Two West Virginians are among 100 college presidents supporting a national debate over the idea of lowering the legal drinking age from 21 to 18.

Bethany College President Scott Miller has signed onto the Amethyst Initiative, along with President G.T. Smith of Davis & Elkins College.

Larger schools like Duke, Dartmouth and Ohio State are on board, too. They argue that current laws encourage secretive binge drinking.

Miller issued a statement Monday saying a person old enough to vote and serve in the military should be informed enough to make mature decisions about alcohol consumption.

The group's name stems from the belief in ancient Greece that the purple gemstone amethyst could ward off drunkenness if used in drinking vessels and jewelry.