We often hear talk about raising the drinking age. Would this be a

good thing or a bad thing? People that are younger than the drinking age still manage to get their hands on

alcohol now, would raising the drinking age change much? Is it a solution to a problem- and are young people

really the problem? What do you think?

I think the solution is education, not with young people but with adults who need to set an example for their children. Its all very good in teaching young people not to drink, but if adults do it then young people see that example and think its okay.

Raising the drinking age wont change much, teenager get their alcohol from their parents or from friends who are able to buy it. I think educating those who are able to provide alcohol is the best choice.

I agree. Isn't it all about your attitude to alcohol? If you've watched your olds drinking in moderation growing up, (letting you have the odd sip here and there) then I reckon you're less likely to see it as a 'quick fix' in later life. Probably drink to enjoy rather than get munted.

I think raising the drinking age will have a positive effect. Those who argue otherwise forget how it was some 10 years ago when the drinking age was 20 or so.

Most of the problems that we are now seeing with youth drinking and under-age drinking was considerably less when the drinking age was 20.

Sure there were still under-age drinkers back then but it was difficult for most to acquire alcohol. now any 18yr old can buy boxes of beer at the supermarket and pass them on to their younger friends.

I'm not too sure that raising the drinking age will have any effect... I think it has more to do with our attitude, as VaNiDgE said.
All over europe kids can drink as of 16, and when they do, they dont get wasted, because they are brought up around it and its not much of a big deal. If we make them wait for longer they will want it more, and there will be more crime associated with it.
A lot of the time parents buy the alcohol for under-age teens to go out with.

And then what will we do when the 21yr olds can finally drink? (or however old it will be) They will probably just binge drink too.

I agree that attitudes need to be changed in regards to drinking. The Europeans offer us a great model with respect to youth drinking and for NZ to reach that level will take some time and a lot of effort from numerous agencies, changing cultural attitudes is not an easy task.

In the meantime something needs to be done, while not all solutions are holeproof, raising the drinking age (or the purchasing age) is one way of curbing the carnage in a relatively short amount of time.

Again, it's worth mentioning how things were in the olden days, like 10 or so years back when the drinking age was 20 or so. While a 18/19yr old couldn't buy alcohol, they could drink in bars when accompanied by their parents.