NORMAL - Lowering the legal drinking age would do more harm than good, area law officials and college spokesmen say.

"I'm absolutely opposed," said McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery.

Presidents from about 100 of the nation's best-known universities said Monday they favored lowering the legal age to 18 from 21 as a way to curtail binge drinking among young people who overindulge in alcohol when they enter college.

"I don't know where the college professors did their scientific research to think that lowering the age would prevent binge drinking," Emery said.

A lower age requirement would put more young people at parties legally; there would be more drinking and driving, more injuries and fatalities, he said. "It would have a devastating effect to public safety in general," Emery said.

Kathy Cavins, dean of students and vice president of student affairs at Illinois Wesleyan University, hasn't seen any compelling evidence to reduce the legal drinking age. "We're not in support of it," she said.

She said IWU President Dick Wilson and his staff met this summer and decided not to support the campaign.

Normal Police Chief Kent Crutcher said changing the legal age only would cause more problems because the younger, legal buyers would buy alcohol for even-younger, non-legal drinkers.

Likewise, he said crimes associated with alcohol - such as criminal damage and theft - would likely increase.

Crutcher believes the issue is better addressed by providing more activities for college students. Normal police officers talk to students about such issues and "strictly enforce" the drinking age law, he said.

Ron Swan, Illinois State University police chief, noted there are fewer alcohol problems in European countries where children are first exposed to alcohol at the family table and the legal drinking age is younger.

However, he said, there is a different culture established over centuries. "It wouldn't happen overnight (here)," he said.

Shari Rich, associate dean of students at Eureka College in Eureka, believes age requirements provide parameters and consequences. "The current law gives student a chance to focus on things they should," she said.

Sandy Colbs, chairwoman of the ISU student affairs drug and alcohol task force, believes money is part of the issue. If students can get "all you can drink" at a party for $5, they will drink more. Paying more could deter some overindulging.

Rather than reducing the drinking age, the focus should be "harm reduction" strategies, said Colbs. She favors keg registration and encouraging a strong coalition between colleges and the community, including alcohol retailers.