Should the legal age to consume alcohol be decreased? What are the ways to educate teens about proper alcohol drinking age & related health hazards?

Legal age of alcohol consumption varies from 21-25 years in different states in India. But nowadays, many teens (16-20 years old) & high schoolers are getting indulged and have access to alcohol, in spite of the age restrictions.

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Himanshi Arora
answered 26 May 2020

No, the legal age of drinking should not be decreased as it will give wrong message to youth that they can drink now even at the age of 18. Even, the parents should also educate them about its health hazards. Children in small age start drinking because they see people around them are drinking and at that time they feel good in consuming alcohol but they don't know its health hazards. But if parents educate them in small age that they can get addicted to it which is not good in long term then children will also think twice before drinking it. 

Sayak Saha
answered 13 May 2020

Personally I feel the minimum age which should be there for alcohol consumption should be staged at 18 years. Because from that year onwardas only we are allowed to caste our vote and which ultimately decides the governing body of the entire nation or the respective State/locality. So if we arr entrusted with choosing the leader then I guess we are also responsible enough to take care of our own body and state of mind.

Now let's get to the pros and cons of this whole matter!

Firstly let me say about the positive side of it!!

The person will now feel self confident and will also don't have to drink in any hideouts and as this liquor thing is not any illegal thing in our country, so yes he/she may also feel a sense of responsibility about their own life and will also know what's good or bad for them

Now comes the worst side of it!!

As we all know, these substances are not that good for health and also it's a harsh truth that it's considered a taboo in our society when it comes ti the matter of drinking, so it may also affect the mental health of those people who are exposed to the people associated with it

Finally it's completely a personal choice,but whoever indulged in it should also take care of their own selves and if something worst happens then should surely consider consulting to any specialist

Ronnit Peter
answered 10 May 2020

Let's look at the pros and cons and try to come to a definitive acknowledgement to the minimum drinking age bar:

Cons:

  1. Medically irresponsible, can possibly interfere with the development of frontal lobes of the human brain.
  2. Gives access to high schoolers and middle schoolers.
  3. 21 year olds on an average tend to be comparatively more mature than 18 year olds. 18 year olds enter new found independence from parents, thus more susceptible to binge drinking, risky physical activities. 
  4. Research states that people who started drinking from a lower age such as 18 were more susceptible to becoming life long addicts.
  5. Age restriction of 21 causes potential underage drinkers a huge amount of social pressure thinking that it's illegal, thus causing outlets to act morally and not end up selling alcoholic substances to lower aged citizens.
  6. Lowering drinking age would be an open invitation for 18-21 year olds to enter pubs and other unsafe environments. Thus, eventually making them more inviting to usage of illicit drugs.

Pros:

  1. Allowing 18 to 20-year-olds to drink in a regulated environment with supervision would reduce unsafe drinking activity.
  2. Reducing legal age to 18 would result in reducing the thrill of breaking the law to get drunk. 
  3. The law of drinking age should be 21 or any regulated age isn't backed statistically with lower rates of crimes such as homicide or vandalism.
  4. Lowering the age bar would reduce the number of underage people who are hurt from alcohol-related injuries due to fear of legal consequences if they sought medical attention.
  5. Waayy better for this dying Indian economy. Sales of alcohol beverages after the lockdown restrictions reduced was valued at 45 crores in 1 single day in Karnataka. 
  6. There are few drunk driving accidents in countries with age bar of 18. Eg. Germany, France, China

Women lie, men lie, but numbers don't. If you look up the statistics about the above mentioned points, the pros certainly outweigh the cons. When I was an 18 year old nobody questioned me about my age while buying a bottle of wine for the weekend. Morality in today's world only exists on paper. Thus, it would almost be pointless to keep the drinking age at 21, rather decrease it and then let the numbers speak for themselves.

Saksham Prabhakar
answered 8 May 2020

The era has changed, who knew that we will arrive at such situation that we have to educate our countries youth what's best for their concern and what is not.  According to me it should not be decreased as it will provide a wrong impression on the minds of youth and will encourage them to repeatedly perform same action of not abiding to the rules and regulations which every citizen se abide by. 

You cannot Stop them from taking a dose rather we can educate them to make it a healthy dosage.
I think that's the most suitable way we can opt to make it a less hazardous and also push the stop button on increasing craze for alcohol.

Ayush Kumar
answered 8 May 2020

Truly, I suspect as much the legitimate time of liquor ought to be diminished. Maybe the best thing gatekeepers can do to educate their children on any issue is to be a better than average genuine model. Youngsters are consistently seeing, regardless, when watchmen don't have a clue. By showing trustworthy alcohol use and speaking with kids about alcohol prosperity, watchmen can influence their children's practices concerning drinking. Show kids that moderate alcohol use, for instance, an ale with dinner or a glass of wine around evening time at home, can be reliable and safe. Alcohol shouldn't be an unapproachable substance that is painstakingly limited everlastingly, yet rather something that can be acknowledged reliably by adults

Ranabir Chaudhury
answered 8 May 2020

Well i think,It's upto a person after getting *adulthood(18+);that he/she wants to drink or not as they are both emotionally and physically mature then.Talking about the age of 21Years as legal age for drinking,if a person is that much mature that he/she can form the government at the age of 18+,then why they are restricted to drink on their own.Hope my oponions don't jeopardize anyones emotions.Jai Hind

Nishita Abraham
answered 8 May 2020

No, the legal age for drinking should not be decreased because children will start drinking openly from school and when they reach college, considering the increase in number of parties and social gatherings, they will tend to indulge more in drinking without having attained the maturity to realise the repercussions of excessive drinking.  Educating kids starts from their home. If parents tend to take an initiative to talk about this openly, then a child will come forward with his thoughts otherwise he might be led to wrong information sources. 

hitu chaudhary
answered 8 May 2020

No, the legal age to drink should not be decreased below 21 or even i should say 25. Drinking is something that everyone should be well aware of the consequences that might happen and they should be more responsible towards these things. They should be educated more on these topics in school and rather the age still should be the same as now. So, that they know that young age is not the time for alcohol drinking. 

Kaushal Goswami
answered 8 May 2020

Yes, i think so the legal age of alcohol should be decreased.  Perhaps the best thing guardians can do to instruct their kids on any issue is to be a decent good example. Children are continually viewing, in any event, when guardians don't know. By demonstrating dependable liquor utilization and conversing with kids about liquor wellbeing, guardians can possibly affect their kids' practices with regards to drinking. Show kids that moderate liquor utilization, for example, a lager with supper or a glass of wine at night at home, can be dependable and safe. Liquor shouldn't be an untouchable substance that is carefully restricted everlastingly, yet rather something that can be appreciated dependably by grown-ups.

STELLA GEORGE
answered 7 May 2020

In my opinion legal age should not be dereased. If it all this happens they will more be addicted to it and lead to depression and anxiety issues.We can educate them through online campaigns, posters etc which will make their future better and healthy ahead.

Jitin Baby
answered 7 May 2020

No, the legal age to consume alcohol should not be decreased.
College students consuming alcohol is inevitable — while not all choose to partake in drinking, many do. Drinking alcohol can lead to unsafe conditions. An altered state of mind impairs individuals which makes them more vulnerable to injury, sexual assault and even death. 
The best way to educate them about the hazards of consuming alcohol is through their parents.
A parent should educate their children about the dangers of alcohol and encourage them to hold off drinking until at least 21.

Ritu Chandani
answered 7 May 2020

Legal age of alcohol consumption should not decrease and bar tenders should check the id card of the person before serving them alcohol. High school students are consuming access of alcohols and then driving which leads to accidents.Also, it os affecting their lives in long run. So, the bar tenders and wine shop owners should not serve them alcohol without checking their id card.

Sudipa Bhowmik
answered 7 May 2020

It would be better if the legal age is reduced for certain types of alcohol, which have lower alcohol percentage. Instead of legalisation, awareness is required. The Government should make the people aware of the consequences of alcohol consumption.

Ria Biswas
answered 7 May 2020

As boring as it might sound, but in my opinion, the age limit that stands today is perfectly fine.

First, owing to all the health hazards with the exploitation of alcohol, adding a population of minors legally into this group is a big no no!

Second, (sorry, it might sound a little philosophical,if thats the word) Children today have the world in their hands, just a click away. What they lack is memories.

So, the transition from an uber cool teen(allegedly) who drinks without his parents knowing, just for the sake of the adrenaline rush, to a mature individual who 'actually' enjoys his drink after a hectic day is total go getter move!

Cheers!

partha deb
answered 7 May 2020

It must be changed to 19 years...I mean from the first year of college because anyway kids are going to start there is no way to stop them...So better reduce it and keep an eye that below 19 none gets to drink

Ria Biswas
answered 7 May 2020

As boring as it might sound, but in my opinion, the age limit that stands today is perfectly fine.

First, owing to all the health hazards with the exploitation of alcohol, adding a population of minors legally into this group is a big no no!

Second, (sorry, it might sound a little philosophical,if thats the word) Children today have the world in their hands, just a click away. What they lack is memories.

So, the transition from an uber cool teen(allegedly) who drinks without his parents knowing, just for the sake of the adrenaline rush, to a mature individual who 'actually' enjoys his drink after a hectic day is total go getter move!

Cheers!

partha deb
answered 7 May 2020

It must be changed to 19 years...I mean from the first year of college because anyway kids are going to start there is no way to stop them...So better reduce it and keep an eye that below 19 none gets to drink

Ria Biswas
answered 7 May 2020

As boring as it might sound, but in my opinion, the age limit that stands today is perfectly fine.

First, owing to all the health hazards with the exploitation of alcohol, adding a population of minors legally into this group is a big no no!

Second, (sorry, it might sound a little philosophical,if thats the word) Children today have the world in their hands, just a click away. What they lack is memories.

So, the transition from a uber cool teen(allegedly) who drinks without his parents knowing, just for the sake of the adrenaline rush, to a mature individual who 'actually' enjoys his drink after a hectic day is total go getter move!

That's All folks

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