Another one for the ages

There's more coverage of the effort in some states to lower the drinking age from 21, this time in a story from USA Today. (We first discussed this a few days ago.)

The story says 77 percent of Americans are against the idea, citing a 2007 Gallup poll. The poll also found that 60 percent of Americans believe penalties for drinking underage should be tougher. Young people, men and people who drink were more lenient in their attitudes about the age limit and the penalties. Older people and women (and older women, especially) were less tolerant. 81 percent of women over 50 thought penalties for underage drinkers should be more strict. 77 percent of non-drinkers felt the same way.

What do you think? Should we be even tougher on people who get caught drinking before they're 21? Should the drinking age be lowered? To 19? 18? (It's worth noting that it's legal to buy at 18 in most of the rest of the world). Are there other ways to keep traffic deaths down besides prohibiting alcohol for adults 18-21? Should there be different ages for beer, wine and liquor?