Drinking age

xXxHariboxXx · 18-04-2008 07:58PM #1

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 · 18-04-2008 08:01PM

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

connundrum · 18-04-2008 08:01PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:04PM

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.

.

xXxHariboxXx · 18-04-2008 08:08PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:08PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:10PM

Would prefer to see the existing laws properly implemented tbh.

buckfast4me · 18-04-2008 08:10PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:13PM

*civil war ensues*

Holsten · 18-04-2008 08:15PM

The drinking age is fine as it is.

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

Thrill · 18-04-2008 08:16PM

Push To Raise Irish Drinking Age To 21

.

ImDave · 18-04-2008 08:20PM

Can't imagine it making any difference

congo_90 · 18-04-2008 08:21PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:24PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:30PM

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

Overheal · 18-04-2008 08:31PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:32PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:32PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:33PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:35PM

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

Ross_Mahon · 18-04-2008 08:37PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:38PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:38PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:39PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:41PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:46PM

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

What fúcking retards voted for FF?

Dave! · 18-04-2008 08:50PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:55PM

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 · 18-04-2008 08:56PM

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 · 18-04-2008 09:04PM

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

I cant imagine this going through.

Dord · 18-04-2008 09:16PM

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

Drinking age

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