Calls to raise drinking age

[grandmoon]

Professor Mattick said children who regularly drank alcohol had different brain function to those who did not.

''There is increasing evidence that regular exposure to alcohol in young people from early to mid teen years is associated with changes in brain function, in efficiency, in attention.''

He said children who started drinking or using drugs under the age of 18 were at greater risk of becoming alcoholics or escalating their drug use.

Do you believe that changing the drinking age to 21 will make a difference

[izabsmiling]

There is already and legal drinking age...under age drinkers are below that (under 18).What difference would raising the legal age by a few years make ?

[grandmoon]

There is already and legal drinking age...under age drinkers are below that (under 18).What difference would raising the legal age by a few years make ?

The difference IMO will be more underage drinkers. (the 18 to 20 year olds)

[freakiness]

The difference IMO will be more underage drinkers. (the 18 to 20 year olds)

It did not seem to have that effect before the drinking age was lowered to 18.

You had people getting married who were not legally allowed to toast their own wedding.

You had people going to war that were too young to drink.

[izabsmiling]

exactly.

How does that help the problem addressed in the OP ? (those under 18)

unless it is the 18-21 buying the current under 18's alcohol 

[izabsmiling]

#4 was in reply to #2

[patchoo78]

They can change the drinking age all they like, but it still won't stop under age drinking... It happens now, it will still happen if it changes to 21..

Look at the US, their drinking age is 21 but there is still an underage drinking problem there.. 

What they need to do is stop making it look so attractive, the fact that there are so many lolly water drinks that taste like soft drink is the problem.. 

I imagine in the past underage drinking wasn't a problem because more kids back then had respect for rules and the law, that and the only alcohol you could get was Beer, Spirits and Wine, not Cruisers, UDLs, Breezers etc

[izabsmiling]

I imagine in the past underage drinking wasn't a problem

why do you think that ? when I was younger most teens I knew had consumed alcohol by the time they were 18.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2013/s3687485.htm

Brewer's Association criticises 'alarmist' public health advocates

SALLY SARA: The Brewer's Association has hit out at what it describes as alarmist public health advocates, and says that the most recent major alcohol study shows good news. 

The results of the Australian Secondary Results Alcohol and Drug Survey, shows that the percentage of teenagers who binge-drink has dropped substantially. 

But public health advocates, and the organisation that conducted the study, say Australia still has a very big problem with teenage drinking. 

Timothy McDonald reports.

[siggie-reported-by-alarmists]

Raise the legal drinking age?

Why not make it illegal?

If a percentage of the community cannot control themselves and use in moderation..../ not tolerate alcohol consumption......why not remove it from society and make it illegal.

🙂

[crystal**flake]

I truly believe that establishments need to stop serving booze at midnight.