What do you think the "drinking age" should be?

[kiwifruit]

At what age do you think it should be legal for New Zealanders to buy alcoholic beverages?

[YellowDog]

The fact is that kids will always get their hands on alcohol and drink to excess.

Rather than changing the age, which will have close to zero effect, increasing the price of kids drinks such as 'Alchopops' etc will have a greater effect.

[Deano]

I think lowering the age was a mistake in the first place. The crime etc stats back this up (apparently)

My wife discovered a new phenomena when the drinking age was lowered. She couldn't get into the women's toilet because of the cues.

The reason for the cues was silly little 18 y/o girls who couldn't handle their liquor, bleating on to half a dozen of their mates about how..."Johnny kissed/danced with/etc Sarah...OMG, I'm soooo like depressed......"

Of course most blokes loooooved it, having silly little 18 y/o girls on the piss.

Sorry to any silly little 18 y/o girls this might offend, but of course you will only be offended if the shoe fits eh

[Deano]

It's not necessarily the young kids causing all the problems but. There is no one simple answer.

[Sidewinder]

At what age do you think it should be legal for New Zealanders to buy alcoholic beverages?

if i couldnt drink you would never get to touch me!

[Indiana_Jones]

20

-Indy

[Flatcap]

Rather than changing the age, which will have close to zero effect, increasing the price of kids drinks such as 'Alchopops' etc will have a greater effect.

Already tried that, and blew out the price of my sherry

Bastards

[Dean]

At what age do you think it should be legal for New Zealanders to buy alcoholic beverages?

Either way two parties wont be satisfied if made higher or lower.

If you make the drinking age 20 per ce, then this will only lead to more theft related crimes, because the demand amongst teens to get alchohol would be fairly high. They could escalate ways of getting alchohol, and many arrests on persons under 20, because a huge portion of teenagers consume alchohol whether they are allowed or not. If lowered more drunk driving related crashes would sky rocket, assault etc and old folks fighting for the age to be made higher. Its a endless debate

At a after party 2 weeks ago me and a few mates were waiting outside a liqour store and the man walks out with a hammer and tells us not to try anything stupid (because it was the night of the school ball and he knew our intentions and we were wearing hoodies dark sunglasses). I was thirsty for some liqour! it was in demand and cops where everywhere, but i didnt go to the extremes, luckily i got some anyway.

[The Stranger]

The fact is that kids will always get their hands on alcohol and drink to excess.

Rather than changing the age, which will have close to zero effect, increasing the price of kids drinks such as 'Alchopops' etc will have a greater effect.

You don't own a gun per chance do you?
Where as before when the drinking age was 20, 18yr olds had easy access, now 16yr olds do.
"Kids" will simply adapt their drinking habits to suit the price - as happend last time the govt tried to price kids out of certain drinks - remember. It failed then, what makes you think it will succeed this time?

[enigma51]

At what age do you think it should be legal for New Zealanders to buy alcoholic beverages?

12.

Its a recession people have a lot to drink about.

[Rayray401]

At a after party 2 weeks ago me and a few mates were waiting outside a liqour store and the man walks out with a hammer and tells us not to try anything stupid (because it was the night of the school ball and he knew our intentions and we were wearing hoodies dark sunglasses). I was thirsty for some liqour! it was in demand and cops where everywhere, but i didnt go to the extremes, luckily i got some anyway.

Lol @ Dean, maybe if you dressed more properly and didnt look like a gang member the man wouldnt have brought the hammer out with him?

And I agree, no point raising/lowering drinking ages. I'd educate more respect into the young ones about alcohol. Drinking isnt as much of a problem in eu cos theyre taught to respect it more and binge less, drinking age in germany is 16 if i recall. I think just educate the kids more and back this up by raising prices on teen drinks like someone said.

[sAsLEX]

New Zealand's binge drinking culture was caused by draconian drinking laws.

Lets fix it by adding more laws.....

[Flatcap]

I think just educate the kids more and back this up by raising prices on teen drinks like someone said.

....teen drinks?...not so hard to go back to mixing your own

[Flatcap]

New Zealand's binge drinking culture was caused by draconian drinking laws.

Lets fix it by adding more laws.....


Exactly - forget the drinking age, make it an offence to be drunk in public instead

[short-circuit]

Either way two parties wont be satisfied if made higher or lower.

If you make the drinking age 20 per ce, then this will only lead to more theft related crimes, because the demand amongst teens to get alchohol would be fairly high. They could escalate ways of getting alchohol, and many arrests on persons under 20, because a huge portion of teenagers consume alchohol whether they are allowed or not. If lowered more drunk driving related crashes would sky rocket, assault etc and old folks fighting for the age to be made higher. Its a endless debate

At a after party 2 weeks ago me and a few mates were waiting outside a liqour store and the man walks out with a hammer and tells us not to try anything stupid (because it was the night of the school ball and he knew our intentions and we were wearing hoodies dark sunglasses). I was thirsty for some liqour! it was in demand and cops where everywhere, but i didnt go to the extremes, luckily i got some anyway.

Are you pished now bro? You're almost incomprehensible

[Rayray401]

Exactly - forget the drinking age, make it an offence to be drunk in public instead

Isnt it already an offence? so many alcohol ban areas around..And true about mixing drinks, but then raising the prices on teen drinks already wipes out quite a bit of the drinking population, the law will never be able to bind EVERYONE..take drink driving for example, its illegal, cops always around with check points etc. yet there are people who still do it. Another idea is the 'to drink, 18 yo..to buy, 20 yo..not applied to bars' ?..but then underaged will always be able to get their hands on liquor..

[Deano]

Nah, not unless you are under 18 or are being disorderly along with it.

Its inconsistent that a licensee can be done for allowing a drunk person to remain on their premises, but it's not illegal to be found drunk on licensed premises eh ?

[Dean]

Lol @ Dean, maybe if you dressed more properly and didnt look like a gang member the man wouldnt have brought the hammer out with him?


The ones nicely dressed got jumped that night (like people in suits etc), lots of groups owning there own alleyways and corners carrying knives on the piss beating up people for no reason. You know what i mean?

[ynot slow]

Actually like the 18 in bars,20 inoff licenses.Reason is will stop maybe binge drinking of getting pissed then hitting town.Who knows might work,but then not all 18 yr olds get totalled either.

I have daughter either side of 18,the older one has been known to get pissed,younger one did it once and isn't worried about drinking.Younger one not worried about being 18 in December so she can go out.

But then again they'll still get the alcopops if they want.

[Rayray401]

The ones nicely dressed got jumped that night (like people in suits etc), lots of groups owning there own alleyways and corners carrying knives on the piss beating up people for no reason. You know what i mean?

Oh sorry, didnt think of that. I know what you mean..but sorry i dont live in the hood, so dont know what it might be like..:lol:




Actually like the 18 in bars,20 inoff licenses.Reason is will stop maybe binge drinking of getting pissed then hitting town.Who knows might work,but then not all 18 yr olds get totalled either.

I have daughter either side of 18,the older one has been known to get pissed,younger one did it once and isn't worried about drinking.Younger one not worried about being 18 in December so she can go out.

But then again they'll still get the alcopops if they want.

Yeah true, but isnt it all because when teens get on the piss they cant control themselves and needs to go beat people up/do burn outs. If the teens who binge can control themselves then it wouldnt be as big of a problem....its like the difference between 'boyracers' and 'car enthusiasts'

[Indiana_Jones]

....its like the difference between 'boyracers' and 'car enthusiasts'

You mean cunts in shit cars and cunts in flash cars? lol

-Indy

[mynameis]

:rolleyes:

[The Stranger]

back this up by raising prices on teen drinks like someone said.

Fark Labour did this a few yrs back. Doesn't anyone remember the old guys moaning because cheap sherry and port was priced off of the market?
The teens just changed their drinking habits to the next cheapest piss. It didn't work then. What's going to make it work now?

[Indiana_Jones]

:rolleyes:

You also forgot you can own firearms at 16

-Indy

[Dean]

Oh sorry, didnt think of that. I know what you mean..but sorry i dont live in the hood, so dont know what it might be like..:lol:

Your pushing it, im in whangaparaoa which isnt really a "hood" but guess where the ball and party was....take a guess.........what side of auckland.

Most of the teenagers there look tough and act tough but they cant hold their liquor, out like a light, so many liquor stores, alcohol is what made it a hood id say.

[The Pastor]

it should be 21

[Indiana_Jones]

I don't think the age really matters.

Bottom line is that the Kiwi's love to get shit faced all the time lol

-Indy

[rainman]

At what age do you think it should be legal for New Zealanders to buy alcoholic beverages?

25. With another ban between 39 and 41, for males. :cool:

[Rayray401]

Your pushing it, im in whangaparaoa which isnt really a "hood" but guess where the ball and party was....take a guess.........what side of auckland.

Most of the teenagers there look tough and act tough but they cant hold their liquor, out like a light, so many liquor stores, alcohol is what made it a hood id say.

ahh fair enough then..didnt mean to offend XD but yeah. i agree with Indy there about kiwis shitfacing themselves :lol:

[peasea]

At what age do you think it should be legal for New Zealanders to buy alcoholic beverages?

I think it should be eleven, that way everyone will turn out like me.

[peasea]

I don't think the age really matters.

Bottom line is that the Kiwi's love to get shit faced all the time lol

-Indy

And not always with alcohol!

[Mully]

It's not about the age - it's about the attitude people have towards alcohol.

I don't understand the reasoning behind drinking simply to get hammered. It's pointless IMO.
Or the hilarity when a kid drinks enough to throw up. These people are doing themselves permanant damage.

For the record, I think it should be back where it was. That being said, messing with the rules around it is simply pandering to the human desire to find a simple solution to a complex problem.

[Dean]

ahh fair enough then..didnt mean to offend XD but yeah. i agree with Indy there about kiwis shitfacing themselves :lol:

Good on ya for apologising.

So do you like to get shitfaced? I'm not talking 2 girls 1 cup here...........

I have met people that have abstained from drinking alcohol for their whole life!

[Indiana_Jones]

Good on ya for apologising.

So do you like to get shitfaced? I'm not talking 2 girls 1 cup here...........

I have met people that have abstained from drinking alcohol for their whole life!

I'd be lying if I said i've never been drunk lol, but for some people that's the only way to drink, there's no goal but to get wasted.

It's just a crazy idea to have a few drinks and enjoy the taste!

I very much like my booze, but I don't drink to get hammered.

-Indy

[Mully]

So do you like to get shitfaced?

Ok Dean,

Explain this for me. How can you enjoy it. What part is enjoyable enough to make up for the bad bits?

(Honestly, I want to know why people like to get shitfaced)

[Flatcap]

I very much like my booze, but I don't drink to get hammered.

-Indy

I'm the same - I only drink to stop the voices

[mynameis]

It's not about the age - it's about the attitude people have towards alcohol.

I don't understand the reasoning behind drinking simply to get hammered. It's pointless IMO.
Or the hilarity when a kid drinks enough to throw up. These people are doing themselves permanant damage.

For the record, I think it should be back where it was. That being said, messing with the rules around it is simply pandering to the human desire to find a simple solution to a complex problem.

Correction, it's alcha shma hol.

Eeh the Germans start at 13 14 aye? They don't seem to have this binge culture, going absolutely mental over booz and drinking till their ugly faces are plastered against a public toilet.

Attitude towards it needs to change not the age.

[Indiana_Jones]

I'm the same - I only drink to stop the voices

"I am the Angel of Death. The Time of Purification is at hand."

-Indy

[Rayray401]

Good on ya for apologising.

So do you like to get shitfaced? I'm not talking 2 girls 1 cup here...........

I have met people that have abstained from drinking alcohol for their whole life!

hmm..im not kiwi..so doesnt apply to me :beer: but no..i dont like getting shitfaced..not against drinking either..so i think is rather an attitude problem rather than an age thing..

[Dean]

Ok Dean,

Explain this for me. How can you enjoy it. What part is enjoyable enough to make up for the bad bits?

(Honestly, I want to know why people like to get shitfaced)

Nope. I dont like to get drunk because i can wake up with Arabian goggles, vivid. Or things like vomiting, not good. When you set out with friends and have a few drinks, it can get out of hand, not intentionally trying to get intoxicated. You cant say you haven't once gotten drunk?

[Dean]

hmm..im not kiwi..so doesnt apply to me :beer: but no..i dont like getting shitfaced..not against drinking either..so i think is rather an attitude problem rather than an age thing..

Your not kiwi? drinking moderately within ones limits should be encouraged, because it can be a relaxant or a nice beverage to go along with a social event/occasion.

[Mully]

Nope. I dont like to get drunk because i can wake up with Arabian goggles, vivid. Or things like vomiting, not good. When you set out with friends and have a few drinks, it can get out of hand, not intentionally trying to get intoxicated. You cant say you haven't once gotten drunk?

Mmm, I have indeed. Your previous post indicated that you like it. Usually, if you ask someone why they like it, you get an answer like "Oh, it's awesome getting smashed everynight" or some such.

I can enjoy a beverage with good company, but I don't need to drink to enjoy myself.

[Spyke]

If your old enough to be an adult your old enough to buy everything thats for sale at a shop!

have all the alcohol outlets run by the govt. so we don't have so many places surrounding us selling alcohol. In Canada its run by the govt and theres only 2 places in small cities to buy alcohol and the odd hotel.

[Dean]

Mmm, I have indeed. Your previous post indicated that you like it. Usually, if you ask someone why they like it, you get an answer like "Oh, it's awesome getting smashed everynight" or some such.

I can enjoy a beverage with good company, but I don't need to drink to enjoy myself.

Im not going to lie, people who i hang out with do drink heavily (the party life) possibly their lifestyle could be rubbing of on me. I do have a thirst for a good beverage, but bad company gets me shitfaced sometimes.

[Mom]

I dont think the age you can legally buy booze has anything to do with it. I recall drinking in pubs at least 4 years shy of the legal limit that existed when I were a lass. The only time I got booted out was because I was in a group and one of our sillier friends got a bit stupid and called attention to us. In fact, most of my pub days were long before I was legally allowed to drink. I got married the first time at 18, prior to that, living in Auckland and living in a nurses home, well, the city clubs were only a stroll away eh?

Cops used to regularly filter through bars asking for ID, never got asked.

I have 2 out of 3 kids older than the legal limit now, my baby about to join the ranks of the youth that can buy booze legally.

I have a good relationship with my kids. I drink. My kids have grown up around me drinking. My kids have had drinks with me. I am sure they have tyed a few on and got very messy (of course I never did :D) but hopefully what they have seen is adults having a few drinks, maybe getting a bit silly but reamining in some semblence of control.

The booze culture is more about ignorance and wanting to be cool, than it is about the age you can legally buy alcohol.

[Rayray401]

Your not kiwi? drinking moderately within ones limits should be encouraged, because it can be a relaxant or a nice beverage to go along with a social event/occasion.

nope...not kiwi XD and yeah thats what i mean by educating the young ones more...

and QUOTE: If your old enough to be an adult your old enough to buy everything thats for sale at a shop!

have all the alcohol outlets run by the govt. so we don't have so many places surrounding us selling alcohol. In Canada its run by the govt and theres only 2 places in small cities to buy alcohol and the odd hotel. ]

Thats what taiwan used to have....because there were so many 'fake'/cheap alcohol so they restricted the trading of alcohol and smokes and heavily taxed them...and this is heavily taxing...like a 60-80% taxing...so alcohol was hard to get hold of by anyone and everyone

[oldrider]

At what age do you think it should be legal for New Zealanders to buy alcoholic beverages?

Personally, I don't think there should be an age limit at all....BUT.....

.....there should be more police and anyone who fucks with the law gets hammered but good.

More Police: backed up by a decent Law society, Justice system and Corrections department!

They should stop restricting and punishing law abiding citizens and really punish those who actually break the laws!

If any law proves to be infective for it's purpose, get rid of it!

There are currently too many stupid laws and insufficient police to police them effectively! (I feel sorry for our unsupported "good cops")

That disgraceful situation is backed up currently with a shonky Law society, inefficient choked up Justice system and a corrections department run by and for the criminals, no wonder crime pays, only in New Zealand!

Labour would never fix this problem and I am only hopeful that this (National lead) lot might do something but not holding my breath. Rant over! :done:

[slofox]

I run a wine shop. So I am at the coalface. Although there is a major difference between my store and a "liquor outlet". I call it a fine wine store but in fact most of my trade is as the "local neighbourhood wine shop".

First, I concentrate on wine and I sell quality not quantity. I have a huge range of wine from all over the world.

I also sell specialist beer (NZ microbrewery product like Tuatara, Moa, Three Boys, Wigram, Renaissance, Emersons, Dux de Lux etc) plus imported product from Belgium and the UK when I can get it. I have a small "convenience" range of some NZ commercial product.

I also sell a lot of Single Malt Whisky and a little bit of other spirits.

I sell very few RTD's and I do not sell them cheap. The limited range I stock is there for the convenience of those who need them for a function. I have been known to remove certain lines from display when one of the local drunks started to come in to purchase them and then drink them outside the shop and get shitfaced.

I police age very strictly and have been known to ID people who are well over the legal age if I am unsure. Better sure than sorry. I would like to have the law a little more on my side by putting some blame on the underagers if they even stick their nose in my door. Having said that, I have very few young ones come in because of the profile that the store presents.

Changing the age of purchase would have little or no impact on my sales. Nor would changing the hours I could open since I am not open particularly late anyway. Given what I see in Hamiltron, I don't think having a different age for on and off premise makes much sense. Here, most of the drunks roll out of the bars in the small hours of the morning.

I put a pretty fair markup on my products. I don't have the privilege of subsidising my alcohol sales with a grocery business like the supermarkets do. Get rid of cheap alcohol from these guys and we might start getting somewhere. Sure they have stopped selling below cost, but they still sell at 5% GP and I could never afford to do that. Supermarkets have a lot to answer for with those low margins. What they are doing, in fact, is using an addictive product, sold cheaply, to promote their core business. This, IMHO, is totally unethical and should be stopped.

I agree with those who raise the point of the attitude NZ has towards alcohol. We come from a "dry" background (British) where alcohol is essentially frowned upon but allowed under certain conditions. Contrast this with a "wet" background as in much of Europe and countries with a history of European (not British) settlement, where alcohol is part of everyday life. It is the old "forbidden fruit" syndrome. Invest something with a taboo and it will become attractive and develop its own mystique. Make it a part of everyday life and that is less likely. Many years ago we billeted a young high school rugby player from Argentina. When their visit was coming to a close, there was a party organised by the local lads. The Argentine boys were appalled at the attitude of the local lads towards getting shitfaced. None of the Argentine boys were remotely interested, but the locals were. Background attitude made the difference. In Argentina there was no mystique. Here, there was.

So how do we change that attitude? Frankly I don't know. Even if we could do it, it would take at least one generation and more likely two or three. Dickering with the rules as we are doing now is purely window-dressing, designed to win votes. It will make sod all difference to those who hang around outside liquor stores in hoodies and dark glasses (to quote Dean) looking for a chance to get smashed.

[davereid]

So how do we change that attitude? Frankly I don't know. Even if we could do it, it would take at least one generation and more likely two or three. Dickering with the rules as we are doing now is purely window-dressing, designed to win votes. It will make sod all difference to those who hang around outside liquor stores in hoodies and dark glasses (to quote Dean) looking for a chance to get smashed.

Really good post.

For whatever reason, New Zealanders like to get wasted. A massive rise in the price of alcohol may reduce consumption, but those who want to get wasted will still afford it.

The most likely result of puting the price of alcohol up, will be a migration to other cheaper and more easily accessed drugs.

Its naive to assume that a young person has $50 to spend.. so pricing alco-pops at $7 each will mean a nice un-intoxicated teen.

The reality is, for $50, the modern teen can get access to drugs with names that I can't even spell.

[Swoop]

Our society really needs a tidy up!...
A very good post Oldrider.
I have been thinking the same recently. Driving skills are at the top of the list followed closely by booze culture and gambling (pokie machines).

As a nation, it will take a great deal of pain in the short term to "adjust" the mentality prevalent in society.

[hellnback]

So how do we change that attitude? Frankly I don't know. Even if we could do it, it would take at least one generation and more likely two or three. Dickering with the rules as we are doing now is purely window-dressing, designed to win votes. It will make sod all difference to those who hang around outside liquor stores in hoodies and dark glasses (to quote Dean) looking for a chance to get smashed.

It's a lost cause.... I'm going out to get shitfaced....:girlfight:

[slofox]

It's a lost cause.... I'm going out to get shitfaced....:girlfight:

I rest my case...:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[popa griffin]

I work at a bar and i find that most people who start fights and the like are over 20 but under 25 exceptions to the rule ofcoarse.

Either this is because people under 20 cant afford town, or just dont drink as much.


Also, you see alot of people who are fine in the clubs. sitting down drinking, But then they stand up and go outside and as soon as they hit the cold air they get insta-drunk. Its quite funny to watch.

I find its mainly the problem with young people under 18, who get booze from older siblings, perants or randoms. Who cant get into town, so gate crash a party, drink stupid amounts and start smashing shit.

[Deano]

I found the biggest cause/catalyst of fights in pubs was pool tables and women (combined with alcohol of course).

[popa griffin]

I found the biggest cause/catalyst of fights in pubs was pool tables and women (combined with alcohol of course).

Most definatly woman, only had one fight in the 2 years i have worked at a club where our pool cues got used.

And, the tough guy wanna-bes who have something to prove to no one to be cool.

[oldrider]

I found the biggest cause/catalyst of fights in pubs was pool tables and women (combined with alcohol of course).

Didn't start fights when I was a youngster but found out I enjoyed finishing them, so joined a boxing club.

Moral of the story, there is a time and place for everything!

Most people who drink and start fights do it because they are not very good at it, the piss boosts their ego and they turn into Superman! :sick:

[Deano]

And, the tough guy wanna-bes who have something to prove to no one to be cool.

Yeah, we came across this at Room with a Que on a TRTNR.

'They' tried to steal a leather jacket amongst other things. I suspect it was also racially motivated.

[Winston001]

Lots of thoughtful posts here. TBH I'm stumped. My reactionary nature says increase the age to 20 years.

I believe laws should be simple which is not what you have when one law says an 18yr old can buy liquor in a bar, but has to magically become 20 when they walk outside to the bottle-store. They are old enough to drink alcohol - then they aren't?? :eek5:

Still, this is a much deeper issue than simply age limits. Why do some people drink to intoxication? Why is it celebrated among their peers? Where do they learn this attitude from?

There's been a lot of research on alcohol - anyone have any links?

[Deano]

Why do some people drink to intoxication? Why is it celebrated among their peers? Where do they learn this attitude from?

Advertising has a part to play. And role models, (such as sporting heroes...rugby particularly - and we are such a big rugby nation) that aren't such good role models.

[slofox]

Where do they learn this attitude from?



From their elders, where else? How many of us don't have some story of how pissed we were on the night when etc etc etc....Part of the "rite of passage" for a kiwi lad...we have to change that is we are ever to change attitudes.

[Vgygrwr]

Some indications of size of the issue

25% of New Zealand drinkers are heavy drinkers
A third of all police apprehensions involve alcohol
Half of serious violent crimes relate to alcohol
60 different medical conditions caused by heavy drinking
Up to 75% of adult presentations at Emergency Departments on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are alcohol-related
Over 300 alcohol-related offences every day
Over 500 serious and fatal injury traffic crashes every year
At least 600 children born each year with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Over 1000 alcohol deaths every year
More than 17,000 years of life per year lost through alcohol

And below are some steps toward change. Suspect changing a culture that provides huge rewards to so many is

[MIXONE]

I reckon a good start would be the banning of RTDs.Let's face it the majority of them are aimed directly at the young market.

[p.dath]

The fact is that kids will always get their hands on alcohol and drink to excess.

Rather than changing the age, which will have close to zero effect, increasing the price of kids drinks such as 'Alchopops' etc will have a greater effect.

When the age limit was dropped to 18 it had a big effect. So I think raising it again will also have an effect.

[Vgygrwr]

These I believe are based on a World Health Organisation sponsored publication "Alcohol no ordinary commodity"

1.Raise alcohol prices.
2.Raise the purchase age.
3.Reduce alcohol accessibility.
4.Reduce marketing and advertising.
5.Increase drink-driving counter-measures.
PLUS: Increase treatment opportunities for heavy drinkers.

Afraid the concept of changing a culture are way behond my aging brain

[MSTRS]

Where's the option for a sliding scale of 'eligibility'?
16 in a bar, under parental-type supervision, beer only (read as <5% alcohol content drinks)
18 in a bar, unsupervised, beer only
20 in a bottle store, beer only
21 can now purchase spirits.

The problem is not so much the age, as one of societal attitudes. The horse has bolted, so simply changing 'back to 20' isn't going to cut it. Legislate, and hammer transgressors, for responsibility towards consumption of alcohol.

[p.dath]

...
If you make the drinking age 20 per ce, then this will only lead to more theft related crimes, because the demand amongst teens to get alchohol would be fairly high. They could escalate ways of getting alchohol, and many arrests on persons under 20, because a huge portion of teenagers consume alchohol whether they are allowed or not. If lowered more drunk driving related crashes would sky rocket, assault etc and old folks fighting for the age to be made higher. Its a endless debate
...

I think the net effect of a higher drinking age is far greater. And I don't think it is a natural effect that demand for alcohol will change with a variation in the law for the drinking age.

You might as well sat make "P" legal otherwise.

[Winston001]

Where's the option for a sliding scale of 'eligibility'?
16 in a bar, under parental-type supervision, beer only (read as <5% alcohol content drinks)
18 in a bar, unsupervised, beer only
20 in a bottle store, beer only
21 can now purchase spirits.

The problem is not so much the age, as one of societal attitudes. The horse has bolted, so simply changing 'back to 20' isn't going to cut it. Legislate, and hammer transgressors, for responsibility towards consumption of alcohol.

Mmmm.....heroin and cocaine were lawful medicines until less than 100 years ago. In fact I think heroin was legal in the UK until the early 1960s. So bad stuff can be restricted.

Sorry but I have to disagree with your age suggestions. Laws need to be simple. One age - 16 - 18 - 20 whatever. Everyone knows where they stand.

[MSTRS]

Mmmm.....heroin and cocaine were lawful medicines until less than 100 years ago. In fact I think heroin was legal in the UK until the early 1960s. So bad stuff can be restricted.

Might have been LSD...but, sure 'bad' stuff can be restricted. What's the age limit for buying Class A/B/C drugs?...oh, that's right, none. Those drugs are illegal. Can you see any govt banning alcohol?



Sorry but I have to disagree with your age suggestions. Laws need to be simple. One age - 16 - 18 - 20 whatever. Everyone knows where they stand.Works elsewhere.
Going on your suggestion...why not 15. Can get a vehicle licence then. Might as well put the school leaving age back down while they are at it.

[Genestho]

Having made submissions as part of the National Alcohol plan, this is definately an area targeted! I have quite a few youth and alcohol related stats.

In an unreal world I'd suggest 21, like the states. (so can't vote here!)

When I was younger, I used to think, I could fight and die for my country, I could get married, but I couldn't legally drink??

But now I know the stats and the carnage on society, and I say raise it back to where it was.

Before licensing requirements - I bought my first alcoholic beverage at 14, from my local liquor store, and I was in pubs from 16.

IMHO - This will not stop parents, older family members and friends from purchasing the booze, and supervising drinking at home.

But hell, I bet it prevents alot of the carnage going on right now!

We can net the majority not the minority (As always)

[Winston001]

I'm also troubled by the belief that if the age is say 20, then 18yr olds will get alcohol anyway.

Yes of course a few will. Hell a few will also get some other drugs too. Because they want to and the illegality doesn't put them off.

But relying on older friends/brothers/parents is damned annoying and a long way from being able to freely enter a bar and drink all night.

When I were a lad (yeah yeah) there was no chance of buying any liquor cos I could barely shave. :D We got a dozen of beer if we could persuade someone to buy it for us. And if we had the money. And occasionally one or two of us were killed in countryside car accidents.

Plus if my parents had smelled alcohol on me I'd have been for the high jump. How oldfashioned. :eek5:

[Deano]

Fark it. Lets bring back prohibition. I always aspired to be Al Capone.

[Dargor]

How about some MAN THE FUCK UP and take responsibility for yourself, or the younger selves amoungst us.

But in reality this is a non issue, nothing is going to change here. This is probably a smokescreen for some other law change.