A group of college presidents from around the country is now pushing to lower the legal age to drink. Their theory is that the current drinking laws encourage binge drinking on campuses, and that by lowering the age to 18, students would learn more about moderation while being supervised.

However, Meridian Community College president, Dr. Scott Elliott, disagrees.

"I do not believe that college campuses are places where you should indulge yourself in those types of pursuits," said Elliott. "I think college campuses are places of higher learning. And to change a law in order to get people to modify their behavior, I just can't see that myself."

Officials with the Lauderdale County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving are also against the proposal.

"That age, 18, is more vulnerable to the people, to the opinions of the people that they run with," said Pam Vance.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, research shows that young drivers are more often involved in alcohol-related crashes than any other group.

In the year 2000, research revealed that 30 percent of the 15 to 20-year-old drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes had been drinking. Research finds that people are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence if they start drinking before the age of 21.

"If you make it legal for your 18-year-old, then the age is going to get younger and younger," said Vance. "We are ready to stand on this and let people know that we don't want to backslide on this. This would be a tremendous drop."

The president of Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., Dr. Frances Lucas, is one of the supporters of the effort.