1400                            JOINT RESOLUTIONS

Whereas, the close proximity of Prince George's County, Mary-
land, Montgomery County, Maryland, the City of Alexandria, Vir-
ginia, Arlington County, Virginia, and other suburban communities
all of whom have the minimum age for the consumption or purchase
of alcoholic beverages placed at 21 years, to the District of Columbia
where the minimum age for the consumption or purchase of beer and
light wine is placed at only 18 years, CONSTITUTES AN UN-
DESIRABLE DISPARITY IN THE LAW and;

Whereas, it is evident that persons in the age group of from 18 to
21 years, resident in the States of Maryland and Virginia, travel into
the District of Columbia in great numbers with the express purpose
of consuming or purchasing spiritous beverages of this type, and;

Whereas, these young people after having either consumed such
beverages or obtaining such beverages for consumption are operating
motor vehicles in the suburban communities with the result of a
serious increase in automobile accidents caused by people 18 to 21
years of age operating under the influence of alcohol, and;

Whereas, there has been an alarming increase in the number of
young people arrested for operating under the influence, and;

Whereas, there are other attendant problems in law enforcement
caused by the ability of these young people to purchase and consume
alcoholic beverages in the District of Columbia, and;

Whereas, the Universities of Maryland and Virginia and other in-
stitutions of high learning in the States of Maryland and Virginia
attempt to provide a suitable environment for academic pursuits and
the proximity of such a distracting influence upon such pursuits is
not in the best interest of either the students or the institutions; now,
therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the United
States Congress be urged to enact legislation to raise the minimum
age for the consumption or purchase of alcoholic beverages to 21
years, and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the Presi-
dent of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives, the President Pro-Tern of the Senate, the individual members
of the District of Columbia Committees in both houses of Congress,
the Congressmen and Senators from Maryland and Virginia, and the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia.

Approved May 6, 1966.

No. 54
(House Joint Resolution 38)

House Joint Resolution requesting the Governor to appoint a select
committee to study and make recommendations for new procedures
in the Department of Public Improvements.