Raise the legal drinking age to 21?

[chode84]

As a lot of you have probably seen already this morning, there is an article on the front page of the SMH talking about raising the drinking age to 21 and also doubling the cost of a standard drink to curb alcohol related violence.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/call-to-lift-minimum-drinking-age-to-21-20091021-h92i.html

I personally think it is an idiotic idea and this can be seen as a failure first hand in the USA. And doubling the price of a std drink? Hardly going to curb the alcohol related violence. People will just get their fix via other means. Getting sick of do-gooders trying to get their 15 mins. of fame with stupid front page stealing idea's like this.

 

[pilots]

As a lot of you have probably seen already this morning, there is an article on the front page of the SMH talking about raising the drinking age to 21 and also doubling the cost of a standard drink to curb alcohol related violence.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/call-to-lift-minimum-drinking-age-to-21-20091021-h92i.html

I personally think it is an idiotic idea and this can be seen as a failure first hand in the USA. And doubling the price of a std drink? Hardly going to curb the alcohol related violence. People will just get their fix via other means. Getting sick of do-gooders trying to get their 15 mins. of fame with stupid front page stealing idea's like this.

I have spent time in the USA, the drinking age of 21 is working, you don't see the same trouble with the young people in the USA that we see every night here on TV.

 

[MrBurns]

Well I think they have to do something and that may be a start but they wont get away with it because the drug pushers at the alcohol companies need your kids to get drunk as early as possible to keep their profits up.

Increasing penalties for violence might help, if you go round punching people in the face you go in the slammer , how's that for a start ?

But that wont get very far either they wont protect the public from violence if they cant even keep pedophiles away from kids after release into publicly funded housing.

The whole system is a farce and a crims paradise.

 

[prawn_86]

I say lower the drinking age to 16 for beer and wine, as it is in Europe. That way it becomes about having a social drink with friends and family, rather than getting trashed as soon as you hit 18/21.

 

[Agentm]

have you researched this through?

regardless of the alleged failure in the usa.. the human brain is not adult until way past the 18 years old region.

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2006/02/06.html

i would have thought a suggestion of minimising alcohol in these years of brain development would also be very positive move against one of the biggest problems facing our society atm..

 

[MrBurns]

I say lower the drinking age to 16 for beer and wine, as it is in Europe. That way it becomes about having a social drink with friends and family, rather than getting trashed as soon as you hit 18/21.

Getting wasted on beer is a national sport here so thats not such a good idea for Oz.

 

[Wysiwyg]

It is the stage from 15 to 20 years that are the transformational years from parents being responsible for their children to the youths taking responsibility for their own actions. Many simply can`t handle alcohol and do stupid things.

On another note about fighting etc. People have been hurting each other since recorded time. The venues serving alcohol and alcohol itself have always been the catalysts for this eternal desire.

 

[prawn_86]

i would have thought a suggestion of minimising alcohol in these years of brain development would also be very positive move against one of the biggest problems facing our society atm..

Is alcohol the problem cause or effect of the problem though?

Perhaps the problem is kids not having much to do, or not being allowed to do anything, so drinking becomes rebellious in nature, as it is one of the few things they are now allowed to still do in this nanny state of ours.

Just recently someone successfully sued a school for an injury sustained during school sports. What incentive is there for anyone (even parents) to encourage their kids to go out and seek other (non alcohol) forms of excitement?

 

[chode84]

I too lived in the USA and was 18 at the time. The only thing that raising the drinking age to 21 will do is send 18-21 year olds "underground" so to speak. I saw (and engaged) in it every week myself. Better to get blind drunk in a licensed venue? Or at some college party? (Personally Id prefer the party, but from a safety point of view its probably not the best place).

And why should I have to pay twice as much for a drink because some hot headed ******** can't control himself? They are usually the same old suspects involved in fights so maybe we need to punish them further.

 

[Ageo]

Yep up the minimum age to 21 then double the cost of alcohol so kids can load up on drugs for a fraction of the price. But then we should ban drugs so they will stop doing that also.........


Oops its already banned.

Problem continues..................

Revenue increases..................

Public still no better off...........

Politicians much happier with pay increase............


And the world keeps spinning

 

[wayneL]

Is alcohol the problem cause or effect of the problem though?

Top question.

As you say, the observation in Europe (and the great contrast with the UK) indicates that is cultural.

 

[aaronphetamine]

Make Alcohol illegal in this Country and legalise MDMA and there will not be one strand of violence in this country while people are out clubbing. And if they are legalised it means that they are being QA'd by pharmaceutical companies which means it will all be properly made.

 

[MrBurns]

The law is way too soft, thats the root of the problem.

 

[Wysiwyg]

Make Alcohol illegal in this Country and legalise MDMA and there will not be one strand of violence in this country while people are out clubbing. And if they are legalised it means that they are being QA'd by pharmaceutical companies which means it will all be properly made.

Let us know of the long term neurological effects from taking perception alterers. And by the way ...

MDMA is criminalized in most countries in the world under a United Nations (U.N.) agreement, and its possession, manufacture, or sale may result in criminal prosecution.

 

[Cam]

I agree with Wayne L. It's not the drinking age, its a cultural problem. We have an immature culture. Europe hasn't. Unfortunately I don't think that its maturity level which will change with time - the UK is some evidence of that.

 

[prawn_86]

Let us know of the long term neurological effects from taking perception alterers. And by the way ...

About the same as long term binge drinking, ignoring the liver and other damage alcohol does. You cant say alcohol doe not alter perception. In fact other drugs make you much more lucid than what alcohol does. (hence why all the baby boomers that are now trying to ban everything took a heap of LSD in their time

It is quite interesting if you look into the chemistry side of things. Alcohol is basically only legal because it is one of mankinds oldest drugs. There are illegal drugs out there that are a lot 'safer' (in their pure from, not street cut/made form), but are simply illegal due to the fact that they have not been around for centuries on end.

 

[Tink]

Top question.

As you say, the observation in Europe (and the great contrast with the UK) indicates that is cultural.

I have said this before, its a cultural thing.

As for changing the age, I dont think so.. If you can vote and drive, how come you cant drink?

It all comes from home.

 

[Wysiwyg]

About the same as long term binge drinking, ignoring the liver and other damage alcohol does. You cant say alcohol doe not alter perception. In fact other drugs make you much more lucid than what alcohol does. (hence why all the baby boomers that are now trying to ban everything took a heap of LSD in their time

One thing they all are used for is to alter the natural brain function. For some it is to escape the mental pain of everyday life. For others it is to an induce a state of euphoria. Like every vice, moderation is the key.

 

[prawn_86]

Like every vice, moderation is the key.

Never a truer word said

 

[Tink]

The law is way too soft, thats the root of the problem.

I agree with that