Mayors to Raise the Drinking Age?

Because of the Netherlands problems with underage drinking, they are proposing that the mayors of each region raise the drinking age from 16 to 18 (the same age they can get their license). They are choosing to do this from region to region because the seriousness of the problem varies. The punishment for the teens will be similar to the US and they are going to be cracking down on the places that have been selling to minors. Holland has the worst underage drinking problem in Europe.

FInally, and argument against the age-old statement "we should lower the drinking age in the US, look at Europe, they have a lower drinking age and they don't have the same problems as we do..." Well, yes actually they do. Currently the drinking age is 16 and they are still having problems with underage drinking. Yup, thats the 13-year-olds drinking. But what I don't get is why they aren't doing it nationally. In a country about the size of New Jersey, with about 12 regions, it would be pretty darn easy to go across the line and get some alcohol.