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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Do you think the drinking age should be raised to 21?

32 replies

lilystyles · 12/10/2010 11:13

In America the legal drinking age is 21, I was wondering what parents thought of this being imposed over here and whether it could help to curb the binge drinking culture?

OP posts:
TrillianAstra · 12/10/2010 11:14

No, I think it's ridiculous that the legal drinking age is 21 in America and would not want to see changes like that over here.
If you are old enough to drive a car, vote, pay taxes, get married, then you are old enough to drink.

LynetteScavo · 12/10/2010 11:16

No.

OrmRenewed · 12/10/2010 11:18

No.

2bloodyshoes · 12/10/2010 11:19

no
why punish the majority for the actions of the few

juuule · 12/10/2010 11:21

No

DandyDan · 12/10/2010 11:24

Nope.

exexpat · 12/10/2010 11:30

No. If anything I think it should be brought down to 16 but with restrictions (eg only being able to drink on licensed premises) so that teenagers could drink in pubs rather than hanging round in parks getting completely pissed. But I think the idea of a minimum price per unit, in supermarkets as well as bars, is worth looking at to deter binge drinking.

When I was 15/16/17 I regularly went to pubs (with older friends - I looked a lot older than I was) but certainly couldn't afford to get drunk. So I (and most of my contemporaries) learnt to drink slowly as a sociable thing rather than drinking to get drunk. Now that ID checking is so strict it is almost impossible to do that, and instead teenagers get hold of ridiculously cheap supermarket alcohol and drink it all at once away from any kind of supervision.

TrillianAstra · 12/10/2010 11:37

In Germany I believe the age to buy wine/beer is 16 but for spirits you must be 18.

ant3nna · 12/10/2010 11:53

No. I have a few friends that only started drinking when they came to uni and they are the ones that seem not to be able to moderate their intake. I can imagine it would be worse if they had left it until 21. Think kid in a sweetshop.

I think it would be much better if you could drink in a pub at 16 under the supervision of the landlord. My parents say that it was like this when they were young (mum was in the darts team at 15) but they knew that a) the landlord wouldn't let them get steam and b) if they caused any trouble they would get barred.

You don't magically learn how to drink responsibly by virtue of being 21 - it has to be learnt and the best way is to learn through experience.

expatinscotland · 12/10/2010 11:55

No.

I think the drinking age in America is at the root of a lot of its serious drug problem.

It's often far easier to get drugs than booze, so kids use those instead.

BaggedandTagged · 12/10/2010 12:01

No. I think it should be lowered to 16 (albeit limited to wine and beer sold for consumption on the premises)

I used to drink wine at home when I was 14 with my parent's knowledge - not loads, just a glass every few nights with dinner/ sunday lunch. It made it less of a big deal. I'd do the same with my children.

Hulababy · 12/10/2010 12:01

No

pickledbabe · 12/10/2010 12:05

no, it's a dreadful idea.

I agree with that teenagers should be introduced to alcohol in such a way that it makes them sensible - ie not witness adults binge drinking and learn how to have one or two drinks.
I also believe that this extreme ID checking and Think 25 campaigns are helping to encourage irresponsible drinking.

remember America came up with the Prohibition idea, and look how well that turned out...

sue52 · 12/10/2010 13:22

No. It's tough enough keeping them out of pubs till they're 18.

maryz · 12/10/2010 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DustDustDust · 12/10/2010 19:37

Definitely not. In my opinion it should be 16 for wine/beer/etc. and remain 18 for stuff like vodka.

I'm only 16 and I'd say at least 60% of my year regularly drink, either through sneaking into pubs or just drinking at parties, and in parks or beaches. tbh it would be a lot better for everyone if you could drink small amounts at 16. Proper drinking wouldn't be so cool and desirable. It's not currently well enforced anyway.

Ishouldhavechosenagoldfish · 12/10/2010 19:41

No. It wouldn't actually make any difference to all the 14yo cider drinkers anyway.

iwastooearlytobeayummymummy · 12/10/2010 19:41

If I ruled the world I would reduce the legal age for alcohol to 16 in licenced premises ,( maybe sales of lower alcohol beers and wines only,until the age of 18.)

But raise the age for off licence sales to 21 and over.

As others have mentioned alcohol would then be consumed by teens in safer, supervised surroundings.

And it would be much easier to enforce all round.

nameymcnamechange · 12/10/2010 19:44

No.

(But I would raise the driving age in this country to 21).

Alouiseg · 12/10/2010 19:44

No but I love going out in America and not being surrounded by drunk teenagers. Going out is for proper grown ups there.

mummyloveslucy · 12/10/2010 19:57

Well, I thinks it's strange that the legal age to have sex in this country is 16, but you have to wait another 2 years to have a drink. Hmm Madness!

mummyloveslucy · 12/10/2010 20:07

I think the legal age to have sex should be raised rather than the drinking age lowered.

mumeeee · 12/10/2010 21:49

mummyloveslucy. I agree with you.

cory · 13/10/2010 08:45

No. A 20yo is an adult and should be treated like an adult.

exexpat · 13/10/2010 11:20

Alouiseg - I wish I could go out in the centre of town in the UK and not be surrounded by drunk people old enough to know better but who have got into the habit of drinking to get drunk....

There are some nice quiet pubs for real grown-ups though: they're the ones that don't have big signs for 2-for-1 offers, loud music and bouncers outside.

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