August 19, 2008 100 college presidents support lowering drinking age Play video

(Jennifer Eagan, NECN: Worcester, MA) - A group of college presidents is supporting a move to lower the drinking age to 18. Leaders from about 100 schools including Clark University say something has to be done about binge drinking.

It has been 24 years since congress passed legislation basically requiring states to raise the legal drinking age to 21 .. those that failed to comply were threatened with the loss of federal highway dollars.

In 1988 Wyoming became the last state to raise the minimum to age to 21. But two decades later.. there is a push to bring it back to 18.. and leading the charge.. a surprising spearhead... as no less than 100 presidents of universities and colleges say the reduction may ease the problem of binge drinking on campus.

They are calling it the amethyst initiative.