gov. Michael S. Dukakis will probably not sign a bill to raise the drinking age from 18 to 19 in Massachusetts, because he believes the bill is poorly constructed, his administrative aide said yesterday.

Although the governor has not yet announced an official decision, David Liederman, the aide, said he will probably veto the measure.

Inconsistent

The main inconsistency in the bill is that it would still allow 18-year-olds to serve liquor even though they would be prohibited from drinking or purchasing alcoholic beverages, he said.

The House of Representatives passed the bill Friday morning and forwarded it to Dukakis. The drinking age bill was the last piece of legislation the House considered before it adjourned its 1976 session.