THE proposal to change the purchase age for off sales to 21 has fuelled much debate.
We agree that solely targeting young people deflects from addressing the other important issue of adults drinking and their influence as role models.
Howe
ver, the issue of alcohol-related disorder is not a minority problem and those of legal drinking age will still be able to do so in pubs and clubs. This could help in three ways:
• Encourage the 18- to 21-year-old age group to drink in a safer, more controlled environment.
• Reduce the number of 18- to 21-year-olds buying alcohol for those even younger.
• Reduce the effects of "pre-loading", where 18- to 21-year-olds are already drunk by the time they are entering licensed premises.
Across the world the purchase age for drinking alcohol varies.
Some countries, including Sweden and Denmark, have different age limits for off-licence purchase. Finland has different age limits depending on the strength of the alcohol being purchased. In parts of the US, age limits vary according to whether a person is accompanied by an adult.
Other critics have pointed out what they perceive are anomalies, but there are age differentials within many areas in life – for example, you can vote at 18 but can't become an MP until 21.
The full article contains 235 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
