February 24, 2016
Presumably doing so with the unsolicited support of college freshmen across New Jersey, Republican Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll has introduced legislation that would lower the drinking age in the state from 21 to 18.
The bill, introduced Monday, cites the legal obligations and privileges given to those 18 years of age -- such as serving on a jury, consenting to medical treatment and adopting children -- to argue that being able to buy or consume alcohol should be included in those rights and duties.
Carroll expounded on that argument to Politico, which first reported on the bill, as he told the website if you're old enough to serve in the military, you should be able to have a drink.
The problem, however, is that thanks to a law regarding federal highway funding introduced decades ago by the state's late U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, the legislation is unlikely to pass. More from NJ.com:
Under federal law, any state that reduces its drinking age below 21 would lose millions of dollars in federal highway funds.
That law was sponsored by Lautenberg, then a freshman member of the U.S. Senate from New Jersey. Congress passed it in June of 1984 and President Ronald Reagan signed it a month later.
Carroll said similar efforts to lower the drinking age in New Jersey have bounced around Trenton since then but haven't gone anywhere because of the fear of losing federal money.
Carroll went on to compare those stipulations to "extortion," a sentiment that echoes his expressed disdain for the federal government.
On his Facebook page, for example, he shared the Politico article about the bill and took a shot at presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who has suggested the United States adopt laws and ideas from European countries.
"One of the few areas in which we CAN learn from Denmark," Carroll wrote.
