Candidates' positions are categorized as Pro (Yes), Con (No), Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found. Candidates who have changed their positions are listed as Now their most recent position. Candidates are listed by party and in alphabetical order by last name. Black & white photos indicate candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria for inclusion.
Should the minimum legal drinking age be lowered from 21 to a younger age?
Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico, was quoted in an Apr. 10, 2012 article "Gary Johnson: Lower the Drinking Age!," available at www.dailycaller.com:
"I’m always the guy to advocate for lower ages. I just believe that the lower the age the better you come to grips with what these substances are...
If you can go to Iraq and die, or Afghanistan and die as a service man or women at 18, and you can’t drink — I’m sorry I don’t buy into that...
Hypothetically no, there shouldn’t be [a drinking age]... but the lower the age the better.” Apr. 10, 2012 Gary Johnson
Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, stated the following during a Mar. 17, 2008 MTV Roundtable at Whistles Pub in Scranton, PA, when asked by Army veteran Ernest Johnson if he would lower the drinking age, available at www.usatoday.com:
"I know it drives you nuts. But I'm not going to lower the drinking age." Mar. 17, 2008 Barack Obama