Nothing but a number

Welcome to this week's Reno News & Review.

I hope y'all enjoy the feature story I wrote for this week's issue. I'm pretty happy with the way it came together. But there was one small bummer. During my interview with the three Georges Pickard, they decided that the three of them—representing three generations of Reno music—needed to perform onstage somewhere together. They approached a venue about the possibility, but that particular venue, which serves alcohol, had to turn them down, because young George isn't yet 21.

That just pisses me off.

To be clear, I don't blame the venue. I realize it's a question of law. They'll probably still be able to put something together at an all-ages venue—and situations like this are exactly why all-ages venues, like the Holland Project, are important—and that's all fine and good, but many of us like to have a drink or two while we enjoy live music, which isn't an option at many all-ages venues.

Personally, I feel pretty strongly that the drinking age should be lowered to 18, as it is in most civilized countries, or even all the way down to 16.

You're a fool if you think that underage drinking never happens or is something unusual that only happens among the most troubled kids. Teenagers drink. And 20-year-old college kids certainly drink. And because of our stupid laws, they have to do it illicitly.

One great thing about drinking, in moderation at least, is that it can break down personal barriers, helping people—even family members from different generations—bond and connect. But our drinking laws create a barrier between those over and under 21. A lowered drinking age will help young people learn healthier, safer drinking practices rather than cultivating a culture of illegality among them.

On the flip side, I think the driving age should be raised to 18 or older. In my experience, driving an automobile is far more dangerous than drinking a beer. But then again, that might be because I am, by all accounts, a terrible driver.