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Hwald t, tant«m 29 Dtcwnbff 'B2 Muziani Has Mixed Emotions

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County Legislators Back ^Drinking Age Hike That Has Tavern Owners Down

. ^ By Joe Zelnik Gov. Thomas Kean yesterday signed legisla tion that many believe will hurt Cape May County shore businesses already hartned by the faltering society. The new law raises New Jersey’s legal drinking age to 21 effective Jan. 1. Despite predictions of a negative impact on the county’s economy, all three of its legislators voted in favor of it and only one, Guy F. Muziani, had some trouble doing so. Muziani, in his first.term in the assembly and also mayor of Wildwood, had to overcome the glare from the neon lights of 59 liquor licenses in his resort com>b unity. “I HAD MIXED emotions, "-said Muziani. "As legislator,' I had to be responsive to the will of the people, and the majority indicated a preference for age 21. I felt strongly I should vote for it. But, represent^! a city with bare, it was not an easy ' thing to do. I let my consciehce be my guide and the chips fall where they may ; Only time will tell who was right." The 1st District's other assemblyman, Joseph Chinnici of Bridgeton, voted a position he had held consistently sihce 1972 wherf he led the fight against dropping the drinking age from 21 to 18. He was one of four assembly members to vote "no" that time. The 48-28 Assembly vote in favor came on Dec. 13,

six months after the Senate voted approval 27-8. First District State Sen. James R. Hurley of Millville also supported the return to age 21. citing "overwhelniing evidence that 50 per cent of auto deaths that could be attfibuted to drinking involved young people." The 1st District includes Cumberland and Cape May counties. .Local tavern owners, who waged a fierce fight in opposition, were mild in their criticism 'oftlocal, legislators. "We have no dnimoSiJfy because they have to \($e their conscience." said Jack McKeefery, manager of the C-View Inn in Cape May. ••OBVIOUSLY we’re very disappointed, but we’ll survive," said Linda Scanlon, secretary of the newly-chartered Cape May County Licensed Beverage Association. She is one of the owners of the Deahville Inn in Strathmere. "This will affect all of us, not just the clubs, catering to young people," she added. "Now they’ll go after my customers." "I don’t think the bars will lose out," said Muziani. "They were suc : cessful before when 21 was the age, arid I think that will continue. ICs a question of changing format, maybe going away from 4jard rock, which creates p^tiems' for the community affray. "We are a familyoriented community. Young people are imporLmt to us in a number of

ways. They come’here and spend money. They are part of the labor market we depend on.” McKEEFERY who lobbied on the Assembly floor against the age hike, said Chinnici had indicated he would have "compromised aUBge 20" if someone had introduced ' such legislation, but no one did.. McKeefery said Muziani waited for the 41 votes , necessary to .pass to show , up on the electronic board, 'then "jumped on so he would be on the winning side Freshman assemblymen want winning votes on their record,"

he said.

Muziani donied that. "I told, them ahead of time what I was going to do," he said. "I was up front. I did wait until the 41 votes were up there and it would.have passed whether I voted for it or not. But I wanted it known where I stood " Advocates of raising the age had focused on statistics indicating that drinking was a factor in many youths' auto accidents. "Everybody in education urged us to pass this because of the increase in teen-aged drinking,”, said Sen. Hurley. ‘‘And everyone in law enforcement — police chiefs, state police, attorney general — urged us too." • • 1 KNOW T II E ECONOMY is on its back and Die whole shoreward has suffered a tremendt reduction in, sales this year," said Chinnici. "But my stand has not charjged

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in the past 10 years. I don't want to hurt any business, • but \ am convinced I’m right, I just can't flip-flop

arpund

"Probably 80 per cent of the legislators who voted for age 18 in 1972-qnd-are still in Ti’enton came up to . me and said, 'Joe, you were ^absolutely right’ I feel we wi)I save a lot of livek by going back to 21." "The average person involved in a drunk drivjng charge Is a 36-year-old white male, divorced, who changed jobs within the last three years," shid McKeefery. "Young people are a minimal part of our business." he added, "but this will cut the season, particularly in Wildwood, to July and August. The college kids are out in May and June and come to.th’e shore, but the vacationers don't come until the Fourth

of July.

".It’s not fair to a 19-20-year-old. He’s allowed to be drafted, married, sign a contract, go to the bank and take out a loan, but he can't get a drink, I came back from Vietnam in 1971 when I was 19 and I couldn't getia drink anywhere except New ' York " • THK DRINKING age bill is behind us now," said

Mrs Scanlori "Now our main concern is-, the push b.y the Garden State rtestaurnnt Association to . get special per’mits to serve beer and wine by the glass The restaurant people are looking for a way to increase gross receipts at our

expense, and we re not go ing to put up with it " The new law makes New Jersey the 16th state in the nation to set Hs drinking age at 21. The state's drink ing dge was lowered to 18 in 1973, but raised to 19 two years ago

Hentges Sworn In

COURT HOUSE - County • Surrogate W. Robert Hentges took the oath of office for a third term Thurs- ' day, Dec.*23. The oath was administered by Superior Court Judge James A. O'Neill in the surrogate’s office. Hentges, who was first elected surrogatre in 1972, ' was, reelected in 1977 and ran ihiopposed in this past November's general clectiorrr also reappointed Marlene Barrish as deputy surrogate. IN ‘ADDITION to Surrogate Hentges and Deputy Barrish, Judge O'Neill also administered oaths to Lucille Krothe, special deputy surrogate, and Dorothy Moberly, special probate clerk. Hentges said, "I am indeed pleased that the electorate of Cape May County continues' to have faith in my ability to administer my office in an efficient and dedicated manner. “During my first 10 years as surrogate, I have made myself available to all of the residents of the County. During those ten years I have spoken to 40 to 50 organizations yearly, often on my own time at nights and on weekends "

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