[sol]

I've heard that this may be happening in the future due to the binge drinking culture of today's youth, and the subsequent increase in violent crime which is almost certainly linked to alcohol and 24 hour drinking.

What are your views? Will rising the drinking age to 21 stem alcohol related crime?

[Arneldo]

I personally think it should be lowered to 16.

[sarahtheangel]

to be honest making it higher will help a little but then pubs open 24-7 does not help , i just think i dont no what is wrong with some of the youth today , i no not all are bad apples but some are and i blame the parenting skills

[InTheFade]

I don't think it will do anything to lower the rate of alcohol-related crime. The current legal age, as we all know, is 18 and I don't know about you but I was not quite 18 when I first got drunk (though the novelty has just about worn off now I'm 19). Anyway, I shouldn't think they can pass a law like that, it would mean that people who have been drinking legally for 2 years would have to stop for another year and that would just be stupid.

[sarahtheangel]

its a bit confusing isnt it its like for example : i can give my child from the age of 5 a drink of wine with a meal

[InTheFade]

Originally posted by sarahtheangel
its a bit confusing isnt it its like for example : i can give my child from the age of 5 a drink of wine with a meal

According to my city guide, it's legal for a child of 5 or over to drink any alcohol providing it's not on public property. Not that I would ever dream of giving my child alcohol.

[sarahtheangel]

i think that is to go with the meal .

[Princess]

Originally posted by Arneldo
I personally think it should be lowered to 16.

Ditto! Like we're gonna drink anyways.

[InTheFade]

Originally posted by sarahtheangel
i think that is to go with the meal .

Well, I would hope so, the thought of giving a child alcohol at all is ludicrous, but giving them whisky for breakfast...

[sarahtheangel]

yes im sure its with an evening meal but only 1 glass . i did not follow this rule with my own children not till they were old enough to drink .all though i no my older boys drank before there time as did us all .

[Lauren]

They can bugger off.

LOL.

But seriously, people underage drink since time began. Making it rise to 21 just means a lot more people fall under the illegal category cos it certainly won't put people off.

[spacebandit]

Won't happen, the drinks industry has too powerful a lobby.

Once more showing us that democratic political representation is a joke

[the_stillness]

I drank when I was younger than 18 and that was in a pub to. Plenty of pubs, but I looked much older then anyway and getting served was no probs. The stupid idea of trying to copy america and limit it to 21 and over is crazy and won't do anything at all. It is not drinking moderately that is a problem, it is binge drinking which is an ongoing problem which shall continue anyway, but certainly needs some reduction and control, but what exactly can they do? I have to say that many under the age of 21 do drink excessively and any law which tries to prevent those below that age from even having one drink can only increase the problem countrywide anyway, IMO

[spitfire]

Originally posted by spacebandit
Won't happen, the drinks industry has too powerful a lobby.

I bet you thought that when people first mentioned a complete ban of smoking in pubs.

[MarkWaldorf]

Originally posted by Lauren
They can bugger off.

LOL.

But seriously, people underage drink since time began. Making it rise to 21 just means a lot more people fall under the illegal category cos it certainly won't put people off.

Predictable as ever, Fahey.

Pfft I don't care where it is, I won't drink anyway.

[Holograms]

It should stay at 18 <3

[spacebandit]

Originally posted by spitfire

I bet you thought that when people first mentioned a complete ban of smoking in pubs.

Nah, there were too many lawsuits flying around against the tobacco industry by people old enough to have started on the tabs when they still ran ads that said smoking was good for you, doctors recommend brand X - etc etc. The writing was on the wall from the mid-70's onwards, I'm still amazed that it took this long, and up until five years ago I partook of the noxious weed, and I still miss 'em!!

To paraphrase Bill Hicks, even now every one looks to me like it was grown by g*d, rolled by jesus and moistened closed on.... [I suggest you listen to Hicks!!! ]

Once there is the possibility of people or companies of influence getting sued and being held culpable, governments do one of two things - close the stable door and hope nothing else gets out - impossible regarding smokes thanks to american whistleblowers, or make a big show of bowing to the health advice from the likes of the World Health Organisation and clamping down - whilst taking the moral high ground and sweetening the big money tobacco supporters with knighthoods and various other peerages, and gutting the remaining smokers with tax hikes - then attempt to deny them medical treatment caused by smoking.

Can't think of an ad that claimed drinking had health benefits, except for an old Guinness ad that claimed "by golly it does you good"

OOOhhh, if I remember it from my callow youth that means its time to run off and speak to my legal team

[cepb]

If they didn't make such a big thing about drinking, then we wouldn't have the teenage binge drinkers. In Belgium, the drinking age is 14, and they have the lowest number of binge driking teens in Europe. Doesn't this tell us that we should lower the age? In this country, teens spend years of wanting to drink and then their 18 birthday comes and they can't handle it. In Belgium, teens are taught from the age of 14 to value and to enjoy alcohol in a safe way, and becoming 14, and suddenly being able to buy alcohol isn't such a huge step as it is for many 18 year olds in this country.

Raising the age to 21, is just going to cause more problems.

[J.C.]

I can't really see this happening , and it's a bit unfair on the many responsible 18 year olds who drink within their limits. I would like to see something like a a 1 year ban on drinking in a public place for anyone of any age who gets a 2nd drunk and disorderly warning from the police.

This may seem difficult to monitor as many would defy the ban. However this would not be such a terrible thing because they would drink sensibly knowing that if they get too drunk again they will get caught breaking the ban and get a hefty fine.

[bananarama]

Originally posted by cepb
If they didn't make such a big thing about drinking, then we wouldn't have the teenage binge drinkers. In Belgium, the drinking age is 14, and they have the lowest number of binge driking teens in Europe. Doesn't this tell us that we should lower the age? In this country, teens spend years of wanting to drink and then their 18 birthday comes and they can't handle it. In Belgium, teens are taught from the age of 14 to value and to enjoy alcohol in a safe way, and becoming 14, and suddenly being able to buy alcohol isn't such a huge step as it is for many 18 year olds in this country.

Raising the age to 21, is just going to cause more problems.

Indeed. The drink problem in this country is about a cultural attitude towards drink. Here it's regarded as some sort of status symbol of being grown up and the only way to have a real good time...

Solution...If implimented would take a generation to take effect. It's time our education system concentrated on more than just passing exams and claiming a piece of paper is proof of intelligence.

An example should be taken out of the Belgium book. Children need to be taught sensible attitudes as a priority over pieces of exam papers. A stable social mind will do far better in education than a potential wannabie drunken slob would do.......

[gracie24]

It's been said that children who's parents buy them alcohol are less likely to be binge drinkers.

I don't think a lot has to do with age. I would be gutted if the age limit was raised to 21 because I feel I should have the right to be able to go into a bar, have a few drinks and enjoy myself. Not every 18 year old is irresponsible when it comes to alcohol!

But the 18 year olds who drink now, what are they going to do if the age is raised? It would just encourage them to find different, illegal ways to purchase and consume alcohol, which in my eyes is worse.

[Sophii3x]

What's the point? Most teens drink underage these days as it is.. won't make any difference.

[SparkyX3]

Ah 21 is kinda stupid... thankfully its 18 over here

[Emilee]

That will not help.... that will mean everyone will be drinking illegally and going out of their way to get alcohol! This is the worst idea ever!!!

[Sod_James]

I think it's a good idea and should happen. but no matter what anyone thinks or what they do people are still going to drink underage so its pointless.