Change drinking age from 18 to 21?

Question

Jasper Gerard, leader of a Blair-ite think-tank has proposed increasing the minimum age to drink alcohol from 18 to 21 (see reports in most of the newspapers). We'll have to wait & see if this suggestion is taken up.

I think this is ludicrous as it will not stop young people from drinking (it didn't with me and my mates, anyway). Yes, in the UK we have an under-age drinking problem, but raising the minimum age is just a way of creating more 'criminals', not tackling the real issue.
The worst part is that as tax-payers, we are paying for these pillocks to come up with this trash.

Am I just a Blair-hater, or do people agree with this new policy? Sensible answers only, please.

Some great comments - thanks!

Steve-Bob: I like your ideas on how to make alcohol and getting drunk less of an aspirational thing for teenagers - although in France the relaxed attitude of letting children drink wine is coupled with cheap prices for 'drink-at-home' booze and stupidly high prices in pubs.

Clive: Good point - make less laws and divert the freed up funds to the police to enforce the laws we already have - and enforce them HARD!

Answer 1

In France the attitudes to drinking age are much more relaxed. Children drink watered wine with dinner from a young age. France has very few alcohol problems.

In Britain the current drinking age is 18. Not being allowed to drink, many teenagers drink to rebel, and drink a lot. Britain has lots of alcohol problems.

In my opinion, reducing the legal age for drinking would reduce alcohol problems. Making drinking alcohol ordinary will reduce the volume young people feel the need to drink to prove themselves. Increasing the age to 21 is only going to make existing problems worse.

Answer 2

properly, right here interior the US it is of course 21 and human beings nonetheless ***** approximately it. It does not sparkling up something or decrease any adverse statistics. It merely makes the alcohol extra wanted, provided that human beings continually want what they might't have if for no different reason than the exhilaration in getting it. It places alcohol on a pedestal, and extra human beings will want it. the version from 18-21 does not exchange adulthood too lots the two. it incredibly is gloomy that alcohol has exchange into so taboo in some societies, while it could extremely be referred to as effective while interior the properly suited hands.

Answer 3

I think its crazy the way they're talking about doing that and i agree with your views. I think it would create more of a problem because people under the age will just drink on the streets or get up to some other sort of trouble. How do they think it will work and how would it be fair on people aged between 18 and 21 if they were to bring in this new law and suddenly you've got all these people who are no longer allowed to drink in a pub?

Answer 4

Drinking age in the U.S. (most states anyway) is already 21, has been for ever. And you are right, it does not stop kids from drinking! How well i know, since I'm 17 and well, there's no trouble getting booze if you want it. Laws have never stopped people from committing a crime, they just take common behavior and make that into a crime. Like the ignorant backwards pot laws.

Answer 5

Yet another example of a stupid nanny state. In a country where people can have children whenever they want, or get married at 16 (with their parent's permission), vote at 18, we're thinking about raising the drinking age to 21?!!! So, does this mean I can get married or have my baby without being able to have a drink to celebrate?

Well, I suppose this we should also ban all junk food, anything dangerous, anything remotely fun etc...... just to be on the safe side and ensure that we don't let the public be responsible for their own decisions....

Answer 6

I'm 18 but have only been out once on my birthday for drinks.if i go out i make sure i dont make a t*t of myself and spend the rest of the night throwing up in the gutter and being arrested. I wish people wouldnt tar us all with the same brush as just because we're young doesnt mean we're all complete ars*s. If this discison is taken up I will officially have no life as i am a stay at home mum of 1 and haven't much a day time social life as its taken up by my daughter. I will then be forced to stay in and not go anywhere its bad enough i'm being banned from smoking whilst out in pubs etc! it seems to me that pubs and clubs are all going to be dull monotonous places full of old whinging basta*ds who dont levae the younger generation alone. How can a pub or club be without its steady flow of young people throwing their cash away every weekend?

Answer 7

The USA faces this discussion a lot in high schools and universities alike. The same arguments arise. If 18 yr. old can marry, vote, and fight for your freedom why cant they drink? "Minors" in the USA still drink. They will find one way or another to obtain the alcohol. I feel that the age should remain at 18. People will still experiment whether its illegal or legal. I mean prohibition did NOT work...

Answer 8

Its ridiculous. Im in Ireland and we too have a major underage drinking problem. However raising the legal drinking age is just going to make it more of a problem, its going to rise the numbers. It's peoples attitudes towards drink that need to be changed. From a young age, children need to be thought to respect themselves and respect alcohol.

Answer 9

In the US the drinking age is 21 yet that doesn't stop almost every high schooler and college student from drinking at some point. I can't see that working any better in the UK... esp since every 18,19, and 20 year old who can currently drink will definately not stop.

Answer 10

Socialist love laws and regulations; this government is worst than most as Blair is a lawyer who likes to make work for his former colleagues.

A preferable approach is to reduce regulation and concentrate on punishing those who commit actual crime.
In the case of alcohol, remove all age restrictions and be strict with those who cause fights and damage.
Similarly with the approach to knife crime. Rather than the proposal of a five year sentence for carrying a knife, it would be preferable and more economic just to hang those found guilty of murder - irrespective of age.