Legal Age Limit

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 15:18

Should the legal age for drinking be raised to 21 in the UK?

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 16:08

It does not stop under age people getting alcohol or admittance to pubs now so raising the age probably wouldnt help a lot No1...

gibson335


Joined: 01/11/2008
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 16:14

I don't think it is really an age thing as much as the volume of alcohol that is drunk. I was going into pub's and drinking when I was 14 ( but I was 6 feet 1" at the time) but I never over drank. Nowadays it seem's that younger drinkers , male and female, aren't happy unless they are legless. The ridiculous 24 hour drinking laws introduced by this stupid Government haven't helped the situation either and have only succeeded in stretching Hospital and Police services to the limit which ultimately is to everyone's cost

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 16:44

It has been all day drinking in Scotland since the late 70's, as it has in many countries abroad, i honestly believe its a culture thing a lot.

jock1



Joined: 06/01/2008
Posts: 3786

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 16:52

Dont know where the words, a lot came from................

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 16:58

They don't seem to have the 'drink' problems in America that we have. Is it because the age limit is 21?

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 17:02

It was illegal for chidlren under 16 to smoke... I had my first when I was twelve!



The law is not the thing.... parents are...



My mother caught my sister smoking and sat her down with a whole packet and made her smoke them one after the other until she was physically sick.. she has never had another one....



We teach our children many things but it seems giving them an appreciation of cider, beer and wine is often overlooked. As they hear about these things, we are trying to de-mystify the whole thing and take it out of the realm of peer pressure allowing them to try the odd taste here and there whilst making no secret of the effects and how we feel about people who don't know how to have good time without getting off their heads...



Luckily for us they seem to get it...

mitsybrian


Joined: 16/05/2008
Posts: 40

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 17:05

I, we live in T.R.N.C. this is a Cyprus Forum B.B. Go ask on a U.K. B.B.

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 18:36

I live here too and this forum and most of the others include world wide topics, probably most days.



This may be a very relevant to some people who still have familes in UK, maybe students and/or grand children for which drinking etc may be perceived as a problem.



As a couple have already stated, my first venture to a pub was when I was 15. My parents were aware but if I had stepped out of line I would have got a good thumping!!



I agree with earlier post, the problem is at home. There is no control not helped of course by intolerable peer pressure.



I cannot see raising the age would be any real impact but why do not authorities implement the laws already in place. First close down without warning any premises that sells alcohol to under age people. Second prosecute without warning anyone who buys for the under age. Stop all the pussy fotting about with warnings, maximum fines etc. It should be minimum fines with no limits.



Thats all I think!!

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 18:49

I agree with what both Groucho and yourself have said regarding the problem being at home. However it would appear that most of these so called Parents now days do not care about their children after the age of 11. They have no morals themselves so how are they going to install morals on their children?

Personally I'd like to see the age limit upped to 21 and like you said, make the laws tougher.

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 19:06

I ran a pub in a Midlands city centre in the mid-1980's.

Permitted hours then meant that pubs closed for 3 hours in the afternoon and closed at 10.30pm!

Even with these restricted hours the city centre was a war zone on Friday and Saturday nights, so I dont see how all day opening can be blamed in 2008.

Its just that British youngsters will drink to excess and fight everything in sight as a result.

Harlequin


Joined: 02/10/2008
Posts: 346

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 19:09

English drunken yobery was wondered at by the rest of Europe even in the middle ages.

Val44


Joined: 14/11/2008
Posts: 210

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 19:25

I think alcohol should be banned altogether. It is a dangerous drug that kills.

If you are to keep it legal. Why ban the younger consenting adults from using this drug? They can die in the Army fighting, but they can't have a beer?

Younger adults learn from there elders anyway. They see the stupid states that there parents/relatives get in. And copy.



Just my opinion from someone who has lost someone very close due to alcohol.



Val xx

Harlequin


Joined: 02/10/2008
Posts: 346

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 19:35

Three years into the reign of James I, his Parliament decided to act in regards to a growing social problem and enacted, in 1606, An Act For Repressing the Odious and Loathsome Sin of Drunkenness in the usual style of a preamble, which stated the reason for the law, followed by the actual law itself.



“Whereas the loathsome and odious sin of drunkenness is of late grown into common use within this Realm, being the root and foundation of many other enormous sins, as a bloodshed, stabbing, murder, swearing, fornication, adultery and such like, to the great dishonour of God, and of our nation, the overthrow of many good arts and manual trades, the disabling of divers workmen and the general impoverishing of many good subjects abusively wasting the good creatures of God."

Harlequin


Joined: 02/10/2008
Posts: 346

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 19:35

continued....



“Be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same, and all and every person or persons which after 40 days next following the end of this present session of Parliament, shall be drunk, and of the same offense of drunkenness shall be lawfully convicted, shall for each such offence forfeit and lose five shillings of lawful money of England to be paid within one week next after his, her or their conviction thereof....



“If the offender or offenders be not able to pay the said some of five shillings, then the offender or offenders shall be committed to the stocks for every offense, they are to remain by the space of six hours.”

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 19:36

I don't think altering the age limit will make any difference, I worked with a lot of young people and listening to them it seemed quite obvious that they did not go out for a drink, they went out to get drunk, and the drunker the better, some were quite proud to say that they were completely bladdered and hadn't got a clue how they got home, frightening really.

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 20:34

I think the age limits for alcohol should have lower and upper limits.



Lower 20.

Upper 50.





I frequently come across 50+ people who are drinking & driving,...



They obviously think they are knowledgeable, competent and capable!

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 20:39

ROBnJO, I frequently come across people who think they are knowledgable, competent and capable and they are not under the influence of alcohol.

Val44


Joined: 14/11/2008
Posts: 210

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 20:40

Yes the older generation seem to thiink they can drive ok after a few drinks. They also have ways to beat the breath test system.





Val xx

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
03/12/2008 20:43

No1



That will be policemen then?



p.s. off for a bottle or 2 .

britvic



Joined: 05/09/2008
Posts: 3039

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 00:18

banning it altogether will not work, the prohibition 1920-1933, proves this, and the only people who gained from this were the bootleggers who brought drugs into the country with the profits.

britvic



Joined: 05/09/2008
Posts: 3039

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 01:27

Has everyone gone to bed?

Navek



Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 2656

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 02:06

Hi britvic,



Still up



The problem with increasing the drink age limit would mean

a lot (borrowed from Jock1)

of 18, 19 & 20 year olds would likely be on the streets till late at night,



and what would they get up to?



Looks like a no win situation. :-(

arrry



Joined: 19/08/2008
Posts: 1235

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 02:17

Raising the age limit would make little or no difference.



They would still get it from somewhere or someone.



It is something that has got worse over the years .



Don't know the answer.



If it isn't booze it's drugs



Which is worse ??



Don't know how people get around the breathalyser though ??



Val must know something .

w26kay



Joined: 14/10/2007
Posts: 479

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 02:36

Groucho ... my Dad caught me with cigarettes and made me smoke a packet of 20 one after the other at age 18. I was not sick. He was.

He also (as a big whiskey drinker) made sure that "I could drink any man under the table". As a consequence I was never drunk when I was out, (from an early age), and yes ALL men were drunk before me (at an early age).

One thing I learnt (from an early age) is ... don't drink spirits... they can F£$$k your brain up. So I dont.

When I had my kids, many of their friends were left to fend for themselves on street corners. Parents too busy. I would rather my sons invite their friends into my home for a game of pool etc., than drink/drugs out in the street. My home was open house for these kids, and not a drink or drug in sight. We organised a football club for these kids, which still continues today after 20 years. Youth is what you make it. You can shape the future of the kids today with a little imagination, hard work, and their enthusiasm.

w26kay



Joined: 14/10/2007
Posts: 479

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 02:43

What is lacking today is the people to invest their free time in youth projects such as football, rugby etc., and brring these kids togehter, and focus their minds? It does not have to be sports related, but with my two it was so that was the way it went. Not enough people show commitment, real commitment to their children these days and that is what is lacking. You try going around a football pitch in freezing cold weather selling raffle tickets to raise funds for the team strip. Not easy!

gibson335


Joined: 01/11/2008
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 09:57

w26kay



You make some very salient point's there. However a lot of people have given up on organising children's activities due to the fact you now have to go through rigorous Health & Safety issues courtesy of the P.C. brigade. You cannot even organise conker contests anymore due to risk of injury and the risk of subsequent compensation claims entailing I nsurance liabilities etc. It has really become a farce in the U.K. ---probably why we live here!!!!!!!!

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 10:14

Conker World Championships to be held in TRNC... that's why I'm here ;¬)

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 10:16

Don't forget to soak it overnight in Vinegar.

gibson335


Joined: 01/11/2008
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 10:20

Doyen



What people will do to spice up their sex lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
04/12/2008 10:28

Good One gibson

w26kay



Joined: 14/10/2007
Posts: 479

Message Posted:
05/12/2008 01:48

Gibson, you make some very valid points, but my view is this.



These checks, and insurance provisions are there for a reason. It is a pity that people have given up on organising children's activities for this very reason. With the checks - if people have nothing to hide, then they have nothing to fear from being checked out. Insurance - with some activities this is a requirement, and it would be inappropriate to ignore the requirement.



It's my view that if you entrust your child's safety and welbeing to an organisation that is providing a service (whether that be voluntary, for business purposes, leisure or otherwise), as a responsible parent, I would want assurances that my children were coming into contact with appropriately checked adults who did not pose any risk to them. In addition that due consideration had been given to any insurance or liability implications.



Continued....

w26kay



Joined: 14/10/2007
Posts: 479

Message Posted:
05/12/2008 01:57

Yes, it is a pain to put all that into place, but once in place, and properly maintained, provides peace of mind for all concerned.



Maybe as "time is the new money" and dictates the rapid pace of life we lead today leaving little or no quality time even for ourselves, I can identify the difficulties. In reality, lack of time/other commitments would deter people from helping organise children's activities?



Therefore in simple terms it is just too time consuming, and it is evident that the youth of today are suffering as a consequence.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
05/12/2008 07:33

Doyen,



No need of vinegar here... leave it in the sun and "it" turns to rock... wink wink ;¬)

gibson335


Joined: 01/11/2008
Posts: 325

Message Posted:
05/12/2008 10:27

Kay



I also think part of it is that when we were kids you could play out in the streets in a much safer environment than seems possible today. Kids play out now and get hit in a drive by shooting--unheard of when we were young. So yes parents have to be much more aware but I still think the P.C.culture has taken so much away from children



Groucho



Must be a bugger for the underpants though

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
05/12/2008 10:31

Graeme, must say I agree with you on that. The PC brigade have ruined peoples lives. Very sad.

Tatlisu4me


Joined: 26/01/2008
Posts: 436

Message Posted:
05/12/2008 10:45

Kay totally agree with what you say, children are always facinated with cigs and my dad let me take a "drag" when I was small. It put me of forever, I hate the smell etc. Also my brothers and sisters must have had the same treatment as they do not smoke, my son does not smoke (wonder why).



Also have been in the same boat as you running a football team and having the kids back at our house, with some kids no matter what guidance you give them if they want to de-rail they will.



10 pint Tats