Legal age to consume alcohol is 21!!

Hartyk87

Ok im not sure if this is the right place to start this thread.

Im just wondering what other peoples views would be if the goverment decided to raise the intoxicating liquir act to 21 years of age.

Would it not solve alot of our problems such as RTA's, Street crime(rapes, murders, public order offences), unplanned pregnancies and of course alot of familly and health problems


Im just wondering what other people think.

I dont buy the whole irish been a drinking nation either by the way

Jesus Wept

Why stop there? We may as well bring back prohibition and wipe out crime and immoral behavior completely.

Snowie

i fdont think its badd for you I know that its not going to make the slightist bit of difference....aand it be pretty stupid if your 18 your and adult which measn your in charge of your own life!!!!

seanybiker

wouldnt bother me either way cos Im old enough to drink anyways. As long as they dont bring it upto 27 then Im happy.

liah

I think it's a stupid idea, personally, all it would do is increase the taboo factor resulting in even more idiots going on binges.

It's proven in cultures which employ a low or non-existent age limit that binge drinking and other various negative alcohol-related things are reduced significantly solely because people are exposed to it being used in a responsible, everyday manner (glass of wine at supper, beer after work, etc) and there's none of the taboo or rebellion factor tied to it.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Reduce the age limit

hussey

When I was 14 I couldn't get drunk as too hard to buy alcohol, so instead I bought drugs, as the drug dealers never asked for ID.

raising the age limits is not the solution, people will still get their kicks elsewhere.
Changing peoples attitude is the solution.

If I had a 16 year old, I would have no problem with them having a glass of wine or beer (in my own home), i would however have a problem with him/her getting drunk/binge drinking.

randylonghorn

Hartyk87 wrote: »

Im just wondering what other peoples views would be if the goverment decided to raise the intoxicating liquir act to 21 years of age.

Would it not solve alot of our problems such as RTA's, Street crime(rapes, murders, public order offences), unplanned pregnancies and of course alot of familly and health problems

No.

Now, if we as a society actually chose to educate our young people as to how to drink responsibly, and showed them some good example, THAT might have some effect (and not just between 18 and 21).

At the moment, the 3 preferred options in Ireland when it comes to parents dealing with their children and drink appear to be:

1) Total Abstinence ... the confirmation pledge syndrome.

2) Real Man-itis ... "get it down ya, 'twill put hair on yer <insert as appropriate>"

3) Ignorance is bliss ... "sure my kids wouldn't drink / variant: know when to stop!"

All 3 are about as valid as an FF economic policy.

I have many friends from Spain and elsewhere on the continent who were exposed to alcohol in a sensible way ... a drop of diluted wine on special occasions even as children, and gradually taught as teens to have a drink in the family home ... and when to stop!!

They look at people falling out of nightclubs at 3 in the morning and puking in the gutter much as we would look at Martians doing the congo down O'Connell St.

For that matter, I know (an unfortunately small number) of Irish people who were brought up the same way. It works here too ... even without the sun!!

TriceMarie

liah wrote: »

I think it's a stupid idea, personally, all it would do is increase the taboo factor resulting in even more idiots going on binges.

It's proven in cultures which employ a low or non-existent age limit that binge drinking and other various negative alcohol-related things are reduced significantly solely because people are exposed to it being used in a responsible, everyday manner (glass of wine at supper, beer after work, etc) and there's none of the taboo or rebellion factor tied to it.

I couldn't agree more

DonkeyStyle \o/

Hartyk87 wrote: »

Would it not solve alot of our problems such as ...

I don't see how, unless the majority of that crime is committed by drunk 18-21 year olds.

mikemac

From what I've seen, young people in Italy & France drink just as much as Irish people.

But that's a glass of wine with dinner most nights whereas here, it's all that alcohol in the space of a few hours.

Same amounts but completely different.

randylonghorn

randylonghorn wrote: »

No.

I have many friends from Spain and elsewhere on the continent who were exposed to alcohol in a sensible way ... a drop of diluted wine on special occasions even as children, and gradually taught as teens to have a drink in the family home ... and when to stop!!

They look at people falling out of nightclubs at 3 in the morning and puking in the gutter much as we would look at Martians doing the congo down O'Connell St.

For that matter, I know (an unfortunately small number) of Irish people who were brought up the same way. It works here too ... even without the sun!!

That's the sensible answer, It's the way I intend to introduce my children to alcohol.

It's important to de-mistify this strange drink that makes grown-ups act silly after dringing a few glasses!

More importantly, take away the "rebellion aspect" of drinking, teenagers often doing the exact opposite of what their parants want them to do.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

What difference does it make what anti-drink laws they bring in when they aren't enforced?

drunkmonkey

Hartyk87 wrote: »

Im just wondering what other people think.

A pint of Heineken never raped anyone....and while were at it a spliff never murdered anyone...

we need less demon laws and more honest education...

phasers

I drank when I was 15, it wouldn't make a difference to me.

TheZohanS

drunkmonkey wrote: »

A pint of Heineken never raped anyone....and while were at it a spliff never murdered anyone...

RIP, gone but not forgotten spliffy.jpg

Caoimhín

Hartyk87 wrote: »

Would it not solve alot of our problems such as RTA's, Street crime(rapes, murders, public order offences), unplanned pregnancies and of course alot of familly and health problems

That is just wishful thinking. If kids under 21/18 want to get drink they will. I did, most people did. But even when i did, i didnt rape and murder people.

Kids getting drunk is a symptom of a deeper problem with our society, not the cause.

Insect Overlord

TheZohan wrote: »

RIP, gone but not forgotten.

Am I missing something there?
That link just opens up a blank page for me.

Mr Benevolent

[pedant]

The legal age to consume alcohol is 6. The legal age to buy the stuff is a different matter.

[/pedant]

TheZohanS

An File wrote: »

Am I missing something there?
That link just opens up a blank page for me.

Fixed

Spud83

Hartyk87 wrote: »

Would it not solve alot of our problems such as RTA's, Street crime(rapes, murders, public order offences), unplanned pregnancies and of course alot of familly and health problems

Now I haven't done the appropriate research but I'm fairly sure all these things occur in America.

drunkmonkey

Confab wrote: »

The legal age to consume alcohol is 6.

I had to wait until I was 8, are you sure it's 6?

Mr Benevolent

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I had to wait until I was 8, are you sure it's 6?

I started at 6 and never looked back. Seriously though, it's 6. This also explains all the angsty AH threads in the last while.

drunkmonkey

Caoimhín wrote: »

Kids getting drunk is a symptom of a deeper problem with our society

Kids get drunk cause it's a good laugh, you loose your inhibitions and it's easy to score girls.....nothing wrong with society, it's just the way it is...

http://3steg.com/img-gallery/drunk_kids.gif

Tellox

The only thing increasing the age limit would acheive would be a boost in off license sales, while pubs go under. Personally, I'd much prefer drunks in the pub than sitting around on park benches.

In any case, most people start drinking at 16/17 - increasing the legal age limit behind it wouldn't change that.

Cianos

Originally posted by Irish Politicians

18 21

Fixed your law. Now where's my paycheck?

.

Saruman

Is it not the case in England (not UK) that a 16 year old can drink as long as a parent buys it for them and they are eating food?
That sounds good to me. Countries with low alcohol ages and long or non stop trading hours tend to have the least problems. France and Italy for instance. I am just back from the Czech republic and they have 24 hour bars and I never once heard someone shout let alone any violence.

Disease Ridden

Haha, you nearly gave me a heart attack with that thread title, and me only out of bed!

Bottle_of_Smoke

Nah, 18-21 year olds dont appear to cause a greater amount of trouble on nights out.

Far more importantly, 18-21 year old females are in their prime for imitating unattainable celebrity bodies which I have been brainwashed into wanting to dick. You can't take that away from me.

Duckjob

The wonderfully Irish method of legislation:

Bring in a law but don't bother your arse enforcing it. At all.

Then, when that law predictably fails, keep bringing in ever more draconian laws to try to compensate, instead of actually focussing on enforcing the original legislation.

Maybe, just maybe, it would be more constructive to ramp up penalties for pubs and offies to are selling to under 18s so that, like in the US, it's just too risky to a business to not verify age of potential minors.

Nah, too much trouble - over 50s, that'll do it!

/rant

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Duckjob wrote: »

The wonderfully Irish method of legislation:

Make NO effort whatsover to understand the problem, just **** it under the carpet and hope it goes away all on its own

FYP

antodeco

Bring the entry age into nightclubs down along with alcohol consumption.

Giggidy.

Trog

antodeco wrote: »

Bring the entry age into women down along with alcohol consumption.

Giggidy.

Fixed.

Saruman

The US already has the over 21 law and it is strictly enforced. Almost every bar will ID you, I see people who are obviously in their 40's with grey beards getting ID'd over there all the time.

That said, the US has a larger underage drinking problem than Ireland from what I can tell. Especially among college students and especially at spring break.

These laws even combined with enforcement DO NOT WORK.

Fighting Irish

lower the age to 16 and allow pubs to open 24hrs if they choose

Takk

Lowering it would at least eliminate a lot of underage drinking

meditraitor

Dynamo Kev wrote: »

Lowering it would at least eliminate a lot of underage drinking

eliminating the age limit would stop underage drinking completely:o

Theta

To be honest with you raising the drinking age would just add to the counter productive thinking that the goverment already uses in regards to booze in this country.

As someone said already you just need to educate people and to try and change the culture surrounding drinking which the government has been unable/unwilling to do. For instance reducing the opening hours of pub/clubs was another stupid idea! Now people just reduce the amount of time it takes them to get hammered by drinking quicker and because everyone is out on the street at the same time it cause fights/unsociable behaviour. If anything the opposite would of had a better effect with people having no rush to drink unlike what i see these days where people see its one and they have to get a shed load of drinks in before kicking out time.

Making alcohol harding to get is like telly a child they cant have sweets they will just get them another way! You need to change the thinking rather then the law.

Take many european countries they have a far better attitude to drinking and far more relaxed laws. I know some people will say that that wont work in this country because of our culture towards drinking but isnt it time we change that?

KeyLimePie

In case you haven't noticed....people under 18 get drunk anyway :-)
raising the drinking age to 21 wouldn't change anything !

also it's an optional part, but you don't have to sell spirits to people under 21 :-)

Eric Cartman

randylonghorn wrote: »

No.

Now, if we as a society actually chose to educate our young people as to how to drink responsibly, and showed them some good example, THAT might have some effect (and not just between 18 and 21).

At the moment, the 3 preferred options in Ireland when it comes to parents dealing with their children and drink appear to be:

1) Total Abstinence ... the confirmation pledge syndrome.

2) Real Man-itis ... "get it down ya, 'twill put hair on yer <insert as appropriate>"

3) Ignorance is bliss ... "sure my kids wouldn't drink / variant: know when to stop!"

All 3 are about as valid as an FF economic policy.

I have many friends from Spain and elsewhere on the continent who were exposed to alcohol in a sensible way ... a drop of diluted wine on special occasions even as children, and gradually taught as teens to have a drink in the family home ... and when to stop!!

They look at people falling out of nightclubs at 3 in the morning and puking in the gutter much as we would look at Martians doing the congo down O'Connell St.

For that matter, I know (an unfortunately small number) of Irish people who were brought up the same way. It works here too ... even without the sun!!

i thought that confirmation pledge was just my school, did every school do it ?

the day of my confirmation me and two of my friends got a can of beer out of one of their houses and went up the local park, was awful but we had to break the pledge, tried to get our hands on drugs too, closest we came was a cigarette but that did us fine at the time

Eric Cartman

Fighting Irish wrote: »

lower the age to 16 and allow pubs to open 24hrs if they choose

only if you lower the age of consent to 16 , or id be a paedophile within days of this

fat frog + underage birds = Erics Go Time

Biggins

Won't happen - end of story.

Too many powerful folk - a lot in the Dail to begin with - own public houses.
They don't want to see their profits even further hit in bar and off licence sales.

Won't happen, the profiteers, well connected and powerful will see to that.
End of story.

5318008!

Fighting Irish wrote: »

lower the age to 16 and allow pubs to open 24hrs if they choose

The legal drinking age should not be decreased.

Underage drinking is an important part of the whole teenage rebellion thing, which (unless taken to the extreme) is an important part of growing up. The government are not some all-knowing elite, they're just the douche-bags and turd sandwiches who've licked enough arse to make it to the top. And as a result their rules should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Age restrictions on alcohol are a very good way of showing young adults that sometimes it's ok to break the rules (as long as no-one gets hurt).

Kersmash

People under 18 get wasted all the time, the laws not stopping them, so how's it gonna stop 18-20 year olds if the age is raised? Ridiculous idea IMO. If anything it should be lowered, and people should be brought up without this notion that drink is a big mystery, and thus end up getting absolutly ****faced and binge when they do get the chance. If they were educated properly about drinky things would be all well and dandy.

Overheal

It was as nice growing up to have wild underage drinking as it probably was to have lived in the states and enjoyed the STI fruits of wild underage sex and reefer madness.

I wouldn't have a problem with 21 only that its become such a culture thing - especially in college.

However, you can NOT ignore the number of road fatalaties involving young drivers and alcohol.

tbh more needs to be done to enforce the standing drinking law of 18 and ID checks. Having said that an 18 year old (still young brave and stupid) has no problem buying for 15 year olds - guilty. Again you can't ignore the 18-21 bracket that has no problem supplying their friends in the 13-17 bracket. I think if the research were to be done you'd find after a certain age someones likelihood to provide a minor with alcohol drops off significantly.

in the end I think the culture value of it would be better off with a 21 law. How many times have we read in PI "omg what do I do without a Pub to pick up ladies at?!" erm...parks and recreation? the gym? bowling? Dry up young people's fun enough and they will give up and go play scrabble like our grandaddies wanted us to.

daheff

As far as i can see changing the age to 21 is illegal under the constitution. you cannot discriminate against anybody between 18 and 65 on grounds of age.

Hartyk87

Hartyk87 wrote: »

Ok im not sure if this is the right place to start this thread.

Im just wondering what other peoples views would be if the goverment decided to raise the intoxicating liquir act to 21 years of age.

Would it not solve alot of our problems such as RTA's, Street crime(rapes, murders, public order offences), unplanned pregnancies and of course alot of familly and health problems

What in god's name has drinking to do with unplanned pregnanices? Do you think only women under the age of 21 have unplanned pregnancies?
That is so absurd

Zangetsu

Hartyk87 wrote: »

Ok im not sure if this is the right place to start this thread.

Im just wondering what other peoples views would be if the goverment decided to raise the intoxicating liquir act to 21 years of age.

Would it not solve alot of our problems such as RTA's, Street crime(rapes, murders, public order offences), unplanned pregnancies and of course alot of familly and health problems


Im just wondering what other people think.

I dont buy the whole irish been a drinking nation either by the way

They could raise the drinking age to 50 if they wanted, wopuldn't make a differance...

Overheal

daheff wrote: »

As far as i can see changing the age to 21 is illegal under the constitution. you cannot discriminate against anybody between 18 and 65 on grounds of age.

You would have to abolish the 21-license on some pubs and clubs then. You would also have to tell insurance companies they can't charge more for younger drivers.

Dublin_Gunner

To the OP - this really is a silly argument.

Lets look at stupid things the government has brought in.

1) Smoking ban - mm, didn't work. People still smoke just as much.
2) Tobacco to only 18+ - eh, that didn't work either, I've rarely seen any young wan / fella asked for ID in a shop when buying smokes.
3)Only sell 20 packs - all that did was piss off people who had relied on buying only 10 at a time - now they're forced to buy 20. Kids just split the packs between them.
4) Off Licenses close at 10 - all that did was piss the responsible people off by having to get to the off licence early, to buy booze for the party or whatever, and the off license owners have had their opening hours cut, that great for the economy. Underagers still get the gargle the same way, only now they are definitely drunk earlier on in the evening.

So would bringing the age limit up solve anything?? Eh, nope. Just lead to more underage drinking as more people would then be underage, but still drinking I suppose., more people drunk in the streets, more social drug use possibly.

Our government has always tried to tackle these issues the completely wrong way, and they've always backfired.

useful_contacts

seanybiker wrote: »

wouldnt bother me either way cos Im old enough to drink anyways. As long as they dont bring it upto 27 then Im happy.

what he said