Should The Drinking Age Be Raised To 21 ?

I strongly believe the drinking age should not be raised to 21 as it will not be solving the problem of underage drinking , it will just lead to 18-20 year old's drinking in the streets. Many new privileges are offered to eighteen year old's in New Zealand as they are now mature enough to take on these particular responsibilities, so why not be able to drink alcohol ?. However this doesn't stop the violence caused by the binge drinking culture in New Zealand, raising the drinking age isn't the correct way of going about it this issue.

The drinking age should not be raised to 21 as it will not be solving the problem of underage drinking. By raising the drinking age they are trying to prevent underage drinking, it will not stop this problem as no matter what the drinking age is, there is still going to be underage people consuming alcohol.People underage are very capable of accessing alcohol as it can be brought by parents, siblings,aunties,cousins and older friends so raising the drinking age will have a minimal effect. The want for a raise of the drinking age is the result of a few irresponsible people abusing the use of alcohol and wrecking the privilege for others. It is more important to more thoroughly enforce underage drinking with the current drinking age of 18.

Raising the drinking age to 21 is the wrong path of action as it will lead to to 18-20 year old's drinking in the streets. If they are not allowed into bars or clubs for drinks, drinkers will resort to house parties and the streets to binge drink in an uncontrolled environment. This a bad thing because if there in a bar or club the bartender can refuse to serve them if there to intoxicated , bouncers and security guards are on duty to control any bad behaviour. So isn't it safer for the community for drinkers to be in bars or clubs instead of illegal drinking in the streets ?

I disagree with changing the drinking age to 21 because other privileges are offered to eighteen year old's as they are now 'mature enough'. This would be hypercritical to deny them the privilege of being able to purchase alcohol. In New Zealand once you turn eighteen you are able to vote,drive,marry, have to pay adult fares, become an MP,and go to war to fight for your country as you have supposedly matured. If eighteen year old's are offered these bigger responsibilities they should be responsible and trusted enough to be able to purchase alcoholic beverages.

However the binge drinking culture in New Zealand is caused an increase in domestic violence . This violence is generally the result of a few irresponsible people lashing out because they are not in control of themselves . These few people are charged and dealt with , their mistakes should not wreck the alcohol buying privilege for responsible people 18+ who deserve the right to buy a drink.

In conclusion I strongly believe the drinking age should not be raised to 21 because it will not properly solve the underage drinking issue at hand , it will just result in to 18-20 year olds drinking in the streets and endangering the community , we need to trust in the young society of New Zealand as at eighteen they are are offered the full privileges of an adult. Even though it causes intoxicated violence the mistakes of these people should not bring down the majority of responsible New Zealand citizens.

By LilyRose Dyer.