Drinking age

xXxHariboxXx

Dunno where to post this so feel free to move it if this is wrong.

My friend's sister said the government are raising the legal drinking age to 21. Is this for definite or are they just thinking about it or is it a rumour? Just curious cos I think it's a bad idea and could even make things worse.

truecrippler

Maybe have it so that people who were 18 before the age limit rise, should still be allowed to drink.

connundrum

Its only a rumour at the moment, the Vitners Association will probably fight tooth and nail to keep the age at 18.

Why would it make the situation worse? The same poor implementation of the existing laws will continue, so nowt would probably change.

Thrill

Just curious cos I think it's a bad idea and could even make things worse.

It wont affect under-age drinkers at all. They'll drink on regardless. They'll just be under-age drinkers longer than they thought they'd be.



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xXxHariboxXx

connundrum wrote: »

Its only a rumour at the moment, the Vitners Association will probably fight tooth and nail to keep the age at 18.

Why would it make the situation worse? The same poor implementation of the existing laws will continue, so nowt would probably change.

I think it would make things worse because it would increase underage drinking rates what with people who could formerly drink legally but then have it taken away. Also in America teens travel to other countries and states where drinking age is lower just so they can get pissed. I think stuff like this could cause a lot of problems cos you're gonna drink more than normal if you can legally do it with little or no consequences. well that's my opinion anyway.

Pigwidgeon

i heard it was taking effect in january and anyone born in 1990 will still be allowed to drink, us unlucky people born in 1991 won't be able to drink till we're 21. that's what my economics class was talking about anyway.

Rb

Would prefer to see the existing laws properly implemented tbh.

buckfast4me

xXxHariboxXx wrote: »

Dunno where to post this so feel free to move it if this is wrong.

My friend's sister said the government are raising the legal drinking age to 21. Is this for definite or are they just thinking about it or is it a rumour? Just curious cos I think it's a bad idea and could even make things worse.

No it's 100% definitely true. Did you not see all the newspaper headlines and tv reports etc?

Wertz

*civil war ensues*

Holsten

The drinking age is fine as it is.

No point in raising it, and no way in hell should it be lowered.

Thrill

Push To Raise Irish Drinking Age To 21





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ImDave

Can't imagine it making any difference

congo_90

kateos2 wrote: »

i heard it was taking effect in january and anyone born in 1990 will still be allowed to drink, us unlucky people born in 1991 won't be able to drink till we're 21. that's what me economics class was talking about anyway.

Well thats me grand.

I'm only 17 but i do get served in a few places. Since drinking in pubs and not fields i noticed a lot more maturity. Also most people once legal seem to get a small bit more mature. If it is pushed up to 21 then all we'll see is public outcry, a lot more people my age and older standing outside shops, off licences looking for drink.
while standing outside the curry shop next door to an offlicence waiting on my food i had 7 15yr olds approach me asking for me to go in. naturally i refused.

Jello

kateos2 wrote: »

i heard it was taking effect in january and anyone born in 1990 will still be allowed to drink, us unlucky people born in 1991 won't be able to drink till we're 21. that's what me economics class was talking about anyway.

That better not happen, was born in March 1991.

Not being able to buy drink isn't what would bother me the most, I mean there's always ways and means, but if the age to get into gigs, etc goes from 18 (which the vast majority of the ones I go to are, as they sell alcohol) to 21 I'd be well pissed off. At 17 I can use my fake ID to get by the bouncers with no problems, but if I had to pretend I'm 21 when I'm only 17 the ID might not work so well... :pac:

Holsten

Really? Do people change that much from 18-21?

Overheal

xXxHariboxXx wrote: »

I think it would make things worse because it would increase underage drinking rates what with people who could formerly drink legally but then have it taken away. Also in America teens travel to other countries and states where drinking age is lower just so they can get pissed. I think stuff like this could cause a lot of problems cos you're gonna drink more than normal if you can legally do it with little or no consequences. well that's my opinion anyway.

**** theyre on to me

Ross_Mahon

Holsten wrote: »

Really? Do people change that much from 18-21?

There are a lot of childish 18 year olds out there that need a good beating.

Pigwidgeon

yup im april 1991. and most of my friends are turning 18 over the next 6 months or so and im only 17 next week so thats really gonna suck.

joeybloggs

I could see a bit of a Prohibition(US Dry Law) happening really.

I don't drink much whatsoever, but if somone says i can't drink well i tell ya now, i'll be drinking twice as much then puking in a taxi just to prove him wrong!

Watch your back Brian Lenihan..............I'll be wearing a hoodie too !!:D

Mossy Monk

How exactly will this curb underage drinking? Somebody please explain this to me.

Ross_Mahon

Mossy Monk wrote: »

How exactly will this curb underage drinking? Somebody please explain this to me.

Your right there batman...It wont stop me from drinking.

Wertz

Mossy Monk wrote: »

How exactly will this curb underage drinking? Somebody please explain this to me.

Aye, I mean if anything it'll at least *counts on fingers* quadruple it (?)...

cooperguy

I doubt it will happen, vitners etc. are too powerful a lobby group. Its a stupid idea anyway, punishing the masses for the crimes of a few. Even if it did it will have no effect. If they wanted to actually do something they could try enforce the laws we already have.

Its probably the classic thing the government do. They leak something a few weeks before the actual announcement that is ridiculusly severe and everyone complains. Then when the announcement is made it is much less and the people that would have done all the complaining think "oh, thats not so bad"

The classic example is cigarettes. 1 month before budget everybody starts hearing that fags are going up by €2 then come budget time they go up by 50c and all the smokers heave a sigh of relief thanking god for the price increase they actually got.

Sherifu

Mossy Monk wrote: »

How exactly will this curb underage drinking? Somebody please explain this to me.

It won't but it does make a nice headline.

KnifeWRENCH

Meh! There would be outcry if the age was changed, whether it was increased or lowered.
Are things that bad that we assume all 18-20 year olds are total pissheads?
It'll probably stay the way it is, although perhaps the age will be raised for off-licence's but not for pubs.

JC 2K3

Our justice minister is taking tips from US government officials on alcohol laws...

What fúcking retards voted for FF?

Dave!

Think it's just one of the options being looked at at the mo.

Silly idea though. Would do utterly nothing.

Think it was mentioned that they're gonna do away with booze advertising. That would probably be more effective IMO. Being constantly submerged in/subjected to ads promoting the virtues of alcohol does not do our drink culture any favours.

Ross_Mahon

What are people under 21 going to do if they stamp down on this??? Listen to led zeppelin in a basement with friends...:(

I know most people only have the weekend to be looking forward to, like awaiting Christmas, Sitting in work and getting all excited about drinking with deco and the boys on the weekend. :rolleyes:

KnifeWRENCH

Mr.S wrote: »

Clubs and Pubs will probally adopt a 21+ year anyway in a few years, you see more and more places doing it..

Well having 21+ and 23+ pubs/clubs doesn't reaally bother me. Old people have to drink somewhere!!:)
Adopting 21+ in all places though? Nah, that won't happen.

Besides, it won't matter in the long run. When the inevitable occurs and China rule the world, we'll have to adopt their drinking laws.

Tha Gopher

I googled and the only news report I found was from sky in late March.

I cant imagine this going through.

Dord

Doesn't really bother or affect me. But as others said, they should use the existing laws more often.

Pigwidgeon

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/teen-bingers-parents-may-face-jail-1332260.html

The legal drinking age is also to be re-examined with a view to raising it from 18 to 21 -- and pub owners who allow people to get drunk and cause trouble may face "very severe" punishment, including prison terms, under new proposals now being considered by the Government.

heard also that parents will be getting a €1000 fine if their teenagers are caught drinking/drunk

CantGetNoSleep

I think this is going to be great, since i've turned 18 i really miss getting absolutely f*cked in a field,

It changes completely once you turn 18 and expect to act reasonably, and look down on c*nts that fall around and puke in nightclubs

Back to the fields it is so, I miss those days

Cianos

Strange, I was watching Superbad last night thinking how pathetic it was that 18year olds in the states had to break the law to get some booze.

So the government really think this is going to curb irresponsible drinking? Aren't you supposed to be considered an adult when you are 18? So they are saying that adults have to be told what they can and cannot drink for 3 years?

cooperguy

Cianos wrote: »

So they are saying that adults have to be told what they can and cannot drink for 3 years?

They are however responsible enough to decide to join the army and go to places like Chad on peace keeping missions where you are likely to get shot.

This doesnt effect me really as im a few years over the legal drinking age (as it currently stands!). It just annoys me when nonsensical laws are passed that punish the majority or people who are doing nothing wrong just so it looks like the government are doing something. Especially since enforcing current laws would have a much better effect than introducing new ones.

pljudge321

If you're considered old enough to vote, join the defense forces and be legally responsible for your actions, then you should be allowed to enjoy a f****** beer.

EamonnKeane

Cianos wrote: »

Aren't you supposed to be considered an adult when you are 18? So they are saying that adults have to be told what they can and cannot drink for 3 years?

Yes, but an 18-20 year-old just doesn't have the mental capacity to deserve permission to consume alcohol. S/He may vote, get married, start a career, be tried as an adult, join the Army, but booze? No chance.

princess-sprkle

Holsten wrote: »

Really? Do people change that much from 18-21?

yes! well for me anyway. I'm 21 now and the difference from being 18 is pretty big.

they'd be better off enforcing the laws we have now.

Davidius

I don't plan to drink when I'm 18 (or ever) so I personally couldn't give too much of a **** if it gets changed or not. Though I suppose I could laugh at everybody else complaining about their inability to get legally off their face drunk on their 18th birthday.

With that said they'd have to be morons not to realise that this will make things so much worse.

I like the government, always winding everybody up. :pac:

xOxSinéadxOx

not gonna happen

tolosenc

Didn't Lenihan pretty much rule it out? On Prime Time he said that there could easily be constitutional challenges due to the fact that you are legally an adult at 18.

The drinking age is grand.

I agree with whats been said already, they should implement the already existing laws. And there should be a night in a cell for teenagers caught drinking and a 1000€+ fine for the parents. Get them from both angles.

SV

Drinking age isn't grand at all.

18 year olds, at least around here, might as well be 14.
I'm only 20 but there's a huge difference.

Black Swan

What's magic about age 21?

challengemaster

Non-drinker.. So I really don't give a hoot what it is

But, that said, implementing the current laws better would be a much much wiser move. 12-14~yr olds getting drunk, smoking, and having sex.. Great job Gardaí!

nonamemark

This won't work for two obvious reasons:

1. Just because the age is raised that doesn't mean every underage drinker in the country will say "oh no, the legal age is 21 now, we better stop drinking" the same risks will be there and the consequenses will be the same, yea it will be different for pub owners and like but most kids get other people to buy drink for them. How many times have kids came up and asked you? They always do it because someone eventually buys it for them.

2. It will increase the number of underage drinkers. Thousands of 18 - 20 year olds that are regular drinkers will become underage and will find a way to keep drinking. Most of the heavy drinking is done in houses anyway so they can just get friends to buy it for them. I'm 21, most of my friends are 19 and 20 and I would buy drink for them no problem.

Fremen

**** it, let's push the drinking age up to 47. By then, people will have forgotten how to have fun anyway....


Edit: Just read one of the links from this thread:

The legal drinking age in Ireland could be raised from 18 to 21, in a bid to curb the country's growing under-age alcohol problem.

Hilarious! get rid of the underage drinking problem by creating more underage drinkers! I'd love to meet the genius who came up with that idea.

Spaceman Spiff

They bring this up in Canada seemingly every year as well. Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec are sensible enough to keep it at 18, the rest of the country feels you reach another echelon of maturity at 19.

The whole thing is ridiculous. At 18 you are considered responsible enough to vote for the leaders of your country, join the armed forces to defend your country, pay taxes to support your country, but you aren't responsible to buy a drink. ****ing brilliant.

Holsten

Fremen wrote: »

Hilarious! get rid of the underage drinking problem by creating more underage drinkers! I'd love to meet the genius who came up with that idea.

Hahah classic. :pac:

Sam Vimes

Mossy Monk wrote: »

How exactly will this curb underage drinking? Somebody please explain this to me.

well duh, underage drinking is currently illegal but when the age is put up to 21 it'll be MORE illegal and everyone will stop. it's obvious!!!

Irish Halo

xXxHariboxXx wrote: »

in America teens travel to other countries and states where drinking age is lower just so they can get pissed.

21 is the legal alcohol purchasing in all states in America, if they change it they will receive no federal funding for their highways.

he National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 states that revenue will be withheld from states that allow the purchase of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21.

In some states (19) there is actually no minimum age for consumption of alcohol it us only illegal to buy it