*Don't ever judge these young adults because of their mistakes. Every one does it, period.*

There should be a name for this kind of psychotic rationale. No one can be judged because everyone is guilty? Nonsense.

Why shouldn't people be judged by the kind of "mistakes" they make? Their mistake was getting caught, period, and as such they can be judged as people who aren't careful or intelligent enough not to get caught doing something illegal at the very least.

As for them "working hard", seriously? Mid-terms hadn't even happened yet, had they?

And the old, old "what else is there to do for fun, huh?" excuse...does Whitewater not have both genders attending classes? Are you saying that dating is less fun than booze or that booze is required for dating?

Who are you to talk? You have no idea who these kids are. It's college. Kids like to party and not necesserily to get drunk. What other environments are there for young adults under the age of 21 to got to have fun on the weekend? There isn't any."parents are so pround of you" I was not present at this event, but I will say kids work there asses of in school! And it's nice to go out and just forget about the stresses of school.Really you think someone would die? The beer college kids can even afford do not have that much alcohol content in them for that to even be remotely possible because they would get too full and throw it all up before anything that serious would occur. Don't ever judge these young adults because of their mistakes. Every one does it, period. And what I've learned in college, you should never assume.

And, against the law is just that, AGAINST THE LAW! Argue all you want, but when ya get 100 plus kids in an environment where the booze is flowing freely, you're lucky that some of them don't die from alcohol poisoning!

Mouse and fly, to even think that you can somehow equate military service with some drunken college bash, you would have a rude awakening, if you were ever sent to boot camp!

I'm sure your parents are so proud of you.

Mouse/ Your hostility on this page suggests you could use a drink!

If what you say is that the human brain is not fully developed and should not drink until age 25, then maybe they are not mentally ready to fight.
I do not understand your rational. No entering a bar, but quite OK to drive over a stupid mine (Safe, very safe).

I'm not sure why people are arguing about legality. Its illegal, there isn't even a question about that. But with any law there will be people who break it. The main concern of police should be to maintain safety of citizens, not necessarily to uphold the law. The fact is you will not get college age students to stop drinking. There comes a point when your effort should be focused towards keeping them as safe as possible. If we arrest them for every drinking incident they will continue to move their drinking habits to more questionable, unsafe conditions. So this arrest situation is not the answer.

Whitewater Police: You think your setting an example? Well you are, your setting an example of how police should NOT handle college drinking!

sherriel10

Since noone has corrected you yet, I will.

Being in the military and in uniform does not automatically make you legal to drink in this or any other state. TBS123 is correct.

When I first joined the service (Army) you could legally drink at 17, on-base only. You had to be a member of the military and present a valid military I.D. at the club. Once off base you were subject to the laws of the state you were stationed in. Around 85-86 they changed Regulation to mirror the Air Force Regulation that on-base drinking age was the same as the drinking age for state that the base was located in. If the drinking age for the state was 21 then you had to be 21 to drink on base. That Regulation/policy is still in effect. Military persons are subject to the laws of the state they are stationed in be they Active, Reserve or National Guard.

Army Regulation 670-1 has the following to say on wearing the uniform while drinking.

"Personnel may not wear BDUs in establishments that primarily sell alcohol. If the establishment sells
alcohol and food, soldiers may not wear utility uniforms if their activities in the establishment center on drinking
alcohol."

TJRockCounty: I could not agree more with your point about the human brain not being fully developed until age 25 and how that affects young adults' not being able to fully understand the long term consequences of their choices.
Sigma40: I don't quite understand how allowing 18 year olds to fight in wars makes them "capable of drinking." I don't think the military age and drinking age have any relevance to one another because choosing to be in the military and having a drink are not comparable.
The police are supposed to enforce the laws, and I applaud them for doing their jobs. Those under 21 who were drinking at that party were breaking the law by their own choices. If you would like to see the drinking age changed for valid reasons, you should contact your Congressmen.

tj- I agree it shoulmd stay the same.

As far as the "I am an adult" argument- WELL doesn't work well now does it-since LOTS of ADULTS are busted for drunk driving all the time.

It is at 21 so we get more money from the Gov for roads etc.

Macdaddy- I like the idea of raising the age to 18 for driving . Since the facts are many young teens are in accidents. They DO NOT pay attention and don't care about the rules or NOT texting. It seems a bit better now with some more things added to the rules like nobody else in the car if a certain age.

fly-on the wall- you can start paying taxes at 15 so should it be legal to drink at 15- NOT!

I do agree if you can fight for your country you should get to have a beer. SO that being said those "on base" may have beer!

If people got used to drinking before they were allowed to drive they'd be more responsible.

tbs123...I don't see anyone has answered your question yet, so from what I know... if you are in the military and are WEARING your military outfit you are then legal to drink. Of course you are then representing the govn't and are expected to be on your best behavior or face penalties from the service. If someone knows different, please correct me if I am wrong.

hankidan...... you make a good point, but people want controversy.
They apply the same logics to education, while the rest of the world moves on.
Makes you wonder what we are expecting to eventually come from the direction our culture is heading.

Ok, I am a 21 year old originally from WI, currently stationed in Germany with the military. When i first arrived here, i was 19, the legal drinking age is 16 for beer, and 18 for the hard stuff. It works. Why? Because it is stressed from a very early age that if you drink, to do so responsibly. If we implemented that system, I believe that it would work well, if we stressed doing so safely and responsibly.

It's easy to say "aw let 'em drink at 18!" when you're an adult who is a responsible drinker. These are still kids. Look at how many in this age group are lost by drinking and driving. Binge drinking is excessive at this age and dangerous. I would rather see a kid pay for a ticket than pay with his/her life.

It doesnt matter if you're 17 or 25...if you're an idiot, you're an idiot. Pretty much everyone I knew at 25 was no different then they were when they were 17-18. Age is meaninless when you're comparing people. Everyone is different. You're more rebelious at younger ages so the fact it is illegal makes it much more fun to drink.

Seriously? To those of you commenting who are under 21, listen to yourselves! Read your comments! Can you honestly say you are mature enough to consume alcohol AND be responsible about it besides? Being a responsible adult does not mean "partying til' you puke," passing out on your friend's couch because you're too drunk to even walk home, or, God forbid, getting behind the wheel of a car after even ONE drink. And yet that's exactly what goes on at 99% of these underage parties. Give it up. When you realize that alcohol is not mandatory to have a "good time," it does not make you look "cool," and your friends could care less if you DO have alcohol OR don't, THEN, and ONLY THEN, will you be mature enough to handle the alcohol that you do consume--and not a day sooner. Quit comparing apples and oranges--Alcohol has nothing to do with your right to vote, serving in the military, or anything else. It has to do with maturity and adult responsibility. When you've reached that level--whether you are 21 or 51, then, and ONLY THEN, will you be responsible enough to drink.

I am not sure why there is so much shock over this. These are college kids, this is what they do...WI colleges are on the top ten partying list for pete's sake! Were they stupid? Yep, and that's why they got themselves busted. Let's all hope they all learn a lesson. Drop the "blame the parents" and the underage issues, it doesn't apply once they leave mommy's house. And as for moron who made the remark about the military being allowed to drink....they are not "allowed". In fact it is frowned upon more than it ever was. There is also a big difference between military personnel and college kids. Our young men and women in the military have already decided what they want to do in life, they are a far cry from college kids who are still searching. And in my eyes, along with the eyes of millions of Americans, if they want a beer after what they go hrough for our freedom, I, too, say let them have one. It might not be legal, but for RESPONSIBLE adults, such as our soldiers, it damn well should be!

gma... you just love playing with words, numbers and capitol letters.
Making an age comparison is not the same as a stupid statement about living in a garage. Someone should pull your stupid plugs!

fly, mouse did... "That's it neocon...... because they can be drafted and die for you,thats OK."

I lumped the two of you together because both of your comments, were equally idiotic! (JMO)

who says that if you join the military you can drink before you are 21? whose law is that? the drinking age is 21, military or not. my son is a United States Marine, and he is not legally able to drink. please enlighten me as to this law you speak of...

dang, sounds like I missed a great party...

you play, you get caught, you pay.

It's O.K fly, Mr smart gma always plays devils advocate, using a general term and turning it out of context. He knows what you and I are stating, but prefers to act ultra sophisticated, Gotta love em when they put there blinders on just to argue.

fly and mouse... you BOTH need an education!

First off, there IS no active draft. The last active military draft in the US was during the Vietnam war.

Also, just because a child is 18 years old, does NOT make them an adult any more than living in a garage makes you a car. Seriously? The death rate for teens, 16 to 20 years old...

Despite being under the legal drinking age, American teens from the ages of 16-20 were more likely to be killed while driving under the influence than adults ages 55-64. Teens accounted for 17% of all drivers who were involved in drunk driving crashes, while those from 55-64 accounted for 12%.
http://www.edgarsnyder.com/drunk-driving...

So, just because you THINK you should be "entitled", WE don't want you out drunk and driving. Driving is NOT a right of passage, it is a privilege. As far as most of us here are concerned, you do not "deserve" the right to drink alcohol. Your errant brain cells can't handle it.

*That's it neocon...... because they can be drafted and die for you,thats OK.*

There is no draft.
If you join the military, you can drink before you are 21.
Problem solved.

That's it neocon...... because they can be drafted and die for you,thats OK.
Beyond that, some act bad so limit there rights. Laws are not made to be broken, but we can have a double standard (you serve your country, but they don't serve you).

I'm not sure why all of a sudden we compare troops with college kids...college kids aren't in the service. (excluding the few in ROTC) it's like comparing apple and oranges. People make it sound like these college kids at this big house parties sit around and drink "socially, i.e 1 or 2 drinks) when in reality, they binge drink and drink themselves to the point of pure stupidty. Do a ride along with Whitewater Police some Thursday night and see what they deal with. It's not the same ole Whitewater that once was. Ask some Whitewater residents that have had their vehicles vandalized, homes and yards vandalized, or wake up to find some drunk college kid urinating in their yard. The bottom line is there are consequences to actions, if they role the dice and drink..well, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I do think if a soldier has served his country, he deserves a drink...but it they should not be compared to whether or not college kids get too.

People are going to drink at 18 regardless if is legal or not. So keeping it illegal just provides more revenue from fines. Just think if everything was legal (just drugs and alcohol)...who'd be hurting? The people that really run this country... CIA, FBI, DEA, Courts,Police... The corporation called America needs to make up dumb laws and enforce them. Prohibition ended back in the 30's so they needed something... they went after maryjuanna. Billions of dollars spent and no gain. But... Guess how much the govt takes on seizures and fines ....oh ya...our taxes pay their wages and what they make doing so goes right back into them...We are funding a whole enterprise thats all we are doing.

Garyprimer with the Young Ones reference--well played, bro.

Does anyone really think that legislating the drinking age has a significant impact on drinking among young adults? If they want alcohol, they will get it. Remember that thing called Prohibition? Did that stop drinking? No. Did it provide criminals with an opportunity to make piles of money and corrupt entire police and political systems? Yes. Perhaps if marijuana were legalized we wouldn't have as many drinking parties. I for one would much prefer to see 150 people at a party smoking pot than drinking alcohol until they pass out.

This has been long over due, Great Job Whitewater Police.....

Too much bad stuff happens at or after big parties like that, so GET OFF THE BACKS OF THE WHITEWATER COPS FOR DOING THEIR JOB!!!!!

You don't know they didn't save a life or more than one life by busting that party.

If you can fight for this Country or defend another, then you should be able to drink. If you abuse your rights you could kill another for the sake of too much, then it should be no future driving privileges if driving drunk.
Balance the age issue and apply common sense. Why is this so hard for law makers to grasp? (Send your congress representatives the names of people killed by drunks and lets see who is the first to lead the army). Remember they spend money to promote no more deaths on Wisconsin roads.

Drinking age should be 18. DUI penalties should be real stiff. For most $1000 is still just a wrist slap. First offense $5,000, 1 year revocation with no occupational or other driving exemption.

I also think they should raise the driving age. Make that 21 too or 18, whatever.

futurerichguy, what current draft system are you referring to?

90% of all the people running this country, doctors, lawyers, cops, politicians, ...etc all drank in college. Who cares? Its a law made just to provide revenue... not to accomplish anything at all. We give an 18yr old a gun and whatnot and can fight in a war.... obviously capable of drinking.

SamAdams/ Good and interesting comment.

Don't blame the cops they don't make the law. If they didn't bust the party and a kid got hurt you would all be screaming for their heads.

I like Denmark's law, drink beer at 16, hard liqour at 18, but DRIVE AT 21. Unfortunately the US is to big to have the public transportation system Denmark does. Our society depends on cars simply do to our geography.

Yes, because the ticket happy cops just love dealing with a bunch of drunken yahoos, especially if there's over 100 of them.

I read that the human brain is not fully developed until the age of 25. This makes it difficult for young adults to see the long term consequences of their decisions and behavior. This being a factor, I would rather see the drinking age stay at 21 for the well being of young people. Let's face it, whether the drinking age is 18 or 21, if they want to drink they're going to. Getting a ticket is just part of the consequence. At least having it at 21 keeps them out of the bars and liquor stores a little longer.

Those ticket happy Whitewater cops must be having a field day today.

I went to Whitewater and also got ticketed once for "failure to prevent underage consumption"...just for walking home drunk when I was 21 with friends who were 20. We weren't creating any kind of disturbance at all.

Such a joke. It's a small town and the cops have nothing better to do.

"I'm sixteen. I'm old enough to marry and have children, but I can't drink in pubs. When will the government realize the young adults are mature and responsible people?"
"I'm sixteen, right? I can join the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy, but I can't drink in pubs. When will the government, right, realize that young adults have a valid contribution to society?"
"A lot of people think that young adults are violent! Well, how would you feel if you were old enough to have intercourse with the partner of your choice, but yet you could not drink in pubs? Huh?"
"And now let's shake some action here on two, with a new programme for young adults: Nozin' Aroun'!"

Making alcohol taboo is what makes it attractive to kids. One of my kids has had beer in the fridge from the Easter beer hunt. He has been free to drink it, but still has not. My other child wanted a margarita at Christmas, no problem, has not had a drink since, I believe because it has no false alure. Drinking parties at University are a right of passage so to speak, no ammount of enforcement will change that.

if yer an adult at 18 yer an adult at 18. enough hypocrisy already.

how about first DUI = license revoked for 1 year

I disagree make it 19 so it stays out of high schools. But first drunk driving $1,000. Second $3,000, third $5,000 and 6 months in jail, etc.

I agree. It's ridiculous that someone 18-20 can be drafted but can't have a drink.