UNDATED (AP) -- Presidents of about 100 of the nation's best-known colleges and universities are calling on lawmakers to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18. They say current laws actually encourage dangerous binge drinking on campus.

The movement is called the Amethyst Initiative. It began recruiting college presidents more than a year ago to spark a national debate on the drinking age.

The school chiefs are already facing sharp criticism. Mothers Against Drunk Driving says lowering the drinking age would lead to more fatal car crashes. It's also urging parents to think twice about sending their children to colleges that take part in the effort. MADD's president says the 21-year-old drinking age won't be enforced at those campuses.

Among the schools represented in the initiatives are Duke, Dartmouth, Ohio State and Syracuse.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)