[Confucius]

Originally Posted by Kebabhead

Wind the clock back to when you were 18.

If the government upped the limit based on what you said what would your reaction be as an 18 year old???

Not much, I was never particularly into pubbing/clubbing, not at all in fact. I regularly had a glass of wine with a meal (at home) from my pre-teens, which was, and remains, legal.

Should the age limit be raised the 'hurt feelings' of some barely adult individual are not harm, despite what they may think.

[Aaron D84]

I don't agree with it. When you are 18 you are classed as an adult and as an adult you are supposedly responsible and should be able to make your own choices.

Sure people mature alot as they get older but they mature due to life in general and by learning from their mistakes.

The problem isn't alcohol, it's the people drinking the alcohol. It's very rare that i see trouble when i'm out but that's because i generally avoid the kind of places where people just go out to get ****** rather than go out for a purpose such as listen to music.

People will still fight and be sick when they have had a drink regardless off age and raising the age limit will not change a thing. I know plenty of people of all different ages and some of the worst offenders for alcohol and fighting etc and responsible drinking are above the proposed age limit.

If it happens then in 5 years down the line people will be talking about raising the limit to 25 when it is percieved that people are still fighting and being sick on a weekend and the younger generations are blamed.

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

I've read some funny things in GC but this one is right up there, to be telling people when they should want to get married

...

Maybe we need a tongue in cheek smile on here...
Or perhaps I should have put a string of faces after it?

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by Kebabhead

Wind the clock back to when you were 18.

If the government upped the limit based on what you said what would your reaction be as an 18 year old???

Speaking for myself, I was hardly chomping at the bit to start drinking.
I just did so because the law suddenly said I had permission to enter pubs and do so legally.
If it were that the law was 21 instead, so be it.
I don't think I would have taken the hump.
Would I have suddenly started drinking in a park instead?
No.
I had no interest in drink for drink's sake.
I wanted to get into pubs legally.

[pringtef]

A substantial number of the European countries have had the drinking age at 16 for non distilled alcohol for years, without the level of associated drinking problems in the UK.

Education is far more important than any raising of the legal age limit for alcohol purchase/consumption.

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by pringtef

A substantial number of the European countries have had the drinking age at 16 for non distilled alcohol for years, without the level of associated drinking problems in the UK.

Education is far more important than any raising of the legal age limit for alcohol purchase/consumption.

Same applies for sex education, the education out there in Holland is far superior to what is available to teens here.
But the UK always manage to get these things wrong, they want profitable measures, education isn't a strong point of ours

[ste v p]

And yet in some areas of the states they are considering lowering the limit to 18 to avoid people going crazy at frat parties with kegs etc.

I was similar to iccz, I'd been drinking a couple of years before I turned 18 and I don't think I drink any more responsibly now than I did then (not that i'm an irresponsible drinker).

I honestly think the issue isn't with age, it's with the drinking culture and binge drinking. The problem is that this is so much harder to affect by using legislation. I'd be worried that a raise in the drinking age would just be so the government are seen to be doing something.

[Steven]

Originally Posted by bowfer

Speaking for myself, I was hardly chomping at the bit to start drinking.
I just did so because the law suddenly said I had permission to enter pubs and do so legally.
If it were that the law was 21 instead, so be it.
I don't think I would have taken the hump.
Would I have suddenly started drinking in a park instead?
No.
I had no interest in drink for drink's sake.
I wanted to get into pubs legally.

You do not have to be 18 to enter pubs.

Enjoying a pub lunch and a cool refreshing beverage in a beer garden on a summer's day is something I believe everyone should enjoy as soon as they can walk

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by ste1000

And yet in some areas of the states they are considering lowering the limit to 18 to avoid people going crazy at frat parties with kegs etc.

I was similar to iccz, I'd been drinking a couple of years before I turned 18 and I don't think I drink any more responsibly now than I did then (not that i'm an irresponsible drinker).

I honestly think the issue isn't with age, it's with the drinking culture and binge drinking. The problem is that this is so much harder to affect by using legislation. I'd be worried that a raise in the drinking age would just be so the government are seen to be doing something.

Bang on about the drinking culture, I rarely drink these days, the odd JD and Coke to be social when out etc, when younger I never drank huge amounts or got "wasted" on a regular basis, given it did happen, but it's not something that I've ever done for consecutive nights or for multiple weekends in a row.

Yet there are many people I know my age that are the opposite of me, age has no impact on these actions.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

You do not have to be 18 to enter pubs.

No ****, Sherlock...
You do to drink alcohol, which is the whole point of the thread.

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by bowfer

No ****, Sherlock...
You do to drink alcohol, which is the whole point of the thread.

I think he was referring to the part of your thread that said "I wanted to get into pubs legally", a bit pedantic perhaps that you forgot to mention you wanted to go there for a drink? *shrugs*

[Steven]

Originally Posted by bowfer

No ****, Sherlock...
You do to drink alcohol, which is the whole point of the thread.

I do not solely deserve your praise - I am sure I'm not the only one to work out you do not need to be 18 to have permission to enter a pub as they serve wonderful non-alcoholic drinks and food. In any case, in this weather iced water is free over the counter

[Dony]

People who want to go out and get bladdered at 16 will still do it, but there will undoubtedly be those who will respect the law. Even if it's a tiny minority then so be it.

Personally I feel the sole responsibility lies with how our parents attitude towards alcohol effects their children. If it's seen as a very normal everyday part of life, children will take up drinking sooner.

My parents viewed alcohol as something for an occasion, even if that occasion was simply watching The Late Late show on a Friday night ! I left home and moved to London when I was 18, worked in a bar part time for 4 yrs, and had my 1st drink at 22 (my leaving party!).

The legal age of buying drink was irrelevant to me.

[Dony]

Where do people stand on giving children a small glass of wine at home, as it's something I'm struggling with.

Many of our friends see it as very normal to give their children a small glass, and feel that it's best they learn about alcohol from home. I can see their point to a certain degree, but I'm not totally convinced.

I think it's probably because I feel those same friends drink too much anyway, and never need an excuse to open a bottle of wine, so in a way, it masks they own problem (for want of a better word).

Have any of you been brought up being allowed the occasional glass of wine from a young age? Or have you allowed your own children to drink and they are now old enough to make their own decisions about it? Was it the right choice?

I've lived in France, so have seen the positive side of it, but French culture is very different from ours.

[BMAN07]

for me if you increased it to 21 then that means ill have to wait another 2 years again.. and to be honest that aint fair

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by Dony

If it's seen as a very normal everyday part of life, children will take up drinking sooner.

I don't agree with this at all.
I think peer pressure has more to do with drink than anything else.
18YO's are still very immature, pretty much universally, IMO (although they will think they are oh so grown up...)
So peer pressure still comes into it, at 18.
I don't think it does at 21.
21YO's should have moved on from that.

[hornydragon]

Just found these photos of what hgappens when the sun goes down Cardiff Nights are Great Nights - Attuworld.com And TBH its a bit shocking but only a bit You get used to just not going to town on certain days/events! Its a small negative of many positives but i wont matter what age you set the limit it will be the same, you could even ban booze completey and the streets wouldn't look any better after 3 a.m. on and international day.

[Dony]

What I meant by that was in my experience, the friends I had at 16 who would get plastered were the kids whose parents didn't know where they were because they were in the pub at the time!

Of course it always helped when there were a few of them together, then peer pressure would come into it when deciding how many litres of cider to wash down the Buckfast.

[loz]

Originally Posted by bowfer

No ****, Sherlock...
You do to drink alcohol, which is the whole point of the thread.

err, no.

AIUI, you can consume alcohol with a meal in a pub/restaurant at 16. As long as someone over 18 is buying it.

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by loz

err, no.

AIUI, you can consume alcohol with a meal in a pub/restaurant at 16. As long as someone over 18 is buying it.

Erm not all alcohol...... beer, cider or Perry IIRC with food in a restaurant (doesn't count in a bar)

And scotland may have different laws they seem to have tighter laws on booze than england

EDIT: Actually less so (16 to buy beer with food in desinated area) http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/...ut/DG_10026210

[DJT75]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

I do not solely deserve your praise - I am sure I'm not the only one to work out you do not need to be 18 to have permission to enter a pub as they serve wonderful non-alcoholic drinks and food. In any case, in this weather iced water is free over the counter

You DO need to be 18 to enter a pub on your own. You can enter the pub at a lesser age if that particular pub allows aslong as you are with someone over 18 & you're not drinking. Most city/town centre pubs have a strict 18 rule anyway, others may allow 14 or 16 year olds, then family pubs allow anyone - but if you want to enter on your own you must be 18 regardless.

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by DJT75

others may allow 14 or 16 year olds, then family pubs allow anyone - but if you want to enter on your own you must be 18 regardless.

I was sure it was 16....Alcohol, your child and the law : Directgov - Parents Doesn't state you cant enter a pub under 16 just you cant buy booze under 18

[OldAndSenile]

We spent years telling kids sex was wrong and they shouldn't do it. Now we have the highest "underage" pregnancy levels in Europe.

We spent years telling kids that taking drugs was wrong. We have a bigger drug problem now than ever before.

We're telling kids now that drinking is wrong. We've got a bigger drinking problem developing in this country than ever.

Something tells me we might be approaching this all wrong...

[loz]

Originally Posted by hornydragon

beer, cider or Perry IIRC with food in a restaurant (doesn't count in a bar)

It doesn't have to be a restaurant as such - any premises is OK, as long as it you are sat at a table having a meal. (so pub, bar, whatever you want to call it)

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by DJT75

You DO need to be 18 to enter a pub on your own.

Not in Scotland.
A 16/17 year old can enter a pub and buy beer/wine/cider, provided it is to accompany a meal and the area is used solely for eating meals.

[hornydragon]

Originally Posted by bowfer

Not in Scotland.
A 16/17 year old can enter a pub and buy beer/wine/cider, provided it is to accompany a meal and the area is used solely for eating meals.

If only I had lived in scotland at 16.... Do you get order as much beer as you want with the meal.....

I'll Have 10 pints of stella and green salad please bar keep!

[OldAndSenile]

Originally Posted by hornydragon

If only I had lived in scotland at 16.... Do you get order as much beer as you want with the meal.....

Ordering a green salad in a pub in Scotland makes you a braver man than me!

[fortean]

Originally Posted by Dony

Where do people stand on giving children a small glass of wine at home, as it's something I'm struggling with.

Many of our friends see it as very normal to give their children a small glass, and feel that it's best they learn about alcohol from home. I can see their point to a certain degree, but I'm not totally convinced.

I think it's probably because I feel those same friends drink too much anyway, and never need an excuse to open a bottle of wine, so in a way, it masks they own problem (for want of a better word).

Have any of you been brought up being allowed the occasional glass of wine from a young age? Or have you allowed your own children to drink and they are now old enough to make their own decisions about it? Was it the right choice?

I've lived in France, so have seen the positive side of it, but French culture is very different from ours.

I was allowed a sip of sherry at Christmas and a little wine with plenty of lemonade on occasion from a young age. I also did the same for my eldest son, 28 now, and also for my other son who's 9. I'll also allow my daughter the same when she's about 8'ish.

From about 15 on I was also allowed to have a half pint of cider when on holiday in Cornwall and a half of lager in the social club my parents used to go to.

I didn't actually get drunk until I made my own wine when I was about 20. I've never know my eldest son get drunk, though he probably has but not whilst he lived with me.

The point is there was never any mystery to alcohol. It was seen as just an occasional drink for both me and my son.

[loz]

Originally Posted by fortean

I was allowed a sip of sherry at Christmas and a little wine with plenty of lemonade on occasion from a young age.

Similar to me

Originally Posted by fortean

From about 15 on I was also allowed to have a half pint of cider when on holiday in Cornwall and a half of lager in the social club my parents used to go to.

Similar to me

Originally Posted by fortean

I didn't actually get drunk until I made my own wine when I was about 20.

Whereas I was getting blathered from about 15 on...

So that early introduction served no purpose in reducing the temptation to get drunk in my case.

Originally Posted by fortean

The point is there was never any mystery to alcohol. It was seen as just an occasional drink for both me and my son.

The point is everyone is different, and you just can't generalise...

[hornydragon]

I never Drank Cider in a park or any of that jazz I could get served in pubs at 15 and started clubbing before 16 by the time is was 17 i was more bothered about driving than drinking...

My parents were generally relaxed about alcohol when i lived at home, my sister doesnt really drink at all.