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Drinking age should be 21: Govt. Make it 18
August 26, 2007
New Delhi: The Delhi government may
have proposed to lower the drinking age from 25 to 21, but Delhiites
aren't saying 'cheers'. In fact, they see it as a halfway measure.
The refrain heard across the city is, "why not make it 18?"
When you can cast your vote, drive a vehicle and even sign a legal
contract at 18, why does the government seek to curb what is finally
a personal choice, wondered many indignant Delhiites.
''Imagine I'm 18 years old. It's my marriage
tomorrow but I won't be able to celebrate it with a drink,''
says Aastha Joshi. ''You know why? It's because
my government thinks that I'm not mature enough to drink, though
I can marry and raise a family.''
''The law hasn't stopped us from drinking now and it won't later,
so why are they undertaking this pointless exercise,'' asks Pawan
Gupta, a Class XII student.
Children and parents alike feel that if the government is finally
going to review the minimum age, it should take a rational view and
bring it at par with the age for voting and marriage.
Times View:
It's good the Delhi government plans to lower the drinking age
to 21. But it should be 18, the age at which people can drive and
vote. Youngsters usually start to drink around this age. So, the
legal bar of 25 years is invariably ignored. It'll be the same if
it stays at 21. Unrealistic laws are often broken. After breaking
a few such laws, people start disregarding laws as a whole. This
is undesirable for any society.
The proposed drinking age of 21 is at variance with the stipulated
legal age for adult activity/decisions, like driving and marriage.
There should be one uniform age to define adulthood.
Look who's happy during happy hours
New Delhi: Even as the government is contemplating bringing down
the legal age for drinking to 21 from 25, Delhiites aren't
too happy. They want it to be lowered to 18.
''The decision is silly. Practically speaking, what
does the government propose to do to tell 18 from 21?''
asks social worker Madhu Misra. ''Age proof is hardly
ever asked for and all pubs are catering to the youth. Who is the
government trying to fool?''
Social drinking starts even while kids are in school, very often
with the consent of parents, at school parties, club get-togethers
and nights-out with friends. ''We are letting our children
drink. It's not like we want them to become alcoholics but
controlled drinking is fine. Who is to define at what age one can
handle his/her drinks? There are numerous stories of alcohol abuse
in families, so 18 or 38 is not the issue here,'' says
businessman Prabhat Chugh.
The reality is quite apparent if one walks into a pub, especially
during evening hours. School and college students are often found
here during the 'happy hours' with the pub owners minding their
own business. While managers may for the record say that they try
their best to ensure nobody ''under-age'' is served alcohol, they
accept the fact that the under-21 lot forms a large part of their
clientele. ''We have happy hours from 4 pm to 8 pm all through the
week and the place is packed to capacity. It is obvious who is coming
here in the middle of the week if the adults are at work,'' said
the owner of a prominent pub in Connaught
Place.
However, some parents do have their apprehensions. ''Driving
may be fine but drunken driving is a completely different thing.
Children are growing up too fast these days and 21 years is a perfectly
fine age to allow them to drink. Getting married is fine but having
alcohol puts other people at risk,'' says Chandra Bhargava,
a consultant and mother of a 17-year-old.
But youngsters don't agree. ''I can see no logic
behind this decision. We are mature enough to deal with the world,
elect our leaders, often play a major role in supplementing the
family income, but suddenly this responsibility disappears when
it comes to alcohol,'' asks Latika Verma, a first year
student. And that's the common sentiment.
LET'S HAVE FUN: Though the law at present sets the age-limit at
25, pubs
in Delhi have another story to tell. No one asks for the age
proof here
Source: The Times Of India
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