Drinking Age

**jrandom** · 7th November 2006, 12:28

Last weekend, I put vodka in my kids' lemonade.

It was awesome.

Heh. Heh.

**Jeremy** · 7th November 2006, 12:49

Originally Posted by Ixion

Is not all this angst about the "drinking age" (it's not even actually the procurement age, it's the "legal to sell to" age) missing the point.

The point is not someone selling alcohol. Or a person of any age buying alcohol. or even a person of any age drinking alcohol. the actual PROBLEM is people drinking alcohol beyond what they can handle, and doing stupid shit as a result.

And it is perceived that a disproportionate number of young people are thus affected (except by jim Anderton , who thinks the problem is all about old age pensioners hitting the sherry)

So if thats's the PROBLEM why not address the PROBLEM. Restrictions on selling the stuff may make it a little more difficult for youffs to obtain- but that just adds to the challenge and proves that you're grown up when you do get hold of the stuff.

Restore the old law making it an offence to be intoxicated in a public place. And the one about "children in need of care and protection". And other such similar enactments. And make it an offence for parents to knowingly allow their children to be under the influence of liquor. Address the actual problem. And allow sensible young people (and old age pensioners) to have a drink in moderation. As most of them do.

Why should anyone except wowsers care if someone of any age has a drink, provided it's not causing problems to anyone. As Mr Giradin says, civilised countries 10 and 12 years olds have a glass of watered wine with their meal.

Are we seriously proposing that a 19 year old should not be able to have a glass of wine with HIS meal , in a restaurant?

Going to agree with Jim Anderton after knowing my great aunts :/

**jumma** · 7th November 2006, 13:05

I can't see raising the age back having a dramatic effect in reducing teen drinking and the chaos it brings with it. When I was in fourth form (legal age was 20 at this time) no one I know had any troubles in gaining access to alcohol. If we wanted it we got it, simple as that. There was still bottle throwing, drinking on the streets till dawn and fighting going on then. If the age goes back up I would be surprised to see these things dramatically reduce in frequency.

**Hitcher** · 7th November 2006, 13:23

Originally Posted by Fish

Last weekend, I put vodka in my kids' lemonade.

You should buy your own lemonade. Bastard.

**oldrider** · 7th November 2006, 14:14

For what it is worth, I do not believe there should be a law at all about the drinking age!
If you drink to excess it is a "personal" problem and something that person should be accountable for.
If you drink and break laws then you should be "personally" held accountable for the laws you break and dealt with accordingly.
There are enough stupid unpolicable laws interfering in people personal lives but not enough education about personal responsibility and being accountable for ones own actions.
If one gets it wrong they do so at "their" peril, not everybody else's.
There is too much of the socialistic school teacher solution here.
IE: If one gets it wrong, punish them all, that will teach them! kind of attitude.
Sort of like, "The beatings will continue until morale improves" mentality is applied too much in this country.
Education about personal responsibility and accountability is required, this binge drinking mentality is not new it was here when I was a kid and I tried it out just like all the others (follow the sheep) until I woke up and smelt the roses.
Throw away the age limit and give us a better police force and support them in upholding fewer and more appropriate and effective laws.
Just sharing my opinion with you, no big deal. Cheers John.

**Mom** · 7th November 2006, 17:31

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

Drinking Age.. whats your thoughts?

Should it be raised to 21 ?

-----
I think it should be raised to 21, drinking is an adult thing; most 18yrolds ive encountered over the years have someway to go before they show maturity that could be said to be 'adult'.

The drinking age is irrelevant my friend......I agree about some 18 y/o people........but fact of the matter is they can vote, marry, be tried as adults (if they really stuff up).drinking age was 20 when I grew up..........did not stop me going to pubs and being served from 15 on......I just never really drew attention to myself is all.....the out cry if the plan to raise the age back again will be huge........I for one say leave it where it is and do a better job of educating our learner drinkers.......

**Mom** · 7th November 2006, 17:36

Originally Posted by WarlockNZ

I'm not saying that all 18 -20 years olds are stupid or can't hold their booze . it's the stupid FEW that are fucking it up for the rest of them.

And raising the drinking age will not change these people whether they are 18 or 21..........it happens all the time........have you heard of the 80/20 rule......it applies to all sort of things.........mind I heard the other day that the statistic is more like...90/10......hmmmmmm

**MattRSK** · 7th November 2006, 17:47

Originally Posted by WarlockNZ

I'm not saying that all 18 -20 years olds are stupid or can't hold their booze . it's the stupid FEW that are fucking it up for the rest of them.

Amen to that,

I am fucken crazy!

**hazard02** · 7th November 2006, 18:06

Lies, damned lies and statistics!
You can find facts to support both sides of the argument. They don't mean sh*t really. I turned 18 about 7 months ago and promptly forgot all the alcohol education I recieved in school. Its a waste of time. Binge drinking etc is just something you need to get out of your system. The majority of people I know tried it once or twice then got over it. Raising the drinking age will just delay the inevitable. Alcohol-related crimes may drop but crime itself wont. People commit crimes, not alcohol.

[/end rant]

**Disco Dan** · 7th November 2006, 19:42

wow, seems pretty even for both sides!

by having the legal age at 18, 15,16 and 17 year olds go out and start binge drinking - this is the problem! their 'older' friends go out and buy it for them, and bear in mind the driving age... means higher percentage of drink driving youths.. young'uns that cant handle the drink, controlling a 1500kg weapon on the road!

raise it to 20, and then this cuts out the majority of 15 - 18 year olds and gives them the chance to get a proper education etc etc

**James Deuce** · 7th November 2006, 19:45

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

raise it to 20, and then this cuts out the majority of 15 - 18 year olds and gives them the chance to get a proper education etc etc

Utter bollocks. That age group have drunk themselves stupid for the last 60 years. Changing the legal age to buy alcohol will make no difference at all.

**Squeak the Rat** · 7th November 2006, 19:50

Education my rectum, and it damn near killed me. My biggest binge drinking period was in my mid twenties over in London and the land of Eire. I knew the issues with binge drinking and general excess but did that stop me? No sireeee bob. I was a more sensible drinker when I was 16......

**WarlockNZ** · 7th November 2006, 20:20

Originally Posted by Squeak the Rat

Education my rectum, and it damn near killed me. My biggest binge drinking period was in my mid twenties over in London and the land of Eire. I knew the issues with binge drinking and general excess but did that stop me? No sireeee bob. I was a more sensible drinker when I was 16......

Because you didn't want to draw attention to yourself .. and thats the point .. sure 18 year olds will still drink .. we all know we can't stop that .. but they will be a damn sight more carefull about "how" they drink, so as to not draw attention to themselves.

**diggydog** · 7th November 2006, 20:32

we have people that can handle there drink and some that could'nt, back when started drinking alochol over 30 yrs ago, yes we and i had problems from time to time, i think the younger ones today are finding smarter ways to beat the system, also kids are receiving alcohol from older people which is a problem on it's on.