Reader-submitted Article :
Why I believe the legal drinking age should be eighteen

Don

- May 10, 2013 at 08:16:33

I would like to say that this letter was written by an 11 year old and not a university-level student. Unfortunately, as a university professor, I can say that this is not outside of the norm. It would be easier to take this debate more seriously if it was presented more professionally. I am embarrassed at how low our standards have dropped in recent years (say thanks to senior administration and to the provincial government, who see education as a corporation, where actual pedagogy ranks far below budget). That said, this student not only demonstrates exceptionally weak communication skills, but likewise a very weak grasp of statistical analysis and its implications. Personally, I don't think it is important if the drinking age is 18 or 19, but I suspect that it wouldn't matter to this student either way. He's clearly been spending more time on George Street then he has on any college campus. Four or five years from now, he'll be complaining in the media that he can't get a decent job - failing to realize how he turned to a sense of entitlement instead of any serious educational engagement.

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bern

- May 2, 2013 at 23:26:43

I had my first six pack at 17 ,while attending mun at a smoker in the engineering faculty about fifty years ago. Perhaps the legal drinking age should be increased to thirty.

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Rad Op

- April 29, 2013 at 23:40:04

The legal drinking age in NL should be 21. There are enough youngsters on George Street now, imagine if they lowered it to 18.

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Citizen

- February 6, 2013 at 20:19:10

You really need to find some friends who have better things to do than drink. Have you thought about getting involved in sports? How about other activities? You are still maturing and in a few years you will understand why letting kids drink is really foolish and harmful.

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• 

  Buhda kahn

  - April 2, 2013 at 15:08:04

  The reason the drinkning age is 21 is due to basic reasoning development in the brain. The part of your brain that deals with resoning is not fully developed is most people until they are near the age of 21 years. Yes, many think this comes sooner than later. Drinking befor eth ebrain has completed its basic growth can also increase your chance for addition. While it may be harless to have a beer or wine when you 18 it is not recomended. Rob in Tampa. Fl

Champ

- January 11, 2013 at 19:20:05

If you are so sure that 18 year olds should be allowed to drink, the least you could do is to ensure that you write correctly without making spelling mistakes. High school students can write better than you.

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John

- December 15, 2012 at 16:09:04

Seeing you mention the Army and drinking in one breath I have to comment. When I joined the Army and was station in Calgary we had to be 21 to drink outside the base and 19 to drink on the base. Now to my point, you had to prove that at 19 you were capable of handling your booze which all of us were not and those who were not good at having a beer or two were banned from the mess. You had to show that you did not cause trouble or damage property. Now I am not saying all young people who drink are like that,but it is the few that are cause problems for all. So if you want to drink at a younger age in my mind like in the Army prove you can handle it with respect....

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Tammy

- December 4, 2012 at 16:45:31

As a Newfoundlander living in Alberta (where the legal age is 18) I have to say...the age for legal drinking should be 21. I also think the legal age for drivers licenses should be 18 or higher (due to the agriculture the driving age is 16 I believe, and many children on farms are given driving rights as young as 15). I see so many young people who are out of control. They can not handle the alcohol, responsibility of driving and/or being an "Adult". We need, as a society, to force our young people to stay young for longer!

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Tony Miller

- November 14, 2012 at 11:06:44

The age of legal alcohol consumption should be as in the US 21 years old. As is getting a drivers licence should be at least 18 years of age. I see today's youth more juvenille then many years ago and the level of maturity just isn't there. I agree some young adults are more mature then others but before we hand over a bottle or the car kets let's at least wait until they are out of there TEENS...we need to place an appropriate law for an age society beleives will produce the best result.

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A Jerk

- October 31, 2012 at 01:53:52

Get a fake ID and stop your whining! 1st world problem here. I bet you couldn't get an IPHONE 5 the 1st day it came out either. Why didn't you write an article about that?

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saltheart

- October 1, 2012 at 16:17:58

I think the age limit should be 21, just like in the states, i remember being downtown drunk all the time, what a waste of time, being sh$£$€T faced with friends is not as good a time when you get older and look back, drinking alcohol does not make you an adult, how you drink (responsible) and re-act when on alcohol, may show if you are mature or not, don't rush to be so grown up, life is far too short and remembering your young adult life when your older is what you'll be doing alot of. A lot of people , people who have been there will tell you that cliche, wish i knew then what i know now, downtown partying is one thing they would change, not saying that i didn't enjoy it, just wish i had my life set before i started, it will effect school, it will effect the rest of your life, you never know, i have lost some friends who at a young age started drinking and became addicted to it, you don't choose it, it chooses you... just relax Dear, enjoy your youth and if your friends were real friends, they would wait until you were old enough to go, just saying.

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Math

- September 3, 2012 at 22:07:47

Okay did anybody realize the atrocious mathematics? "I surveyed one hundred students from Memorial University" " My last question was do you think the drinking age in Newfoundland and Labrador should be changed from nineteen to eighteen, 59.2% said yes and 40.8% said no." 40.8% of 100 people is 40.8 people. Those statistics may work for a group of 1000 where 40.8% is 408 people but you can't chop someone into eight tenths of a person and still expect them to be able to answer a question. Your statistics are a joke.

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Ron Tizzard

- August 30, 2012 at 11:57:31

Spell Check....sorry to embarrass you, but while you castigated Brian for a simple typo i.e. spelling time incorrectly....you opened yourself up to receiving a little egg on your own face i.e. you wrote Hey Brian, You spelled 'time' wrong. 'WRONG' as you used it, was an ADVERB....and should have been spelled with an 'LY' i.e. wrongly. I wouldn't have called you on it except you were so quick to dump on Brian...lighten up a little and hold out a hand of apology, I bet Brian will be there to shake it, in a heartbeat. Now, back to the interesting important debate, which I think it is, for young people to discuss. Best wishes.

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EDfromRED

- August 23, 2012 at 15:07:32

Liquor laws are a sham. If people stopped drinking the Provincial Government would have a fit over the lost tax revenue. Been to a liquor store lately and seen the prices!? They'd start giving out free samples in High Schools to get people back to the bottle.

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M

- August 17, 2012 at 15:56:58

To be honest, most 19 year olds aren't mature enough to drink. Also, you're saying the age should be lowered to 18 and yet you're 18 and you're still drinking. It seems to me your major complaint is not getting into clubs which is really not enough of an argument to get the government to lower the age. Not to mention you wrote a letter to a newspaper saying that "It gets depressing when you are holding your friends back all because you are not considered old enough to drink alcohol". Stop whining, or get new friends.

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JB

- August 11, 2012 at 13:23:43

The quality of this gentleman's use of the English language is terrifying, considering he is in university. Is it just me or does our education system seem to be in a steady decline? Basic grammar and spelling should be mastered during high school studies, if not before ( in my opinion). The fact that this letter could have been written by an eleven-year-old does not help its cause in convincing our government to lower the age at which you can go into a licensed establishment and enjoy alcoholic beverages. In fact, ask most people who are old enough, they will disagree. There are enough immature young adults who already can't handle their alcohol in said bars, we really do not need more. Focus on your studies. It's pretty obvious that you need a grammar/spelling lesson more than you need access to clubs downtown.

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Yellowknifer

- August 3, 2012 at 18:37:02

Well Marius, You have rehashed a topic that every teenager has pondered with his/her friends since they could hold a beer bottle. Having had my first beer at 14 with a few friends, I can tell you after 20 plus years of drinking, that alcohol is an amazing thing. It gives you courage, it makes you do fun and stupid things, it is fun when around the right people and dangerous when around the wrong people. It can have such an unbelievably stong affect on one's ability to see things thru rational eyes and frame of mind that it should be truly illegal. It is THE most socially accepted drugs of all time. Do you remember the Prohibition years of the early 1900's...there was a reason for that. Do you know of friends and famly who have been affected by alcohol? I'm sure you do. Marius, there is plenty of time for downtown...and from what i've seeen of late on George St, you are not missing much. Give it time you will have plenty of time. Time is fleeting. enjoy sobriety, you'll remember more. Best of luck!!!!

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POSTER

- July 24, 2012 at 14:36:34

I also disagree with the article for several reasons, though I'll try and remain more respectful than some of my more grammar-obsessed colleagues. First, I am not sure you are really making an argument here. You are basically saying - people will drink when they are underage, thus we should lower the age? That is hardly convincing, considering the only downside you have pointed out to the 19-year rule is that it reduces the opportunity for 18-year old individuals to go to bars, and the resulting sense of frustration? This is not nearly sufficient of an issue that will urge policymakers to change the status quo. That in and of itself is fatal - in my opinion. However, you've also related drinking to military-service, driving and voting. Now, what you should be asking is why are these lower than 19? Presumably military-service so individuals can pursue a career in the military straight from high-school; to allow high-school students to drive, which permits certain job opportunities and reduces the burden on parents to chauffeur their children; and voting - that's a long political history. In my opinion - I don't believe you've adequately addressed why these are appropriate benchmarks. Although there's romantic appeal to equating drinking to the right to "fight wars," it is an artifical appeal. Despite that the drinking age is likely a relic from the prohibition times - you still haven't articulated any clear reasons for its deviation. So, I just don't think you've made a convincing argument for my part. But I will make two other observations not addressed. First, I believe it is MADD (maybe not) has consistently advocated maintaining higher age limits. They have produced statistical evidence that basically, for every year the age-limit is higher, it reduces over hundred thousand drinking and driving related deaths in the US. Now I generally dispise comments that just throw statistics out, and I admit that these stats may not be entirely reliable - but this is an argument I would consider at the least worth addressing. Second, I have always believed that St. John's (I cannot speak for the rest of the province) has an abnormal obsession with social drinking. It is difficult for those from 19 - 25 (roughly) to engage in social activities that do not involve drinking, difficult to date people without drinking, etc... I don't mean you have to drink personally, I mean the social environment seems to revolve around the act of drinking and such. Perhaps this fixation and lack of choice is the issue that more urgently requires addressing...

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James McNulty

- June 23, 2012 at 11:04:47

Such a sad, twisted sense of reality. I went through the same thing my first year, but I didn't whine about it to the paper. You sound like an unintelligent, childish whiner to the whole city. Just wait a while, I PROMISE you will turn 19. The government needs to act so I can go to George Street! Get over yourself! I have saved a copy of this article, as it is a hilarious example of the mindset of university freshman. What will your next user-submitted articles be? "Academic Probation is soooooo unfair"... followed by "What does failure to meet academic requirements for the second time mean?" and finally... "University is for conformist suckers...Raise minimum wage!" Put down the bottle and hit the books, Snooki.

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Kathy

- May 29, 2012 at 10:42:01

Just because kids drink before they are 19 doesn't mean they should. I believe they should raise the age to 21. You have many years ahead when you will be allowed to go "downtown". Don't rush it...it is not all it's cracked up to be!

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Spell Check

- April 20, 2012 at 16:40:32

Hey Brian, You spelled 'time' wrong. Idiot! Leave the kid alone. I'm sure he's at University learning to be a more valuable person to society that you are currently. Mauris, I like your report and your effort you've put into it, it's very well written and thought up! Here is a little fact though, drinking after you are 'of age' is no fun anymore! :) I used to have a scattered drink at a party while in middle school and high school and when I went to university it was no fun anymore. I guess we just did it to be bad and when it was no longer bad it was no fun.

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Spell Check

- April 20, 2012 at 16:38:39

Hey Brian, You spelled 'time' wrong. Idiot! Leave the kid alone. I'm sure he's at University learning to be a more valuable person to society that you are currently. Mauris, I like your report and your effort you've put into it, it's very well written and thought up! Here is a little fact though, drinking after you are 'of age' is no fun anymore! :) I used to have a scattered drink at a party while in middle school and high school and when I went to university it was no fun anymore. I guess we just did it to be bad and when it was no longer bad it was no fun.

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Nicole

- April 19, 2012 at 09:05:03

I believe that the age should be 21. As the saying goes "Young and Stupid". There is a big difference in getting your license and drinking. Drinking can make you be someone you dont want to be and to act and do stuff you wouldnt do. Drinking and driving in young adults is very common to say the least. Some come out with scraps, others could end up dead. But if you are stuck thinking about your self and your age group, its time for you to have a reality check....cause there is more then just youout there. But ask yourself why you need to drink to enjoy yourself....have a sociable when you of legal age. Plus...why rush life!!

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Advisor

- April 10, 2012 at 10:53:32

Marius, you are 18 years of age....with any luck at all, you'll live a long, successful and happy life. I'm sure we all wish that for you. What's the rush! The statute of limitations on the production of alcohol is not on the cusp of running out anytime soon...believe me! Marius, Instead of beating your chest in anguish, why don't you do some resaerch about why the age limitation is settled where it is....I'm sure, and wouldn't you agree, that it's likely established on some significant degree of research...and exploration of human growth, development, and legal-findings elements (i.e. the latter would have developed some stats which have shown up more frequently on the "police-blotter' vis a vis outcomes when younger people have driven while impaired. Be honest, you owe that to yourself. Marius, you are young, while I am not shocked that your age-group to some significant degree would support your position, TIME, EXPERIENCE AND GOOD RESEARCH are your hills to climb in getting your way on this question of legal drinking age... the designated age was established on good research and outcomes experience. Your degree of maturity will be judged on your acceptance of your society's laws, and the basis of their establishment. Marius, , if you are so driven to have a drink, or a bottle of beer...do the research, and make your argument...instead of pouting about how society, so to speak, is so unfairly treating your age group. Visit the library of Addictions Services and do the research on 'THE WHY' the age limit is where it is today. It wasn't established on the 'draw of a stray'. It was established to protect you and your's; and society from the abuse of alcohol and 'other drugs'...yes, Marius, alcohol is a drug...not a strong Pepsi. I challenge you to research a few months of court appearances and examine the stats related to 'alcohol impairment, by so-called adults'...I'll end here...I've made these few comments because I am concerned for you, and youth generally, and the ongoing debate about lowering the age-limit for drinking. Best wishes in your studies. Give yourself a break, ask yourself why you need to drink to enjoy yourself....have a sociable when you of legal age, what's the rush to 'impairment''?

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• 

  Sherri

  - June 8, 2012 at 11:50:32

  I couldn't agree more with your points here Advisor. Our legal drinking age is a much bigger sociopolitial issue than being presented by Marius. If he currently engages in drinking with his peers, and his only beef is that he can't get into bars & clubs, then I'd say find some friends to stay home and drink with. You could even start an "We don't have an ID social club". Make T-shirts, seize the day I say!

Advisor

- April 10, 2012 at 09:35:36

Marius, you are 18 years of age....with any luck at all, you'll live a long, successful and happy life. I'm sure we all wish that for you. What's the rush! The statute of limitations on the production of alcohol is not on the cusp of running out anytime soon...believe me! Marius, Instead of beating your chest in anguish, why don't you do some resaerch about why the age limitation is settled where it is....I'm sure, and wouldn't you agree, that it's likely established on some significant degree of research...and exploration of human growth, development, and legal-findings elements (i.e. the latter would have developed some stats which have shown up more frequently on the "police-blotter' vis a vis outcomes when younger people have driven while impaired. Be honest, you owe that to yourself. Marius, you are young, while I am not shocked that your age-group to some significant degree would support your position, TIME, EXPERIENCE AND GOOD RESEARCH are your hills to climb in getting your way on this question of legal drinking age... the designated age was established on good research and outcomes experience. Your degree of maturity will be judged on your acceptance of your society's laws, and the basis of their establishment. Marius, , if you are so driven to have a drink, or a bottle of beer...do the research, and make your argument...instead of pouting about how society, so to speak, is so unfairly treating your age group. Visit the library of Addictions Services and do the research on 'THE WHY' the age limit is where it is today. It wasn't established on the 'draw of a stray'. It was established to protect you and your's; and society from the abuse of alcohol and 'other drugs'...yes, Marius, alcohol is a drug...not a strong Pepsi. I challenge you to research a few months of court appearances and examine the stats related to 'alcohol impairment, by so-called adults'...I'll end here...I've made these few comments because I am concerned for you, and youth generally, and the ongoing debate about lowering the age-limit for drinking. Best wishes in your studies. Give yourself a break, ask yourself why you need to drink to enjoy yourself....have a sociable when you of legal age, what's the rush to 'impairment''?

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Social Issues abound

- April 4, 2012 at 19:30:34

Marius, with all due respect when you are a bit older and able to look back at some of the people that are regular drinkers at a younger age then you might be thankful. With the number of alcohol related deaths involving youth it is time for the Justice Department to crack down and parents to step up. Don't raise kids to be an embarrassment to you and themselves,

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• 

  Brian

  - April 9, 2012 at 15:38:21

  Relax. You have plenty of time left in your life to get drunk. With respect, I believe that you would be better off in an english grammar class for the time being . Besides, a person does not need to drink to have a good time.

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  Brian

  - April 9, 2012 at 15:47:45

  It is scary that a person can graduate high school and enter university with such a poor grasp of the english language and such poor spelling. Perhaps you need to spend less tiem drinking and more time studying. I suggest an englsih grammar class as a good starting point

Rod

- March 10, 2012 at 08:57:01

Marius, I say this with every respect for your sentiments...you need to grow up! Laws are not made for 'the each', they're developed and established following good, solid research...they are not meant to inconvenience, destroy somebody's social life. You strike me as an individual who enjoys life, with some degree of common sense. You made be the exception, a good reason perhaps for the authorities to drop the 'legal age' perhaps. But, you have to agree, it isn't logical, or reasonable to entertain that route, let alone responsible. The legal drinking like most legislation is/was developed like most other laws i.e. from research, studies from other jurisdictions..laws cannot be developed 'by the each', they are developed 'by the group...age group', and that decision is not without its nightmares...ask any police office, pathologist. Adolescents (not all), but for the most paret, are genetically set on 'fast forward'...pleae, don't even try to disagree, agin, it's in youe genetic-pool right now to think 'oh crap'! Laws are inconvenient when we are 'reined in by them', but, God-sends, when we experince any kind of 'near-missses' in life. Show your maturity Marius, suck-it up, you'll be out 'alive and well' fast enough...hopefully because you read this note, and listened to elders in your life who care for you. Ask them for a few bucks for a cab...my bet is they'll double it...even though they may think it'll be used for a beer. They, just want you home at the end of the day, not in a morgue.being autopsied. Read this a few more times, and others, then decide to grab a cab home, or call somebvody sober. Don't drive impaired, or with an impaired driver. Have a great weekend.

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• 

  Ann

  - March 21, 2012 at 12:10:20

  Not logical or reasonable? The governments of Alberta, Quebec and many European nations think that it is logical for 18 year olds to legally drink alcohol (as they are given all other adult rights/responsibilities). People can be guilty of drinking and driving at any age - including people under 19 who are illegally consuming alcohol. A much larger issue than "legal age" is the need to develop responsible drinking habits in our society as a whole.

amazed

- March 6, 2012 at 00:26:07

I gather this wasn't an issue for the writer until he went to MUN at age 18 and had friends older than him who went downtown? Relax kid, there is plenty of time to get faced and shag up your studies. The grammar thing and why it's mentioned; it's really noticeable.

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Shane

- February 27, 2012 at 16:43:07

Seems to me that the majority of those who disagree with the author of the article are using his level of grammar as an argument to discredit his point of view. While you're at it, why don't you start calling him names because that is on the same level. It only shows the weakness of your counter arguments on this subject. I always felt that either the drinking age be lowered to 18 or all of the obligations that are put upon you at age 18 need to be brought up to 19.

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Butwhy

- January 11, 2012 at 13:16:48

Why is it no one has any issue with an 18 year being old enough to be independent- can sign a contract that is enforcable - and can be a soldier and go to war and die for us but they arent old enough to decide if they can have a beer. The fact is that the majority of the public all drank before they were 19 - its an ineffective law. We let them smoke at 16 which is so much more lethal but they cant make a decision to have a glass of wine with a meal? The law truly does not make sense in this instance. The fact that you have to be different ages in different provinces makes no sense - you can be in Quebec most of your life and drink at 18 but if you move to NL part way through its now illegal? It does not make sense. ...adn no I'm not 18 - I'm 42 and drank before i was 19 and am not a raging alcoholic.

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Tuckamore

- December 29, 2011 at 14:53:47

Well, one thing I'm sure happy that some have the smarts that the age should stay the same! There is more to life than drinking, wish I had followed that rule in life! Regrets I have few but not much I can do about that but if you ask an 18, 17 year old if the age should be lowered they will mostly agree! I've seen kids as low as the age of 9 drunk in this province! Come on, they pay someone a few bucks and they buy the booze! There are things to do in life besides drinking, get out and enjoy life!

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A concerned citizen

- December 26, 2011 at 07:46:55

I am concerned for the future of our society if this letter, and many of the postings that follow, is an issue of importance for our youth.

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jack

- December 16, 2011 at 15:26:01

ALCOHOL SHOULD BE PUT INTO OUR CARS , NOT OIL AND NOT OUR BODIES ,,,, dont you people get that ???? wow the govt really are making people more stupid !!!!

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Cassie

- December 15, 2011 at 16:11:38

While we're at it, why not lower the drinking age to 17, I'm sure some 17 year old can figure out an argument to work in this case. Why are kids so anxious to grow up. I doubt the drinking age is going to change, my advice, get friends your age, you can stay home and be miserable together while the "cool kids" go clubbing downtown

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Cassie

- December 15, 2011 at 16:07:12

While we're at it, why not lower the drinking age to 17, I'm sure some 17 year old can figure out an argument to work in this case. Why are kids so anxious to grow up. I doubt the drinking age is going to change, my advice, get friends your age, you can stay home and be miserable together while the "cool kids" go clubbing downtown

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occasional drinker

- December 14, 2011 at 10:28:52

The Right to Drink at 18? NOT, raise the drinking age to 21, and I also think the Government should tighten up on the liquor laws regarding closing times of bars to 12pm weekdays and 1pm weekends, To all you language experts (I'm not one of them) Marius obviously got her point across. You took time to blast Marius for the grammer. Blame any grammer mistakes on cellphones and text messaging - these luxuries are changing the world for what is acceptable.

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It doesn't matter.

- December 7, 2011 at 14:13:49

Well well well, this paper which was no doubt created as a joke has certainly stirred the interest of in wide array of people. I first applaud you Marius, in your effort to put an end to something so trivial as the legal drinking age. Second, I must condemn the "nay sayers" in the comments sections and the people who criticize the grammar in the paper, who do not have a developed enough brain to take the facts out of it. I am willing to bet that without the built in spell checker would have plenty of errors as well. And finally to the people who say that you should concentrate on your studies must be completing a English degree because of there impeccable typing skills and grammar. In all fairness, I am in my fifth year of engineering studies and I can say that when there is a group outing after lengthy exams it is nice to go out and have a drink but when you are not old enough it can really suck. Good job Marius, shame on everyone who criticized you. Who expects the youth to speak their mind if they idiots like this shooting them down on every opportunity.

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Young Adult

- December 6, 2011 at 17:46:05

I agree that your credibility kind of dies with the lack of grammar (not saying that mine is perfect by any means). It makes the article seem very unprofessional. Regarding the topic, I believe 19 is a good age for drinking, possibly even higher. 18 year olds may have some responsibilities, but drinking should not be one of them.

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An actual supporter

- November 24, 2011 at 18:52:23

I believe some of you are missing the point of the article. If you're responsible enough to do 'adult' at 18 such as pay bills and drive then you should be responsible enough to do things that are actually enjoyable such as consuming alcohol. It's completely unfair to to bring his 'bad' grammar and punctuation into this topic...nobody is perfect, and we all make mistakes. Being 18 myself I could care less about the drinking age as alcohol is so easy to get, but I do like the idea of having bracelets that allow you to get into bars so you can go dancing instead of buying alcohol. There's nothing for us 18 year olds to do besides go to the mall and not all of us actually like hanging out there and getting looks from the older people who scrutinize us for just being teenagers and believing we're all up to no good. So good job on bringing forth this topic because something needs to be changed about the drinking age or at least the age to get into the clubs downtown. And if it doesn't I might just come over sometime, Marius and have a few drinks with you so you wont be so lonely

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TommyL

- November 17, 2011 at 15:58:04

The time you took to write this letter and conduct your survey would have been better spent getting outside your apartment actually meeting people that do not "need" to go downtown drunk in order to have a good time. If you were actually a responsible adult, like you claim, you would have known that. Responsible adults do not sit around their apartments drunk and depressed wishing they were old enough to join in the drunken times downtown. Be responsible and wait for your turn, you'll have the rest of your life to join in, if that's what you choose to do. The fact that you get drunk and then depressed when your of age friends go downtown to party and leave you alone, does not mean the laws need to be changed. Come back and re-read this letter when you are 40 and see what your stance is then, Peace and Love!

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Rhys Toogood

- November 16, 2011 at 06:18:08

As a European I find North American attitudes on alcohol and age are tempered by the temperance movement, a bit too prohibitive. I am not sure at what age I first drank alcohol, I know I had an evening job as a barman when I was 16. In the UK children are allowed to drink in the company of a responsible adult. You can’t take them into the bar, so family’s drink in the beer garden of the pub. In France they allow children with an adult into the bar. Don’t think of European children binge drinking with their parents, its a small glass of wine to drink with your meal, or half a pint of week beer to have with your cheese rolls. Responsible drinking to enhance the pleasure of your meal. In the UK alcohol is readily available in multiple outlets at much lower prices than Canada, so not surprisingly we drink more than Canadians. What is surprising is that the death rate from alcohol related diseases is lower in the UK. Could this indicate that starting occasional responsible drinking younger, makes you less likely to turn into an alcoholic?

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Johnny Law

- November 9, 2011 at 15:21:57

Goodness gracious. I certainly hope this piece does not reflect quality of our high school students. Terrible grammar, poor syntax, a misunderstanding of basic statistical principles and - worst of all - a horribly flawed premise. I now question MUN's admission requirements.

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H. Dyke

- October 28, 2011 at 13:11:43

To the author: your credibility is undermined by the poor spelling and grammar. Your research is flawed in that you only polled university students. That is not a balanced representation of society. To Bud Gould: citing the Charter? Seriously? You want the Charter of Rights to be used to protect the "right" to drink in a public establishment? The Charter (and more specifically S. 15) were not designed for that.

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Michael Hickey

- October 22, 2011 at 16:41:38

The legal drinking age should be 21 and not 19

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jack

- October 17, 2011 at 16:14:07

alcohol should be pumped into our cars not our bodies, best fight against oil and addictions , for alcohol is the introductory drug.

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Retried Military

- October 16, 2011 at 11:19:14

somehow the logic of sending a young person in harms way to dodge bullets when he/she is 18 yet refusing to serve that same person a drink until he/she is 19 escapes me. Moreover, the logic that a young person is mature enough to vote at 18 yet not mature enough to consume alcohol until 19 seems to have a faulty premise. For the record I am 69 years old and do not use alcohol. But in any event the laws needs to be consistent. If the government wants an 18 year old to have the responsibilities of an adult then that one should also have the privileges of an adult.

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taxpayertoo

- October 11, 2011 at 14:46:53

I started university at the age of 16, back in the day it was no problem to go to a bar or get booze. I understand that the laws are a bit tougher these days, however there are also alot more choices for todays youth than in the 70's and there are often shows for folks not old enough to get into bars. I am strongly against lowering the drinking age. As stated anyone who really wants to drink will do so regardless of age but at least by having a 19 legal age will dissuade some from starting early. There is alot of talk about drugs and the harm it does but not near enough about the evils of alcohol. Alcoholics have serious problems similar to a junkie, only difference is that they can get their drug of choice way easier, actually making the problem bigger. Kids will always be tempted to try the forbidden, however more emphasis should be placed on the dangers of drinking irresponsibaly.

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Lunchy

- October 5, 2011 at 13:26:35

Marius, you'll be 19 soon. Get over it.

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Newfoundlander away

- October 4, 2011 at 16:24:00

In Alberta the legal age for drinking alcohol is 18, just saying!

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Bud Gould

- October 1, 2011 at 21:46:05

The laws of Canada says that a person is an adult at the age of eighteen. The Canadian charter of rights and freedoms dt the Constitution Act states that you cannot be discriminated against by age. Schedule B Constitution Act, 1982 Enacted as Schedule B to the Canada Act 1982 (U.K.) 1982, c. 11, which came into force on April 17, 1982. PART I Canadian charter of rights and freedoms. 15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability. Not much point having a constitution if it's going to be ignored.

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Lainey

- October 1, 2011 at 13:04:39

Personally, I would advocate for a graduated system of drinking laws, as there is a graduated system of driving laws (ie: driving with an adult present, not driving after midnight etc.) A culture that teaches alcohol consumption responsibly, slowly and not with the glorification of binge drinking is probably less likely to have the issues that we have in North American universities. For instance - at age 16 a person could legally have one drink with only family members present, at age 17 they may be allowed to order one drink at a restaurant with family members present, and so on. When moderate social drinking is promoted, I would think that people would be less likely to go off to university and binge drink as a way of rebelling. Whatever the laws are , I'm sure people will break them, but I think steps need to be taken to teach younger people about drinking safely before they reach a birthday when they can legally go wild.

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Nick Griffin

- September 29, 2011 at 00:26:08

I think this guy whoever posted this letter to the editor, needs to spend more time on his studies. He seems to be more worried about his nightlife than studies. Drinking has become one great danger for the Newfoundland youth. They can't live without drinking. Again I am not saying that, its the statistics taken from CNA and Memorial University students from different campuses over Newfoundland. People are more concerned about drinking or legalisation of Marijuana. They should be more concerned about finding good jobs and raising a family.

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  Lainey

  - October 1, 2011 at 17:58:28

  People can be concerned about a multitude of issues simultaneously. Drinking age and responsible drinking habits are something that should be discussed in the public sphere, as are issues about the number of jobs available. The fact that this issue has been written about in a letter to the editor impresses me, with or without the spelling errors. It's important that people take their concerns to the government or the public. For someone to take the time to write a letter (and to do a survey) rather than simply breaking a law and not considering the reasoning behind it, is a positive thing. There are people of all ages who do not use proper grammar and spelling, and it is unfair to dismiss this man's letter due to a few errors.

wayne

- September 23, 2011 at 12:34:54

perhaps you should concentrate more on your spelling and punctuation while your friends are at clubs making fools of themselves

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  Mike Hunt

  - November 2, 2012 at 08:25:02

  wayne- September 23, 2011 at 12:34:54 perhaps you should concentrate more on your spelling and punctuation while your friends are at clubs making fools of themselves Best comment. Whining about not pickling your liver earlier is definately a sign that you are too immature to understand the consequences of alcohol. . . and the "poor me stuck home alone while everyone is out shrinking their brain and pi$$ing away their grocery budget on making fools of themselves, is just pathetic.

Shauna

- August 30, 2011 at 10:15:53

Firstly, "I believe its time for government to act on this issue" - this is not an issue,. this is a complaint, the government having to choose between spending money on roads or schools is an issue. You're statistics of the age of people in your school and how easy it was for them to get alcohol is irrelevant, as well is the fact the at 18 you can do an abundance of other high responsibility activities. Drinking is a completely different responsibility as you could be the most responsible person on earth, but when intoxicated you are not really yourself. I am not saying I don't think 18 year olds shouldn't be allowed to drink, I felt I was under control enough at 18 to be allowed to g to the bar, I went through the same thing during college, and it totally sucked, but it happens to at least 50% of the population. Be happy about being 18, and about being 18 in a FREE country, there are 18 year olds in other places who have to worry about finding an animal to kill so their family can eat, THAT is an issue. You're young, enjoy it, don't waste time wishing you were older.

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ab

- August 24, 2011 at 10:27:06

Move to Alberta its 18 here

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jimbob

- July 31, 2011 at 20:24:00

it could be worse in the states its 21. Also its not that hard to get into bars while being underage. The point is it doesn't matter if the age is 18-19 if you want booze their are ways to get it regardless of your age. I think the only thing bothering you is that you can't get into clubs. We could be like the states as long as your 18 you can go into the clubs you just get a special bracelet and stamp so that you cant buy alcohol.

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Regina

- July 25, 2011 at 19:51:36

Young man what is so great and glorious about alcohol consumption that it warrants you making an argument for? Look around you have you observed or taken notice of how destructive alcohol consumption is?. Annually world wide so many road fatalities and death result with this drugs. Am sure you think you're speaking on behalf of many teenagers, find a more suited , healthy and informative topic to argue, am sure you may find more satisfaction in it. Do yourself a favor an stay a way from the social circle that makes you think that alcohol is so "in" am sure this is counter product. Indulge yourself in school and great company who does not need to be drinking at the night clubs.

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babdwnss

- July 7, 2011 at 09:55:25

I believe part of the reason for the legal age being 19 is that, on average, your organs, brain and body aren't fully developed untill your 20's. Therefore allowing a lower age limit would be harming the future generation. Also, I believe maturity plays a factor. I don't think anyone, besides those who are underage, want to see 18 year olds downtown. I'm certain that I don't! As a teen I drank and smoked, amongst other things. Now in my 20's I have multiple health issues that I feel can be linked directly to my previous lack of concern for my body. I say enjoy being 18. Don't wish it away. once you hit 19, you have the rest of your life to drink...

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Dwayne

- June 29, 2011 at 16:25:38

I think it should be 18. Like the artical reads, at 18 you can do everything, why not drink also. As a Minor I would save my money all week and get one of the local suppliers to buy my beer on friday night, and all it would cause me is 1 beer out of my 12 pack. With a couple of hundred kids wanting to buy beer, this guy you be drunk all week for free. So it was that easy to get Booze. The reasoning for it to be 19 is certainly not obvious. I wonder why it is? What is the reasoning for it? Would be interesting to know.

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shell

- June 24, 2011 at 16:49:58

ok guys, let's be serious!! i am a 25 year old and access to alcohol while i was a minor was the easiest thing and it doesn't matter if the legal drinking age is 10 or 30 people are going to do it if they want to do, it's not extremely hard to get booze at any age and to comment on "SMOKE POT"s comment i totally agree, at least pot makes you happy that's what should be legalized and maybe the legal system will realize that if pot was legal there'd be alot less drugs like cocaine out there!!!!!

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NonDrinker

- June 14, 2011 at 19:18:14

Isnt it a little biased to only survey students at Memorial? They represent a very small portion of our province's population. The choice of legal drinking age is not left to those who are under the age of majority for a reason.

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JAZZFAN

- June 13, 2011 at 16:21:20

I sincerely appreciate the Telegram printing this as it was likely received, with all the horrendous spelling and grammatical errors. At eighteen Marius, you're old enough to know how to spell according to my 'statists' at least. My sympathies to your professors and your fellow 'residence.'

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Dave

- June 10, 2011 at 18:37:34

Funny that you would put so much time and thought into something so insignificant as you not being able to follow your friends when the go to nightclubs drinking. The fact that so many kids drink underage doesn't make for a good argument. It just means the adults in our society aren't doing enough to stop it. Alcohol has caused a lot of societal problems and, personally, I think society would be better served if there was no such thing as an alcoholic beverage. I don't see how one can argue for it to be more accessible. Your age and lack of life-experience is evident in your letter. You should find a more noble cause to fight for.

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  smoke pot

  - June 11, 2011 at 14:43:39

  I aggree, drinking does cause a lot of societal problems, lets all smoke pot, i have never seen a person get violient while smoking pot, unless booze was a factor.

Skeeziks

- May 12, 2011 at 18:15:11

Marius, Please concentrate your efforts instead on your studies, especially Mathematics. For if you survey 100 students, how can you rationalize 71.8% and 79.6% of respondents. Maybe the .8 and .6 were intoxicated, and didn't count as a full vote. Just a thought. Good luck.

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  Pat

  - June 20, 2011 at 12:13:53

  If you actually read the article more carefully you'll notice those two statistics are from different questions, so the percentages line up perfectly fine. I think some of the points that another commenter (Missed Opportunity) makes are valid as well, such as a lower drinking age would aid in teaching our kids how to drink responsibly and eliminating the thrill/risk factor that entices most kids to start drinking. Surely you must remember high school, where most kids drank irresponsibly to look cool for their friends and tell stories of their drunken escapades, with only some of them actually having social and responsible drinking habits. The writer of the article makes some good points too. If you look at his stats, most of those surveyed were able to obtain alcohol very easily, and started drinking before the age of 16. I have been drinking with friends once every couple months since I was fifteen, and have been buying my own beer for almost as long. I know here in my town, I can walk into any convenience store and buy as much beer as I can afford, me being only 17 and not once ever being ID'd. While I'm not in a big hurry to get into clubs and whatnot, I just wanted to say that in almost all cases throughout history, prohibition has done nothing but drive use of the substance in question underground, where it is unsupervised and unregulated. If the drinking age was lowered to somewhere between 16-18 (with some regulations such as bar/club access and nothing over a certain alcohol percentage until 18/19) then I believe we would have far less problems with teens drinking. Take away the rebellion and the sense of accomplishment when they aren't caught, and hardly any of them would drink as much as they do.

mom

- April 30, 2011 at 15:08:04

I agree with Chris,,dont rush to grow up,,how many kids go to university and spend there time drinking,classes missed,Sorry but I dont think just because you are in University that you are mature enough to drink.Driving is a privilage,drinking is not ,its a act that not all can handle,,listen to the news how many people are killed due to drinking and driving,,you will have hangovers in due time,grow up and do good with your life,if your so called buddies want to drink so what !

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Chris

- April 15, 2011 at 14:22:42

The correct response is that the drinking age should be raised to 21. Access to alcohol is a factor is destroying the lives of many young high school/University students and students who come to st. John's to study. The two years between 19 and 21 are important years for maturing and making life altering decisions. Don't be in a rush to grow up, you will get into the bars when you are 19.

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Slick Sloth

- April 12, 2011 at 19:39:12

Yeah I cant figure out for the life of me why kids 18 can go to a foreign country and kill people in wars BUT are not responsible enough to drink legally....Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec has got it right with their drinking ages at 18....

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NIVEA

- April 12, 2011 at 09:50:27

@BIBBLESKIP - The age at which you have the right to vote is 18, not 19.

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Missed Opportunity

- April 11, 2011 at 12:19:50

I agree that the drinking age in this province should be lowered to 18 (perhaps even lower to 17) for a few reasons, that weren’t obvious to me at first until I read this passage and the resulting comments. First of all, the question of whether we want our high school children to have access to alcohol at first blush causes the reaction of, no anything to keep it out, it will only cause problems, drinking at dances other functions ect. However I can’t help but think of the missed opportunity to teach our children to treat and drink alcohol responsibly, as we do for everything else. Ignoring the topic until many have moved away from home and experience their first freedoms in a dorm room somewhere unknown, would appear to me to be far more dangerous than if we had taken the time, in high school, to teach our children to respect alcohol and its dangers. Personally I had my first drink back in high school when I was probably 15 or 16 years old. I do remember most of my friends already having tried drinking before me, so if anything I lasted longer than most of my classmates. I then moved away from home at 18 to live in Alberta where the legal age was already 18. It was all of a sudden no big deal to be able to purchase alcohol and go out to bars. For the most part I was a responsible kid, though in high school you’re mostly drinking a case of beer somewhere, whereas now that I was allowed into bars and clubs ordering harder liquor was easier and “the cool thing to do,” at least at some point. Now for the most part I was a responsible kid, though I certainly had a few close calls with alcohol as I learned my tolerance and limits on my own. I later spent some time in the U.S. at 20 years old, and I have a definite recollection of it still being a big deal to kids my age to sneak out somewhere unsupervised to drink. What this suggested to me was that the longer we put it off, the more likely kids are already likely to have made the decision on their own to drink. The problem is, the longer we leave it, they are going to drink the difference is they’ll do it without any guidance or supervision. We’re teaching our children to disobey their parents, and in effect to break the law and run/hide from law enforcement. If our high school students were allowed to drink at an earlier age, there would be an opportunity there for parents to be involved to teach their kids to be responsible, as well as it could be addressed in our schools themselves. Instead of teaching them to hide and avoid us, get it out in the open so that we can teach them how to properly deal with alcohol. Yes it can be enjoyable, but it can also be very dangerous, these are lessons best taught by our parents and teachers earlier, rather than some university flat mate with a beer bong. Also the earlier you make the drinking age, it becomes less of a ‘big deal.’ The end result will be that our children are safer in the long term. Also instead of sneaking out, they can go to places that are supervised so that if there is a problem, someone can call for the help they need rather than, abandon someone who needs help out of fear of getting caught. (Yeah it happens, I’ve seen it, and heard other similar stories.)

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• 

  POSTER

  - July 24, 2012 at 16:31:43

  I do think this is perhaps the only argument on this comment board (and the article itself) that actually attempts to reason with why the age ought to be lowered from 19, and provides an example of how maintaining the age of 19 for drinking is causing social harm. However, I will attempt a counter-argument. First, I am very (very) skeptical of the romantic notion of the family you have described which is experiencing this "missed oppoirtunity." I significantly doubt that parents will gather around their children to openly have this discussion - at least not solely by virtue of a reduction in age limit. The families that do that - do it already (my guess). Second, the substance of your argument is that the higher the age limit, the longer time spent drinking in secret and without supervision. Presumably, this creates greater dangers where alcohol abuse would be more likely to occur, and with heightened danger. However, I significantly doubt that by lowering the age (you have suggested 18 or 17) will cause this effect where drinking will occur "under supervision." I don't envision a world where 17 or 18 year olds will be drinking in fully supervised situations, rather I would imagine they will continue to drink with their friends, unsupervised (its more fun that way - at least in that sort of logic?). Although I agree you have something here - I don't see a reduction in age limit producing the result described. For reasons mentioned elsewhere, I am still unconvinced that the balance of harm favors reduction.

bibbleskip

- April 9, 2011 at 20:25:17

In Newfoundland the age of majority is actually 19 - and I believe that includes the right to vote. I can see why your argument would be to make the drinking age 18 but I agree with many of those who didn't support you - alcohol does not belong in our high school (not that I'm saying I didn't drink in high school) and it would make it MUCH easier for those 17 and under to get booze if the drinking age were 18. Living in Ontario now, where for many years students graduated at 19 - handling alcohol and school events has been a major issue.

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  notsofast

  - April 9, 2011 at 21:23:29

  I also went to MUN at the age of 18 and suffered the same delay but it's not like I remember that now when I look back. I also started drinking at the age of 14 in highschool, not that I condone it. I had older cousins who would buy it for us. We might get a dozen between 4 of us. I think if we had some of our friends in highschool able to buy booze, we would have drank more, and more problems cold have incurred.

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  VOTER

  - September 4, 2011 at 20:22:39

  bibbleskip- In Newfoundland, the age of majority, and also having the right to vote is eighteen, not nineteen. Being a recent high school graduate, and a student in the upcoming semester at Memorial, I can not see why the issue is being brought up- consuming alcohol, while illegal under the age of nineteen, will happen regardless of the legal age being changed or not. If you believe that alcohol does not belong in high schools, I am curious as to why you are mentioning that you drank yourself as a high school student. As for Marius, perhaps invest in a fake ID and rid yourself of the mere months wait of being nineteen, if going out to a club is so very important to you as a new Memorial student.