Poll: Raising the drinking age

[Vault101]

A while ago there was talk of raising the drinking age from 18 to 21 In Australia, to combat the issue we seem to have with binge drinking and violence at our clubs/pubs

I don't see how this is really going to help the problem, if young people want to drink they are going to drink regardless, the only difference is they are not doing it on licences premisis, I doubt a 21 age limit is going to stop a 15 17 or 18 year old from drinking

I think the problem lies in the culture, its just a common thing to go out and drink till your hammered you have ot change that If you want to solve the problem

But what do oyu think? is raising the gae a good idea? could it be more harmful? how would you tackle the problems with binge drinking?

EDIT: and then there are countries where it is quite low (16?) I think anyway like france and Italy (though correct me if im wrong) do you think lowering it might help? or not

EDIT: hey! I'm a "Beat writer" now...Don't know what that means but cool!

 

[Julianking93]

Nah. People are going to drink whenever, despite the legal age.

That doesn't ever stop them, it just prevents them from buying it. They can always get someone else to get it for them or steal it from their parents.

Teens don't give a fuck about the law. They're going to break it if they feel like it. Raising it won't do a goddamn thing.

 

[Eumersian]

For what I understand about psychology, the kinds of people who will drink irresponsibly are the kinds of people that would go out of their way to drink underage anyway. Or at least, they are more likely to. Raising it won't really help that much.

 

[Marter]

I read earlier today that teens do tend to change when there is a higher drinking age.

If it's 18, many will start around 15, but if it's 21, they'll wait until 17-18. They wait until they become close enough to it that they feel it's okay.

I'm fine with raising it, or just banning alcohol in general. (I know the outrage this would cause, but it's my perfect world, okay?)

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

That's a tough one, especially in Australia. Even with the 18 age limit you find underage people getting hammered on Passion Pop and two dollar goon. Even when the government introduced that "alcopop" tax to curb underage drinking it did nothing to fix the problem save the removal of alcohol infused caffinated drinks from stores. Kids still get drunk, just not with the same product.

It's a cultural thing and if a real change has to be made then...it should probably start at an early age/the new generation. We are a lost cause...

 

[Serenegoose]

Maybe if you want young people to drink responsibly, you should educate them about it instead of going ADULTS ONLY NOT FOR YOU! Because, we've tried that approach and it's not exactly working brilliantly.

 

[Polaris19]

I've seen so many people my age (18-19) getting into accidents while under the influence of alcohol that it makes me wonder if even 21 is high enough. We can crack down all we want but in the end it only gets worse. IT doesn't matter from my POV. Whatever the age is, people will break it, and if we crack down, they'll just do it more.

 

[crimsonshrouds]

people will drink making the age limit higher will do nothing.. My country can attest to that (-_-)

 

[Reaper195]

I think the same is happening here in New Zealand. I find it retarded, since all the parties I went to at school, all the booze was bought by people over twenty five. It may stop SOME bar shit going on, but nothing outside of it.

And, of course, this isn't including all the kids that steal their parents alcohol from the liquor cabinet.

 

[Alon Shechter]

Maybe if you want young people to drink responsibly, you should educate them about it instead of going ADULTS ONLY NOT FOR YOU! Because, we've tried that approach and it's not exactly working brilliantly.

My family tried the first technique on me.
Yay, lucky me
Drinks alcohol weekly yet not addicted or anything of such sort.
I actually taught my friends (and their families) the same.
I feel proud.

 

[Irridium]

The US's drinking age is 21.

It doesn't do jack shit.

It won't do jack shit in Australia.

 

[MoNKeyYy]

I live in a place where the drinking age is lower than anywhere else in the country, and frankly I don't think it makes much of a difference. The rates of public drunkeness, alcoholism, and Drunk Driving is comparable to the rest of the country. All I think raising the drinking age - especially suddenly - would do is increase the rate of underaged drinking and put unnessesary pressure on local police forces.

 

[FinalHeart95]

People start drinking at like 14 anyway, I doubt the drinking age really matters.

 

[rekabdarb]

oh wait raising? shit i need to redo my answer. No herp derp binge drinking will go on no matter what. It's surprisingly easy to get alcohol (at least where i live) If they want to change the law, lower it to like 15 BUT make it so a parent/legal guardian is present at the time of consumption

 

[Just_A_Glitch]

I'm twenty now. I swear to god, if they raise it now, I'm gonna...

I don't know what I'd do. But I'd do it. I'd do it hard.

Its not so much that I want to drink, but I want to have the option.

 

[Serenegoose]

Maybe if you want young people to drink responsibly, you should educate them about it instead of going ADULTS ONLY NOT FOR YOU! Because, we've tried that approach and it's not exactly working brilliantly.

My family tried the first technique on me.
Yay, lucky me
Drinks alcohol weekly yet not addicted or anything of such sort.
I actually taught my friends (and their families) the same.
I feel proud.

Amazing, eh? It's almost like people under the age of 21 have the capacity to learn! Oh, what unorthodox thoughts, when will I learn.

 

[VanityGirl]

I've seen so many people my age (18-19) getting into accidents while under the influence of alcohol that it makes me wonder if even 21 is high enough. We can crack down all we want but in the end it only gets worse. IT doesn't matter from my POV. Whatever the age is, people will break it, and if we crack down, they'll just do it more.

Do you live in the US?

I ask this because the US drinking age is 21 but that DO NOT stop people from drinking underage in the least. People in high school can easily get alcohol. Honestly, I find that the higher the drinking age, the more likely people will drink UNDERage.
Here's my reasoning:
When you're young, you see things has being "the forbidden fruit". Drinking (for all of my friends) has been the forbidden fruit to them and trust me, they got smashed well under 21. Once they turned 21 I saw a big decrease in their drinking habits. Drinking was no longer this amazing thing they could get away with.

 

[Hashime]

19 in Canada seems to be a pretty good age. Most of the people I know drink underage anyways, but my 19 year old buddies are defiantly responsible.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Nah. People are going to drink whenever, despite the legal age.

Agreed, even though I'm a very big exception to that rule. I'm turning 19 in November so then I can legally drink here. I've been able to legally drink in Alberta for sometime but I never felt like dishing out the money to go to Alberta just for a few drinks.

19 in Canada seems to be a pretty good age. Most of the people I know drink underage anyways, but my 19 year old buddies are defiantly responsible.

Not in Alberta it isn't. But I'm nice and responsible so I didn't go abusing my car privileges just to go get drunk with friends who get drunk anyway.