European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 27, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday june 27, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 11 of cafes Are standing Pat on of alcohol Laws by the associated press state lawmakers generally Are voting for the status quo when it comes to Mari Juana and alcohol rejecting efforts to ease penalties for Possession of the drug and raise the Legal drinking age. An associated press spot Check showed that separate measures dealing with Mari Juana and alcohol were introduced in at least seven states during the 1977 Legisla Tive session. Bills involving one subject or the other were considered in about half dozen other states. The drinking age has been lowered to 18 or 19 in Many parts of the country in the past decade in line with other Laws that recognize an 18-year-old As an adult for most purposes. Supporters of moves to raise the age limit contend that traffic fatalities have increased As has drinking among teens. They also say that 18-year Olds buy alcohol legally then Supply it Ille Gally to younger teens. Backers of the Effort to decriminalize marijuana Possession or Cut penalties for its use argue that felony charges now imposed Are far More severe than the offence warrants. They say decriminalization would leave police free to concentrate on More serious crimes. Typical of the measures considered this year were two Bills in Maryland. One would have raised the drinking age for Beer and wine from 18 the limit set three years ago to 21. The Bill passed the state Senate but was Defeated in the House of delegates. A Senate committee in Maryland also approved a Bill that would have made pos session of Small amounts of marijuana a Misdemeanour similar to a traffic ticket and punishable by a Fine. The measure was killed however after the full Senate sent it Back to committee. The Illinois general Assembly also turned Down efforts to raise the drinking age and lower marijuana penalties. The drinking age for wine and Beer was Low ered from 21 to 19 in 1973 and critics scythe change has contributed to a Rise in alcoholism among the Young. A Bill to boost the Legal age Back to 21 was Defeated in a House committee and lost in the Senate by a single  proposal to decriminalize the use of marijuana failed to win enough support to get out of House committee. An amended measure reducing the criminal penalty european edition col. Billy e. Spangler Usa. Ellof in Chw maj. John c. Taylor. Usan. Deputy editor in chief Mert Proctor. Managing editor Elmer d. Frank. Production manager Henry s. Epstein. Circulation manager this newspaper u an author died Knoll Clil publication Lor . Armed forces overseas. Tin Sun and sir Letl ii published in Coni unction Wlton int armed forces  lion program of the department of defense. Contents of tin stars and stripes a not necessarily tin Ohi Elal View of to u.5 government. Me department of defense or the . European command. The appearance of displays Inion newspaper concerning commercial publications Doe not commute an endorsement by the department of de sense. Including the military departments. Military address the stars and stripes. Apo Mill. International mall the stars and strips. Poll an it 10 m. A too Darmstadt ii. Germany. Tel or Lesheim Ici Preli Omli Iii my Derry tall Airstrip Frelix w7t my. Telex 0419.333. New York Ollice room 941, 201 varied St. New York 10014. Tel area code 1111 Mo-3jj1. A cond class postage paid at hew York . News bureaus Kaiserslautern. Germany. Floyd Harrington. Building 2h7, Pulaski Barracks Vogelien military us or Kaiserslautern Civ toe i Summ Nuernberg. Germany Dan Synovec. Building 21. William o. Darby Cavern Nuernberg military 73se or Nuernberg Civ 7tou slut Garl Germany. De Hill. But. 4mo. Mcgee a r"-5,lu" r1military 7001 . Gary Harris. Raf Mildenhall co . Sports of lace Apo of. Ill Denham 71�" it. Mil or civilian Mildenhall 7i3m7. Lelei 1hs1 Washington. . 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Dukakis who agreed with opponents of the measure that drinking should be regulated by Young sters parents and that 18-year-Olds, considered adults under the Law. Should not be denied the right to buy liquor. In South Dakota a Bill to raise from 18 to 19 the age at which someone can legally Purchase 3.2 per cent Beer died. The legis lature did however reverse a 1976 Bill which made Possession of Small amounts of marijuana a Petty offence subject to a maximum Fine of $20. The action this year restored stiffer fines and potential jail terms for of  similar attempt to reinstate stiff Mari Juana penalties was Defeated in Maine where Possession of Small amounts of mar Ijuana was decriminalized under a new criminal code which took effect in May 1976. The legislators did raise the drinking age from 18 to 20, but the Law does not take effect until 90 Days after the legislature adjourns and a student group has started drive for a referendum to overturn the measure. Lawmakers. In North Dakota turned Down a Bill that would have decriminalized marijuana Possession and provided a maximum Fine of $500 for anyone having 1.5 ounces or less of the substance. While other states were considering raising the drinking age the North Dakota lawmakers considered lowering it for Beer at least from 21 to 19. The Bill was Defeated. The state House in Iowa passed a Mea sure to raise the Legal drinking age from 18 to 19, but a motion to reconsider prevented the Bill from reaching the Senate floor. The measure will go to the Senate next session but is not expected to win passage. A Bill to decriminalize use of marijuana was introduced in the House but  states considering measures to liberalize marijuana penalties were Florida. New Mexico and Louisiana. The Louisi Ana Bill is still pending but is Given Little Chance of passage and the new Mexico Bill was Defeated by the state Senate. The Senate in Florida approved a Bill to increase the amount of marijuana a person could possess without being subject to felony penalties but the measure came up against stiff opposition in the House. I Ralph Habun chairman of the criminal Justice committee and an opponent of marijuana Law revision won committee approval of a change in the Bill to provide for outright legalization. He conceded that the move was a ploy to defeat the measure and the full House never even took up the marijuana Issue. The Montana legislature meanwhile approved a constitutional amendment raising the drinking age from 18 to 19. The measure will be on the ballot in the novem Ber 1978 general election. Virginia Law makers killed a measure to boost the drinking age. Duchess of Kent expecting 4th child London up the Duke and Duchess of Kent Are expecting their fourth child in february a spokesman for the family  Duchess. 44, is the third member of Britain s Royal family to announce her pregnancy this year. Princess Anne and the Duchess of Gloucester Are both expect ing babies in november. She and the Duke 41, who is Cousin both to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have three children Between the Ages of 7 and 15 letters to the editor singing the Launderette lament i m writing this letter in Hopes that it might help get a Little Courtesy out of the people who use the cafes facilities. The main facility that i m concerned with is the Launderette. And the main prob hairs Gregg How very Gratifying to learn that conscientiousness hard work dedication and professionalism Are justly rewarded. I am referring to the stars and stripes article announcing maj. Gen. Arthur j Gregg s nomination for promotion to lieutenant general. General Gregg exemplifies the finest qualities of leadership it has been my pleasure to observe in my Long association with uniformed services. I had the distinct Honor of working with general Gregg while he was the commander of cafes Europe. The Success any commander enjoys is directly proportional to the responsiveness of those he leads. The High motivation experienced by the entire work Force under his command was a statement attesting to general Gregg s dynamic leadership. He gave everyone the incentive to consistently strive to equal his own standards of excellence. No one has Ever had the pleasure of working for a More appreciative or thoughtful commander. His astuteness thorough comprehension of Complex prob lems keen analytical mind and compassionate understanding of his employees have earned him the dedication admiration and respect he so richly deserves. Since becoming the Deputy chief of staff logistics Usa eur he has continued to exemplify All those characteristics that Are the hallmark of greatness. May his career and All future endeavours meet wit continuing Success. My warmest congratulations to a gentleman singularly deserving of the Honor about to be bestowed upon him by the president the Congress of the United states and the United states army. A Friend in Munich to bad language the other night 1 turned on of nov just in time to hear ". He bit my tit. Then last night a caption appeared the following program is suitable for mature  Well my wife and i being in our fifties and considering ourselves mature proceeded to watch a show that was t suitable for any audience so my message is let s get off the euphemisms. If it s a dirty Snow let s say the following program is a dirty show or if it contains bad language let s say the following program contains bad Lan  but whatever we do let s ask of nov to Stop saying a show is suitable when it in t. Also for the Benefit of those who tune in late How about running the message across the Bottom of the screen every now and then like this program contains bad  Okay a. Col. Charles w. Steacy Ramsten a. Germany editor s note an an spokesman replies Many thanks for your suggestions. First let s clarify the situation. We Don t say suitable. The recorded announce ment reads due to the nature of the subject matter the following program is recommended for mature audiences by that we Are not saying we recommend the Bow Only that we recommend parents use their own judgment on whether or not to allow their children to watch. This is comparable to the disclaimers used by the stateside television networks. We think this warning euphemistic though ii May be is adequate particularly coupled with the notation adult contained in the Vari Ous television listings available to every  Lent is the oversized loads that the Mili tary dependents seem to drag along on laundry  i spent two and a half hours to do one machine Load mainly because of having to wait while i watched ladies rummaging through Pillow cases full along with laundry bags full of what appears to be not Only one family s Wash Oad but was loads of a whole housing area patiently stood by and waited my turn As i watched ladies racing from Washer to Washer jamming them full of clothes making sure no one got their machine. Then As my turn approached it seemed that everyone there had a Washer to spare for their friends who just came in while there were none for those of us who d been waiting for 30 minutes or More. I myself figured in d be rude to jump up and throw myself on a Washer but that s what some of these people appeared to be doing. If you Don t literally Reserve a machine you la be waiting All Day to receive a Little common Courtesy. Then if you be been Lucky enough to get your clothes washed you get to spend some time waiting for a dryer. I sat by and watched As one of the ladies folded clothes simultaneously from two different dryers. Both loads were completely dry and in Stead of showing a Little consideration and placing All the Load in one dryer she went on folding and tying up both dryers. And to top it off she d take frequent Breaks to Converse with the other patrons of the facility. And Here again it s first come first served. Show some Courtesy. There is one other item i d like to Call to the attention of these unkind and inconsiderate patrons. That is the fact that there is nowhere that it says the Launderette is a Nursery. There s a cliche that goes Chil Dren should be seen and not  this does t mean seen sleeping on the seating available or rather unavailable or heard chasing the various toys and other forms of entertainment around the floors of the facility. Whether they be theirs or your prop  be had More than one occasion where i be fad detached pages from a newly purchased Book or found myself Purchas ing a second soda after my first was wrestled to the ground by a playful  there s a group of Young business minded people willing to take care of these youngsters for a not too unreasonable Price while you do your chores. They re called baby Sitters and i m sure they d appreciate the  if you can t make it financially find a willing neighbor. I m sure there s some one who would t mind doing you the favor. And your fellow Patron will surely appreciate the gesture. I m sure there la be comments to the fact that this is directed against the women patrons. I m aware As Are the other Wash Oes that there Are discourteous men who practice some of these same mannerisms. However on this particular occasion i saw none. Though i m sure they re out there. It was brought to my attention that there Are washers in the Barracks of the service men but if by some Freak coincidence they work you la find they re in operation at All hours of the night. So the Launderette is the Only alternative by necessity not by Choice. So let s get with it and show some of thaotho restyle kindness and consideration to your fellow patrons. Courtesy is always appreciated. Also i express my personal apology if this letter offends anyone but i be had my say. One More note to the Hanger heis ters next time ask and i m sure someone will gladly give up a few hangers. I Hope it does t reach the Point where you have to put a lock on coiled wire pfc. Gregg m. Jorissen Kirc Goens Germany