KEY POINTS:
Supporters of boosting the drinking age to 20 have a slight edge going into today's parliamentary debate on the issue.
But 32 undecided MPs will have the final say on whether teenagers will still be able to buy alcohol.
A Herald poll of MPs has 34 definitely or probably favouring raising the drinking age to 20 and another 13 wanting 18-year-olds to retain their right to drink in pubs but raising the age of buying alcohol from retail outlets to 20.
In contrast, 28 MPs favour keeping the drinking age at 18 and another 15 probably backing the status quo.
Twenty-eight MPs would either not reveal their stance or were waiting for the debate on Labour Hamilton West MP Martin Gallagher's private member's bill before making up their minds and exercising a conscience vote. Three MPs were overseas or did not return calls.
Mr Gallagher has long predicted the vote would be too close to call.
Several MPs, notably National's Wayne Mapp, have suggested resurrecting a proposal rejected by the select committee which considered the bill, which would split the age where people could drink on off- and on-licensed premises.
United Future MP Gordon Copeland released a supplementary order paper yesterday proposing such a split.
It is expected the bill will be considered by MPs tonight, but they may run out of time to vote before Parliament adjourns for the evening. If that happens debate would resume on the next members' day, in two weeks.
Herald poll: How MPs could vote on drinking age
DEFINITELY AGE 18
Damien O'Connor, Georgina Beyer, Charles Chauvel, Moana Mackey, Sue Bradford, Nandor Tanczos, Keith Locke, Sue Kedgley, Metiria Turei, Clem Simich, Mark Blumsky, Bob Clarkson, Peter Dunne, Rodney Hide, Heather Roy, Paul Hutchison, Darren Hughes, Steve Chadwick, Tau Henare, Chris Auchinvole, Kate Wilkinson, Nathan Guy, Maryan Street, Russell Fairbrother, Tim Barnett, Pete Hodgson, Gerry Brownlee, Lynne Pillay
PROBABLY AGE 18
Phil Goff, Darien Fenton, Simon Power, Katherine Rich, David Carter, Lockwood Smith, Richard Worth, Jackie Blue, Brian Connell, Ross Robertson, David Benson-Pope, Parekura Horomia, Jeanette Fitzsimons, David Bennett, Shane Ardern
DEFINITELY AGE 20
Annette King, Clayton Cosgrove, Dover Samuels, Winnie Laban, Dianne Yates, Winston Peters, Peter Brown, Brian Donnelly, Ron Mark, Doug Woolerton, Barbara Stewart, Pita Paraone, Gordon Copeland, Jim Anderton, Tony Ryall, John Carter, Craig Foss, John Hayes, Martin Gallagher, Ashraf Choudhary, Pita Sharples, Taito Phillip Field (proxy vote), Te Ururoa Flavell, Hone Harawira, Jonathan Coleman
PROBABLY AGE 20
Sue Moroney, Tariana Turia, Phil Heatley, Sandra Goudie, Eric Roy, Chris Tremain, Mita Ririnui, Shane Jones, Nick Smith
PREFER SPLIT DRINKING AGE
Wayne Mapp, Judith Collins, John Key, Harry Duynhoven, Anne Tolley, Jacqui Dean, Lindsay Tisch, Colin King, Jo Goodhew, Chester Borrows, Marian Hobbs, Judith Tizard, Judy Turner
DON'T KNOW YET
Helen Clark, Steve Maharey, Trevor Mallard, Mark Burton, Ruth Dyson, Lianne Dalziel, Nanaia Mahuta, Mark Gosche, Margaret Wilson, Chris Carter, Ann Hartley, Don Brash, Dave Hereora, Tim Groser, Paula Bennett, Allan Peachey, Nicky Wagner, David Cunliffe, Chris Finlayson, Georgina TeHeuHeu, Bill English, Murray McCully, Mahara Okeroa, George Hawkins, No Comment, Jill Pettis, Rick Barker, David Parker, Michael Cullen
COULD NOT BE CONTACTED
Paul Swain, Maurice Williamson, Pansy Wong (overseas)
