Many people would back raising the alcohol age limit to 21

Dj_Jestar · 14 Dec 2007 at 12:55

Indifferent. 18 didn't stop me drinking when I was a yoot, don't see how this will make any difference at all.

4p · 14 Dec 2007 at 12:55

This will only do one thing:

The teenagers that are on the street because they cant legally drink will just be on the streets even longer.

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 12:58

Ulfhedjinn said:
I don't see why not. I can't really think of many social problems in this country that can't be blamed on bad education and bad parenting, or bad education on parenting.

Well yes, it's mainly down to bad parenting and other environmental influences.

But it's not necessarily lack of education for the parents... could simply be laziness/unwanted child

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:01

Ulfhedjinn said:
You can't really but something does need to be done until there are some reforms in education and parenting. The only real cure here is prevention at the source.

Alcohol isn't the source of the issue though, so altering the age limit would be no prevention.

Unless here you mean parenting as the source again.

The yobs who are going to cause the trouble couldn't care less what the legal age for drinking is - so upping the age limit would have no effect. If anything it may just drive more onto the streets causing havok in the street instead of some random bar. I'd much rather have them in a bar than trashing my house

4p · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:03

crowhorse said:
The yobs who are going to cause the trouble couldn't care less what the legal age for drinking is - so upping the age limit would have no effect. If anything it may just drive more onto the streets causing havok in the street instead of some random bar. I'd much rather have them in a bar than trashing my house

Correct

I used to roam the streets drinking @ 16 because i couldn't legally drink

Im 17 now, i go to a lot of bars and drink and tbh, im a lot more sensible

Upping the drinking age will just create more street binging

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:04

Ulfhedjinn said:
I'm not entirely sure it will.

If off-licences, pubs and clubs actually do their jobs and enforce the law in their establishments, not serving to persons underage, then they're not going to get hold of it.

If underage drinking increases then it's not the policy to blame, it's the people selling it.

It will though, all you have to do is look at the states as an example of this.

Even though they are insanely strict with ID over there, there is still a huge under-age drinking problem and severe binge drinking for 21yo people. It's not necessarily the establishment selling the alcohol... but people will buy for their friends/family quite readily.

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:06

Ulfhedjinn said:
Yeah and I agree, which is why I keep saying the problem of binge drinking culture and trouble making won't go away until there's some serious reforms in education, parenting, and the general attitude of this country.

I agree with that, but the problem is, that's certainly not going to happen any time soon & will take a long time to come about.

As for the present and the issue at hand, an increase in legal age would just make things worse

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:10

MookJong said:
Thats the key, but unfortunatly the governments idea of tackling problems is mainly to throw money at them rather than enforce higher standards and tell yobs to sort themselfs out. Look at the NHS, this government has spent millions yet the fundimental basics of keeping a hospital clean seems to be a total mystery to them.

One idea... why not force people to pay for help from the NHS for drug/alcohol-induced injuries/diseases - it would certainly help reduce things imo.

People with no money and any sense would be very careful with how they conducted themselves when anhebriated & people without any common sense would injure themselves permantly/be erased from the gene pool... win/win

The basic idea is good, but there would be a lot of complications.

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:11

jamief said:
Somehow I don't think that sole fact is responsible for the binge drinking culture that is slowly taking over our country!

No, but if a raise in legal limit came into force I certainly think internet alcohol purchasing would increase.

chris_r · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:12

If ale was only just invented i think it would be banned and put into the Class A drug list.

More people die because ale then any other drug per year (i think?)

(i know there is some stat about it, i just cant think!)

I have spoke an done a lot of work with AA related people

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:15

[DW]Muffin;10685921 said:
The same can be said for a 30 year old, people relate maturity to age, which I think is not always the case.

Exactly... you can only gain maturity by gaining experience.

If you can't experience alcohol, you can't gain a maturity with respect to it.

jamief · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:15

chris_r said:
If ale was only just invented i think it would be banned and put into the Class A drug list.

More people die because ale then any other drug per year (i think?)

(i know there is some stat about it, i just cant think!)

I have spoke an done a lot of work with AA related people

Drinking a reasonable amount (as in a glass of wine a few times a week or a couple of beers) is fine, won't harm your health long term and is actually nice. Going out and getting off your face, consuming 40 odd units every fri + sat will result in long term damage.

Alcohol should NOT be banned! (not that I think anyone is advocating that anyway)

Mephisto · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:16

One More Solo said:
Having spent 2 months in the States as an under 21 this year I met plenty of people my own age and the impact the drinking age there has is quite incredible really. The 18-21 age group is placed in a really awkward position, since they are getting to a stage where they are looking for proper freedom and independence, but they aren't able to attain it because the "adult world" is still very much out of reach until they become 21.

What? So you're saying the adult world is alcohol? :confused:

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:16

One More Solo said:
'scuse me while I quote myself:

Exactly what I've been trying to say, but worded better.

Those statistics are great

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:17

Mephisto said:
What? So you're saying the adult world is alcohol?

No - he was saying the adult world is freedom... or to that effect. Alcohol is just a part of it.

chris_r · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:17

jamief said:
Drinking a reasonable amount (as in a glass of wine a few times a week or a couple of beers) is fine, won't harm your health long term and is actually nice. Going out and getting off your face, consuming 40 odd units every fri + sat will result in long term damage.

Alcohol should NOT be banned! (not that I think anyone is advocating that anyway)

What about the millions of cocaine users that only sniff each sat night or on the occasional days. They may not be addicted but they are still using a class a drug and could face heavy consequences for doing so.

I see ale as the same, yes i do drink. However, surely you get my point?

Psyk · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:18

crowhorse said:
The yobs who are going to cause the trouble couldn't care less what the legal age for drinking is - so upping the age limit would have no effect. If anything it may just drive more onto the streets causing havok in the street instead of some random bar. I'd much rather have them in a bar than trashing my house

My theory is that the dicks who cause trouble don't really cause trouble because of alcohol, they just use it as an excuse. Random chavs on the street think they have an excuse for being ******s because they've had a couple of beers. Most of the time I bet they're barely even tipsy.

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:21

Thorpy said:
Correct

I used to roam the streets drinking @ 16 because i couldn't legally drink

Im 17 now, i go to a lot of bars and drink and tbh, im a lot more sensible

Upping the drinking age will just create more street binging

I know - a load of my friends did when I was younger - they seemed to enjoy hanging out on the street - never could understand it lol

But then I never really worried about it... I was always going to pubs with my uncle from when I was 14... playing pool and maybe having a shandy. Then started going with friends when I was about 16 and I never got out of hand (mainly because my friends were 2-4 years older than me).

So it's certainly no issue with some people, but it's down to the person unfortunately.

jamief · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:21

chris_r said:
What about the millions of cocaine users that only sniff each sat night or on the occasional days. They may not be addicted but they are still using a class a drug and could face heavy consequences for doing so.

I see ale as the same, yes i do drink. However, surely you get my point?

I do get your point, completely. However, you could look at any drug, cocaine, heroin, nicotene, alcohol etc and say the same thing. We need to abide by the laws of the time - for example smoking opium was very common amongst the rich in Roman times, but then again so was watching slaves hack each other to pieces in the Colosseum

crowhorse · 14 Dec 2007 at 13:23

chris_r said:
What about the millions of cocaine users that only sniff each sat night or on the occasional days. They may not be addicted but they are still using a class a drug and could face heavy consequences for doing so.

I see ale as the same, yes i do drink. However, surely you get my point?

No... I believe that in moderation, even cocaine use can be ok... the problem is it's too easy to go over the top with it.