The debate over whether the current drinking age of 18 is the correct age, or the 'best age', has been raging almost non stop since it was lowered from 20 to 18 in 1999. For every argument for keeping the age at 18 there is a counter argument for raising the age back to 20. Almost everyone has a strong opinion on the subject and usually several reasons backing their opinion. In the USA where the drinking age is currently 21 and has been so since the government of Ronald Reagan in 1984, 77% of Americans are opposed to lowering the drinking age, this is in line with a TV1 survey showing that currently 74% of New Zealander's are in favour of raising the drinking age in NZ to 20. This begs the question, why does the majority of the public believe when you are of legal age to do almost anything, you are not mature enough to purchase alcohol for yourself?
The drinking age in New Zealand was originally 20 years of age and remained 20 for a long time. In 1999 after much debate a law was narrowly passed lowering the drinking age to 18, after 11 years of the drinking age remaining 18, 74% of New Zealanders are now in favour of it being raised back to 20, and there is a large amount of statistical information to back the proposed change.
Raising the drinking age back to 21 in America lowered the percentage of fatal car accidents for people aged between 18 and 20 by 13% and saved approximately 21,887 lives from 1975-2002.Raising the drinking age or keeping it high obviously has a very far reaching and positive impact on older teenagers that are more prone to drink and drive. Although can't this be said for any age group? I'm sure raising the drinking age from 21 to 25 would greatly decrease the amount of fatal accidents occurring in that age group. You could keep going as high as you wanted and I am positive you would see a decrease in car accidents in every age group that it became illegal to drink in. But the number of fatalities due to drink driving is only one aspect of alcohol related deaths, there is alcohol related suicide/homicide, alcohol poisoning, as well as as illnesses caused from excessive alcohol consumption. Yet the biggest argument for the opposition of leaving the drinking age at 18 years old is trying to lower the road toll of alcohol related deaths. So when the topic of raising the drinking age is brought to our attention, why is the sole argument point usually about the road toll?
From 1994 to 2002 the number of apprehensions and arrests of 18-20 year olds in New Zealand almost doubled which at a glance would seem to be a result of the drinking age being lowered. But the total number of apprehensions and arrests for all age groups also increased dramatically. 18-20 year olds still represented the same percentage of total apprehensions and arrests, staying at around 17% over the 8 year period. This points to a different reason for the increase, most probably something to do with policing or population increase, and other things unrelated to the drinking age.So 18 and 19 year olds only account for around 17% of arrests for disorderly, offensive or threatening behaviour and fighting in public. Is it really fair to punish the masses of 18 and 19 year olds for the indiscretions of a few?
In America there is a growing argument that having the drinking age at 21 does nothing but force 18-21 year olds to drink 'underground', increasing the likelihood of injuries and even fatalities in that age group as they are scared to call for help because they will be punished for drinking in the first place. There are a number of leading academics taking
on this point of view including David J. Hanson, an alcohol policy expert at the State University of New York-Potsdam. Do we really want to force 18 year olds to drink underground where they are to scared to call an ambulance if something gets out of hand, ultimately leading to deaths solely caused by raising the drinking age. This is exactly what happened to an 18 year old in America going through a frat house initiation.
At 18 years of age in New Zealand you can join the army, get married, adopt a child, buy a gun, drive a car, serve on a jury, and will be trialed in court as an adult. Yet the government is trying to raise the drinking age to 20, they are effectively saying at 18 you are an adult but not mature enough to be able to drink.
In my opinion, if I am not mature enough to drink at 18, then you must also raise the age at which I am able to vote, go to war and serve on a jury. If i cannot drink surely I am not mature enough to decide who is best to run our country, defend our country in war, let alone mature enough to decide if someone is innocent or guilty in a court of law.
References:
Ministry of Justice, New Zealand. 4 Indicators of alcohol-related offending by those under 20 years old and all ages-disorderly behaviour. Retrieved September 26th 2010
http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/publications-archived/2002/young-people-and-alcohol-some-statistics-to-2002-on-possible-effects-of-lowering-the-drinking-age/4-indicators-of-alcohol-related-offending-by-those-under-20-years-old-and-all-ages-disorderly-behaviour
Most Americans Oppose Lowering Legal Drinking Age to 18 Nationwide. Retrieved September 26th 2010
http://www.gallup.com/poll/28237/most-americans-oppose-lowering-legal-drinking-age-nationwide.aspx
NZ Herald. Drinking age back on the ballot. Retrieved September 26th 2010
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10123936
U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic Safety Facts 2002, Alcohol.
Retrieved from http://drinkingage.procon.org/sourcefiles/2002ALCFACTS.pdf
MSNBC. Debate on lower drinking age bubbling up. Retrieved September 26th 2010
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20249460/
I can see your point of view. I don't want to say if raise the drinking age is right or wrong. In my opinion, raise the drinking age wouldn't do anything effectively. 18 years old would still be able to get alcohol from their other adult friends anyway if they want to. If their social contact group has some one who can legally get alcohol, they would be able to get some share for sure. If drunk drivers are the main issue, why don't we do something against drunk driving. I have argued this in my blog as well. Why don't send the drunk drivers (especially the re-offenders) to prisons. Get them works in the prisons and pay for their own living cost and legal expenses. :))
ReplyDeleteYou have well argued this topic. I believe you have debated most of the valued points.
I have to disagree. Raising the drinking age will have beneficial effects. Its not saying that there will no longer be drunk driving but I feel there will be a considerable reduction. And yes I may sound like an old lady but if you look at the contexts of becoming intoxicated and the age group of people who attend these events where drinking and socilaising is rampant one can see why raising the drinking age would have a dramatic effect.
ReplyDeleteHopefully by 21 you would be more mature than what you were at 18. Look at the difference between 18 and 15 year olds. By being more mature one would (hopefully) have the foresight to consider the events that could happen when one is drunk - eg: drunk driving, fights etc etc. Thats not to say that people over 21 don't get drunk and drive and get into fights, they do but at a much lower percentage than young people who are clubbing, going to the pub etc.
But you have some good points with some hard evidence which makes your argument more credible and allows your reader to see it from your perspective.
I believe that there will be a small reduction of change if the legal drinking age was raised.. Legal drinking age in the US is 21, yet there are still tons of report of under age drinking.
ReplyDeleteThere are still teens under the limit which will find ways to get access to alcohol and I don't think that people on legal age will obide to this law. They will still buy alcohol for the under age even though they know its illegal. As long as there is peer pressure teens will still drink, supervised or unsupervised.
I agree with Lusy.
ReplyDeleteRaise it for sure! We have a disturbing drinking culture in New Zealand and raising the drinking age to 21 (or even higher) could potentially save a lot of Kiwi lives. If raising the drinking age also decreases the number of muppets I have to deal with in town then I'm all for it... maybe I'll even go out more! However lets be honest... kids will be kids and there will always be adults/older siblings/the homeless to buy alcohol for them, so even if they aren't in the bars, they will be getting smashed at home....
It's a tricky topic thats for sure.... nice argument Zac :)
Hello!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all I'd like to say that that image at the top of the post made me thirsty.
I use to be quite vocal about NOT raising the drinking age, but now that im 21 and will be able to still drink regardless I'm starting to see the other side of the debate.
But i'm still fairly undecided. At 18 you can vote, go to prison, been able to drive for 3 years so why not be able to buy alcohol?
Maybe instead of raising the drinking age they could make the riskier alcoholic beverages like Spirits more expensive? But then responsible adults (like myself) would be out of pocket. It truely is a tough call with good points on both sides.
I'm a bit mixed on this argument, while i have seen first hand the affects alcohol has on those around the ages of 18 raising the age will probably change very little. There have been instances where alcohol is to blame for deaths under the drinking age and what's to say this won't happen if it is raised. It is because the younger generation has been emersed in this horrible drinking culture in New Zealand that all these accidents happen. Even if the price was raised these young adults will still be able to get their hands on the stuff (even if it gets them into debt) and it is unfair on those who drink responsibly. As i said its a hard topic to judge on, the younger generation is rather rebelious.
ReplyDeleteI like how you've handled this subject, you've managed to remain neutral on it to start with, citing pros and cons. I can see where you're coming from concerning this, and I do have to agree. There are countries with lower drinking age, Denmark with 16 and I suspect Belgium as well, that may be drinking age and not buying age, but details. I'm not knowledgable on the subject, so I cannot argue if that impacts on their society significantly or not.
ReplyDeleteI will have to say that I agree with you. Your strongest argument is the fact that New Zealanders are considered adults at 18, as they are able to marry and join the military. One alternative would be to legalise "lighter" alcohols, like beer, at the age of 18 and raise the age on heavier alcoholic beverages like vodka to 20/21. As the above comment mentioned, raising the price on heavier alcohols could also work.
A very controversial topic Zac and your right I don’t think this debate will stop anytime soon. I don’t think it’s so much the age as the issue of drinking in New Zealand but the accessibility of alcohol and how we are drinking it. I suppose being a democratic country and as you have stated 70% in favour of raising it, the raise should be considered. You have highlighted some key statistics in America raising their age to 21 and maybe raising the age here would reduce the number of accidents related to alcohol in that age group.
ReplyDeleteHowever I don’t think the age needs to be raised. It would punish a lot of people for the mistakes of a few as you have already highlighted. I don’t think raising the age would stop 18 and 19 year olds drinking. This age group will still find ways to purchase alcohol and drink. Simply raising the price could lead to less being drunk but then again that punishes all those who are responsible.
I agree with you, if you are able to vote and go to war, you should be able to enjoy a beer or drink at 18.
Good thoughts Zac.
ReplyDeleteI think the thing that sticks out at me here - and this is true of all the recent alcohol reforms in NZ - is that the root of the problem isn't being addressed. Raising the drinking age ain't gonna do a hell of a lot if the government isn't trying to address the causes of our drinking culture . Raising the age may help a little...but social analysts will also argue that it will only make underage drinking more 'renegade', and youngsters more determined to buck against it.