While some in the U.S. are calling for the legal drinking age to be lowered from 21 to 18, officials in Western Australia are suggesting a move in the opposite direction.

The West Australian reported Oct. 16 that police officials appearing at a forum organized by the Injury Control Council of Western Australia said that raising the drinking age fro 18 to 21 would make it easier to control youth access to alcohol. Researchers at the forum -- citing data from the U.S. -- also predicted that an age-21 law would reduce alcohol-related auto crashes and binge drinking.

Senior Sgt. Kevin Tinley of the Western Australia police said that raising the drinking age would make it easier for police to identify underage drinkers and also put more time between the age at which youths can get a driver's license and become legally eligible to drink.