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A proposal to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 has no strong fans among area college administrators, and students who would be able to drink legally don't agree on it.

"I think it's a bad idea in a way, because you'd have more people running around drunk," said Ashley Sorrentino, an 18-year-old UNCG freshman from Waxhaw. "And there would probably be more wrecks."

Fiona Whitting, a 19-year-old UNCG junior from Plymouth, England, favors the measure.

Eighteen-year-olds drink legally in England, and "coming here was a bit of a shock," she said. "When people are 18, they're old enough to move to college and live by themselves, so why aren't they able to drink?"

The proposal from about 100 college and university presidents, announced Tuesday, was intended to provoke debate about the current law. Other presidents later added their names, bringing the list of supporters to 123.

In particular, the proposal suggested that lowering the drinking age would reduce binge drinking on campus. It would cut back on the type of secret, illegal drinking that makes binge drinking more likely, the proposal said.

Greensboro College President Craven Williams doubts that.

"I know the emotional response of 'You're old enough to fight in the war, but you can't buy beer,' and that's a point that's difficult to reject," he said. "But alcohol has an effect on some people that maturity alone can manage."

N.C. A&T opposes lowering the drinking age, said Sullivan Welborne Jr., the vice chancellor for student affairs.

"There's evidence out there that indicates that younger persons that are drinking are prone to many injuries and accidents, and that (drinking) leads to behavioral issues," he said. "On a college campus it could also lead to poor performance academically."

Bennett College President Julianne Malveaux, who declined to sign the statement, said she'd like nuanced debate on age limits, alcohol and the ramifications of various choices, not a simple for-or-against discussion.

"I'd like to see some more data about the law and what the consequences are of what we do," she said. "I would not be in favor of lowering (the age) without some kind of education along the way. ... I don't think young people understand what the consequences of excessive drinking are."

Quaker-affiliated Guilford College would like to discuss the issue thoroughly, said the dean of students, Aaron Fetrow: "That's our tradition: to discern, to talk, to have meetings."

Science indicates that 18-year-olds probably shouldn't be drinking, said Joe Fortin, a substance-abuse specialist with the Guilford Center. He suggested that binge drinking might become more of a problem if the age is lowered.

That's because people's brains continue to develop until their mid-20s, he said. Younger people's brains are wired for novelty and excitement and "aren't necessarily wired to tell them when enough alcohol is enough." The combination "puts them at risk for ... alcohol poisoning," he said.

Also, "the evidence is pretty clear that the earlier you start using alcohol, the greater the possibility of your developing problems from alcohol later on," he said.

Young people who drink also are more likely to become drunken drivers later on than those who don't, said Craig Lloyd, state executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who opposes lowering the age limit.

"This isn't necessarily a rights and responsibilities issue," he said. "This is a public safety issue."

UNCG freshman Gabrielle Newell, an 18-year-old from Soul City, disagreed.

"We're considered adults at 18, and we have to take on the responsibilities of an adult," she said. "It is a good idea."

Asked whether lowering the drinking age would reduce binge drinking, High Point University President Nido Qubein, who has taken no position on the proposal, said, "The truth is, who knows?"

He added, "I would need to see some studies. I would need to see some surveys. I would need to see some substantive and substantial research that would answer that. And I (don't think) sufficient research has been done in that area."

UNCG spokesman Steve Gilliam referred inquiries to the UNC System's vice president for communications, Joni Worthington. Attempts to contact her were unsuccessful.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Lex Alexander at 373-7088 or lex.alexander@news-record.com