Moxie is the official beverage in Maine. It's coffee milk in Rhode Island and cranberry juice in Massachusetts.

But there is no official drink in New Hampshire, and some elementary school students in Jaffrey want to change that.

Last year, three students came up with naming apple cider - not hard cider - as the state beverage. Two dozen or so other states have official drinks; they range from milk to whiskey.

The students wrote state Rep. Bonnie Mitchell, a Democrat from Jaffrey, and have persuaded her to sponsor legislation.

"Our class was wondering if N.H. could have a state drink. We thought it would be apple cider, because our state is known for its apple orchards," wrote Jesse Whicker, Delaney Joaquin and Shanleigh Bosse.

Mitchell said yesterday she spoke to the students' class last year about their power to get laws passed. She pointed out that schoolchildren successfully lobbied lawmakers to name the pumpkin as the state fruit three years ago and the Chinook as the state dog this year.

New Hampshire has, among other things, an official state bird, insect, animal and flower.

Mitchell said she is more interested in getting the kids involved in government than in what New Hampshire selects as a state drink.

"As far as legislation that's going to change people's lives, it seems frivolous. I don't think it is, but it's important for children to see how the process works," she said.

Mitchell said she expects the Jaffrey Grade School students to take an active role as the bill goes through the legislative process this winter.

Chuck Souther, owner of Apple Hill Farm in Concord, sees it as a wonderful civics lesson that might help growers.

"Recognition always helps," he said. "Is it going to make more sales? Gosh, I'd like to think so."

Gov. John Lynch isn't ready to say whether he'll support apple cider. The students should go through the legislative process first, he said Monday.

"Then I'll deal with it," he said.

In 2006, a group of Harrisville elementary students from Wells Memorial School successfully campaigned to make the pumpkin New Hampshire's official fruit. The campaign began as a class civics project. Harrisville is in the Keene area, which holds a popular annual pumpkin festival.

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