Thursday 10 May 2007

Raise the drinking age to 21 or drop it to 12?


Andy McIntyre has submitted an E-Petition asking the PM to lower the drinking age in the UK to 12.

This what Andy has to say:

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Lower the legal drinking age to 12.

Bring the UK into line with most of the continent. Starting people earlier on alcohol will make it less of an attraction to the middle-to-late teens, hopefully reducing the anti-social binge drinking we have now. Drunk 12 year olds are less likely to cause bother then drunk 18 year olds.

You can sign the E-Petition by clicking HERE

What do you think?

5 comments:

Gareth said...

I don't think people under 18 should be allowed into pubs, or adult drinking environments, and nor should they be allowed to purchase alcohol, but I have absolutely no problem with them drinking alcohol.

My parents always allowed me to have a glass of wine, or whatever, with a meal. The result being that I didn't go out and get totally smashed on cider as soon as I possible could like my peers (or at least not to the same extent).

If you look at the situation in the US where, in some states, it is legal to drive and own a gun before you can legally drink you see that prohibition doesn't work properly anyway.

Obviously some people will abuse alcohol, and some parents will irresponsibly give their kids free reign, but society should move away from seeing alcohol as a right of passage - that just fuels the binge-drinking phenomenon.

Daily Referendum said...

Toque,

I agree with most of what you have to say. Parental supervision of drinking from the early teens teaches respect for alcohol. I've always allowed my kids to drink in their teens, but only in moderation. I've also made a point of never getting drunk in front of them.

kate said...

Would this mean 12 year olds being able to buy alcohol? I wouldnt agree with that but i have no problems with children having alcohol in a familly enviroment say with dinner or special occassions.

Daily Referendum said...

Kate,

I'm not sure what Andy means. I would hope he intends his petition to allow drinking in the family environment. I think the drinking age in pubs and clubs is correct at the moment. However I believe there should be a crack down on the sale of alcohol to under 18's in shops.

Anonymous said...

Well, I am a 17 year old.

I feel as though that if the drinking age is brought up to the age of 21, it will have a lot more problems.

Because you wont have the silly 14 year old drunks on the street corner, causing minor crime.

You will have the 18+ getting drunk on the street corners, who have a lot more chance of damaging you.

I think that it is ridicoulus that people will be able to die for their country, but not have a drink when they are allowed too.

If I wanted too, I could get in a car, and quite easily kill myself whilst doing this, but I can't have a drink because that could damage me or harm me.

I know I am going off topic, but I find it extremly stupid, that I am having my right to have a nice quiet drink, or go out and celebrate with friends, stripped from me as soon as I get the chance to do so.