By Sam Wood

A bipartisan piece of legislation could see changes to the way Illinois classifies its’ drinking age.

H.B 0494 would allow people between the ages of 18-21 to order beer or wine at restaurants with parental consent.

Consumption of hard liquor would remain illegal under the bill.

Jeff Fritzen serves as spokesperson for the Bloomington-Normal Community Campus Committee and the group B-N Parents. He told WJBC the bill could send the wrong message to children.

“A bill like this is a tacit approval…of underage drinking,” Fritzen said.

He added that underage drinking-even with parental consent-is detrimental to developing minds.

“Brain research, which is current and new, really says that until the age of 25-or-so things are still coming together [in the brain],” said Fritzen, who also serves as a member of the Normal Town Council.

A similar law is already on the books in 10 other states, including Wisconsin.

Chicago-area Representatives Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) and Kelly Burke (D-Evergreen Park) introduced the bill in January.

Sam Wood can be reached at [email protected]