Underage Drinking and Driving

Our Stories: the Underage Drinking Problem

New Zealand Drinking age

 In 1999, the drinking age was decreased from 21 to 18. Since then, people have argued that the amount of deaths caused by drinking has increased, and that the drinking age needs to be raised again. Many people believe that raising the drinking age will solve everything, but is this really necessary? 

 Alcohol-related death rates have skyrocketed due to what experts describe as a binge-drinking culture entrenched in Kiwi Youth. Coroners have noted alcohol as a feature of the deaths of 1100 Kiwis over the past decade. The number of deaths that have occured throughout the country have risen from 41 casualties in the year 2000 to 254 in 2008. In 2009, the figure sits at 137, but is incomplete as some inquests are still open. Last month, Chief Coroner Neil MacLean released statistics showing 12 teenagers had died from binge-drinking since July 1, 2007. The issue was highlighted after the death of Auckland schoolboy James Webster, who died in his sleep last month after drinking vodka straight. National Addiction Center director Doug Sellman said the figures were "very concerning". The rising death rate correlated with increased heavy drinking among kiwi youth after the lowering of the buying age in 1999. Depending on how you define "alcohol related" death, some estimates are much higher, up to more than 1000 per year. Hundreds of medical professionals have called for the drinking age to be raised. The Law Commission has published a detailed report ("Alcohol in our lives: Curbing the harm") also calling for the age to be raised to 20. 

 TV One's Colmar Brunton survey of 1000 voters found 74 percent wanted it change while 24 percent said it shoulde stay at 18. Other recent polls have also shown a strong majority in favour of rasing the age limit. The Law Commission, which last month issued its report on liquor laws, has recommended raising the age limit and also put up a raft of other proposals which the Government is considering. Parliament voted 11 years ago to lower the drinking age from 20 to 18 last voted on it in 2006, when a majority favoured keeping it at 18. 

  
 The reason to raise the drinking age is because so many people drink and drive. According to a study based on data from New Zealand, lowering the drinking age increases car crashes among youth. The drinking age was lowered from 20 to 18 in 1999. This study found that the rate of traffic crashes and injuries increased 12% for 18-19 year old males and 14% among 15-17 year old males comparing the four years before and after the New Zealand legislature lowered the drinking age to 18. For females, rated rose 51% for 18-19 year olds could be prevented if New Zealand raised their minimum legal drinking age.

 What needs to done is restricted access to the youth so sensible drinking can be learnt. 18 years old is perfectly fine for someone to drink, the problem it the amount we are drinking. I believe the drinking age should remain at 18 within licensed bars and cafes, but off license shops need to be 20. This will target the binge drinking culture as binge drinking usually occurs outside licensed bar.

 Raising the drinking age to 20 is not going to stop ages ranging from 12 to 19 from drinking we have always been under-age drinking will always be under-age drinking. No matter what the drinking age increases, people under the age from 18 to 20 are going to have access to buy and drink alcohol. Parents can buy alcohol for their child; a friend's parent can buy it; sibling; aunty, uncle; cousin; or older friend. So anyone can buy alcohol and can offer it to underage drinkers. People under the current drinking age can get alcohol. It is just a bit harder than for them people over the drinking age. If the age is raised it will just cause more underage drinking and a lot of anger towards the government. There is no way to stop teenagers drinking.

 Another problem we are facing with is the amount of resources that will be wasted by trying to enforce an already abused law. To change we should spent enormous budgets and even the law has changed still the teenagers will ignore it. 
 
 Mount Manganui GP Tony Farrell, a Fellow of the Chapter of Addiction Medicine and head of the Tauranga branch of the Alcohol Action Group, supported raising the drinking age, but said it would not go far enough. "The most important thing the government could do is raise the prices of alcohol, and reduce advertising and availabilty. "Raising the age will have some impact but not really enough to stem with the tide of alcohol related damage. This is not the most important issue with respect to solving the binge drinking problem".

 In my opinion I think the law won't be changed so I think it will be better for the teenager to give permission for drinking when they are with adults or their parents.

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