8.0 & MYSQL50 denying access to user root no password

[Fbsd1]

For many releases of Freebsd going back to 4.3 I have all ways used the 
default mysql user root localhost with no password which has been the 
default.
With 8.0/mysql-server-5.0.86 I am denied access now.
The mysql manual still says the normal install defaults to allowing
access to user root with no password are in effect.

After a fresh clean install of mysql
Tried  mysqladmin -u root drop test   to delete the test db.
Received this msg
connect to srver at localhost failed
access denied for user 'root at localost (using password: no)
This in not suppose to happen.

Is anyone else having this problem?
Has the package for mysql50-server been changed to force securing user 
root with a password?