Appearing on ABC1's Q&A program last night, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told a group of 200 young Australians that he'd personally like to see the legal drinking age lifted to 21 in order to reduce binge drinking and P-Plate deaths.
Rudd said that 'if the evidence is there and it is capable of being proven that it works, then we (will) look at these things and make a decision.'
He also said alcohol was a concerning factor in P-Plate driving deaths: '(The) drinking rates of young teenagers (is) going through the roof ... and hugely affecting their ability to, frankly, manoeuvre a car.'
Do you think lifting the drinking age to 21 would reduce binge drinking? Would it reduce P-Plate deaths?
3 Comments
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Paulwillfixit
almost 2 years ago
I'd rather they lifted the driving age to 21. It is already illegal to drink and drive if you are under 21. Kids should learn to get around on PT and bicycles rather than getting a car when they turn 18.
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Jess
almost 2 years ago
I can't imagine that lifting the drinking age to 21 would make much of a difference. It's fairly easy to procure alcohol when you're under 18, so I can't see why that would change by lifting the legal drinking age by a few years. If Rudd wants to reduce the rate of P-Plate deaths, he would have to change the hardwiring of the teenage brain.
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Jess
almost 2 years ago
... and I wholeheartedly agree with Paulwillfixit's comment on the bycle riding as opposed to car driving when teens turn 18. I just wish the roads in Melbourne were more accomodating.
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