[Benji]

like people have mentioned about parenting skills - personally i think that parents should be allowed to be brought up how they want to - it gives them personality, but...That dosent mean the parents shouldnt be interested in the childrens academic acheivement, bu also dosnt mean that they are allowed to be soft on their children - tbh, i think parents do it to be rebellious against teachers, police, high appointent people in society, etc.

Does anyone know what i mean? or am i just talking crappity crap crap crap

[Retroman]

When I was fourteen, I entered a local shop [Spar to anyone who's interested.] and they claimed you had to be 21 and over to purchase alcohol from there.

Whereas another shop [also Spar.] served people alcohol from the age of eighteen upwards. Which seemed odd to me? but anyway...

I still got served alcohol in the first shop I mentioned, despite the fact that I was seven years underage. It just goes to show how pointless this particular law can sometimes be.

If the law was changed to 21 now, I don't think it would affect anyone or change their drinking habits...all it would manage to do is make it more difficult for police to stop underage drinkers, as they would then be watching out for 18-20 year olds too.

However, in many years to come, after a couple of generations or so, the youth would not remember the days that alcohol was served to 18+ year olds. Which could possibly detour them from starting underage drinking so early.

I suppose it would be wise to analyse the underage alcohol consumer rate in countries that already have the 21+ law established, and the same for our country. Or even better, to analyse a country or part of a country roughly a similar size to ours, with a similar population.

If it does indeed turn out that their country has a lower rate that ours, we can safely assume it's a law that helps prevent underage drinkers. Which is a good thing, considering the amount of harm it causes in a vast number of ways. Not to mention that with younger people, comes an increased chance in stupidity.

However, it may bother many a person to have the law changed.
Question is, what's more important? The younger [and usually more naive.] generations safety, or their personal happiness in regards to drinking alcohol?

I would pick safety if I was forced to make a choice, but at the end of the day it comes down to the person being responsible for themselves whilst drinking. Even if you're over the legal drinking age, you can still harm yourself, or others, or even die due to the wrongful use of alcoholic drinks.

No law can stop a person from doing anything, but it can help.
Everyone should remember that.