Do you think alcohol is poorly regulated?

def

Should the legal drinking age be 18?

If not , higher or lower?

If it was 16 (for beer and so on ) like it is in some european countrys would this reduce violence on the streets and encourage responsible use?How so?

If it was 20 (and 18 for spirits)would this encourage responsible use or reduce violence ?How so?

Do you think a pub or the person behind the counter should be fined ?(for selling kids drink)

Is fining more effective then revoking a permit?

Do you think alcohol companys should be allowed to advertise?

cian1500ww

It'll make damn all difference, they'll still get the drink. I started drinking at 17 an tbh the only problem I had with ID was getting into nightclubs. Buying drink in pubs was never a problem.

My name is URL

The legal age for buying it should be 21 imo, but at the end of the day if people want to drink they're going to.. it's nothing to do with regulation and everything to do with poor education on the effects of excessive drinking and the old Irish cliche that we need to be heavy drinkers

Red_Marauder

It's over regulated - particularly in terms of closing hours. Whatever genius decided that it was a good idea to have all mixtures of inebriated and aggravated individuals all emptying out onto the streets together at 2.30am clearly spends his weekends with a book and a cup of cocoa.

As far as legal age goes, I think the current age isn't a huge issue. It's the attitude that's the issue.

the_syco

def wrote: »

If it was 16 (for beer and so on ) like it is in some european countrys would this reduce violence on the streets and encourage responsible use?How so?

The difference between here and there is that over there, alcohol is drank in moderation when they're young, with their families. Here, it's a case of no booze till your 18, and suddenly, you can't get enough of the stuff.

pickarooney

the_syco wrote: »

The difference between here and there is that over there, alcohol is drank in moderation when they're young, with their families. Here, it's a case of no booze till your 18, and suddenly, you can't get enough of the stuff.

It's not really the case at all. Underage drinking is the norm in Ireland.

panda100

Regaulation is a waste of time imo.
Instead we should be looking at why so many in our society drink to excess and turn something that should be an enjoyable beverage into a destructive and dangerous habit.

That_Guy

def wrote: »

Should the legal drinking age be 18?

Yes

If it was 16 (for beer and so on ) like it is in some european countrys would this reduce violence on the streets and encourage responsible use?How so?

Clearly you've never been to Dublin.

If it was 20 (and 18 for spirits)would this encourage responsible use or reduce violence ?How so?

If people are aggressive when they drink then it's not going to change their attitude regardless of what the legal drinking age is.

Do you think a pub or the person behind the counter should be fined ?

For what exactly?

Is fining more effective then revoking a permit?

Again... For what?

Do you think alcohol companys should be allowed to advertise?

Yes. It's a product at the end of the day and like most products which are advertised it's up to the individual if they wish to purchase the product in question.

EDIT: What's your opinion OP?

Overheal

Red_Marauder wrote: »

It's over regulated - particularly in terms of closing hours. Whatever genius decided that it was a good idea to have all mixtures of inebriated and aggravated individuals all emptying out onto the streets together at 2.30am clearly spends his weekends with a book and a cup of cocoa.

As far as legal age goes, I think the current age isn't a huge issue. It's the attitude that's the issue.

I think thats half the problem - not that they're closing at 230am, but thats seemingly all they're doing. Oh and closing on Good Friday as if it makes a difference.

I havent seen much enforcement on the ID and sale side

token56

Its not the regulation of alcohol thats the problems, its the attitudes that some people have towards drink. For example the drinking just to get so hammered you cant remember anything attitude.

Alcohol is still a drug, and a lot more dangerous than some drugs which are illegal. Proper education regarding the use of it is needed in my opinion, not over regulation. Inform people at the right age about it, and I dont mean scaremongering young people into not drinking which inevitably only has the opposite reaction anyway, but proper education about alcohol. It might help with the attitudes of some people towards alcohol.

ejmaztec

Don't they teach anything in schools about this drink attitude problem, or do they just sweep it under the carpet like everything else that they don't want to talk about?

aidan24326

Red_Marauder wrote: »

Whatever genius decided that it was a good idea to have all mixtures of inebriated and aggravated individuals all emptying out onto the streets together at 2.30am clearly spends his weekends with a book and a cup of cocoa.

That was Brian Lenihan, who as far as I know doesn't drink at all himself. Let's just say it was not one of his brighter ideas. It really achieves nothing, nor does the stupid restriction on making off-licenses close at 10 instead of 11.

Mike 1972

def wrote: »

Do you think alcohol is poorly regulated?

This is Ireland
Name me five things which are well regulated
Ok three things
Ok one th.............................

Wazdakka

aidan24326 wrote: »

That was Brian Lenihan, who as far as I know doesn't drink at all himself. Let's just say it was not one of his brighter ideas. It really achieves nothing, nor does the stupid restriction on making off-licenses close at 10 instead of 11.

I wonder if I'd make any money standing outside closed offies and pubs selling punching bags with his face on them..

token56

ejmaztec wrote: »

Don't they teach anything in schools about this drink attitude problem, or do they just sweep it under the carpet like everything else that they don't want to talk about?

I can only talk about my experience but I'm not that long out of secondary eduction, but there was not much taught when I was there, and I dont think much has changed. I think also of the emphasis should obvioulsy be on the parents to educated their children regarding the dangers of alcohol abuse etc, but I do think the schools could have a better role in the education of teenagers about the subject also.

James Forde

yes, i can't get booze past 10p.m in an off licence

the_syco

the_syco wrote: »

The difference between here and there is that over there, alcohol is drank in moderation when they're young, with their families. Here, it's a case of no booze till your 18, and suddenly, you can't get enough of the stuff.

This is quite a widespread myth that is sprouted regularly here in Ireland. I have worked/work with and have friends from France, Spain and Italy and they are as mad for drink as we are. They go out and get drunk regularly in there home country's and have all the stories about mad nights and they are out here doing shots with the best of us at the weekends, orgainsing the 12 pubs at xmas etc etc.

Also especially in france they drink a lot of wine, they would go through bottles of the stuff over an evening and drink it with meals much more regularly then we do here.

To answer the op's question I think its poorly regulated. Off licenses closing at 10pm and pubs/night clubs having closing at 2:30 is ridiculous.

Mike 1972

bryanjf wrote: »

i can't get booze past 10p.m in an off licence

This is all based on the assumption that people who drink alcohol tend to have poor skills when it comes to foward planning

Which in a lot of cases would appear to be indeed the case ?

Jay P

It's regulated fine I think. The problem is that people think it's acceptable to go out and get plastered every weekend the minute they turn 18. As a nation we're not educated enough about the effects of alcohol.

Though if offies were open after ten, that'd be seriously handy. I can't really make a last minute decision to go out because it ends up costing so much to drink in a pub/club.

pooch90

Pro's and cons...

def wrote: »

If it was 16 (for beer and so on ) like it is in some european countrys would this reduce violence on the streets and encourage responsible use?How so?

If your in a pub at least your not walking the streets throwing bottles at cars and you will have to behave or leave - you'll be sent home if you get too drunk or act like a twat(seperated from your mates).

def wrote: »

If it was 20 (and 18 for spirits)would this encourage responsible use or reduce violence ?How so?

If it was 20 full stop then at least you wouldn't have school kids buying for their mates.

Trouble is with age limits that you always get a transition period where some in a group can get drink for everyone else - even if they have to drink it in a dark field to socialise together...

ScumLord

def wrote: »

If it was 16 (for beer and so on ) like it is in some european countrys would this reduce violence on the streets and encourage responsible use?How so?

Why should beer be given to younger people? You seem to be working under the incorrect assumption that beer is some sort of alcohol light. Just because it's got bubbles in it doesn't mean it's suitable for kids. Larger and cider get into your system rapidly, you'd almost be better off drinking spirits.

def

That_Guy wrote: »

Clearly you've never been to Dublin.

If people are aggressive when they drink then it's not going to change their attitude regardless of what the legal drinking age is.

i was born and bred in the kip(and love it)

if drunk 16 year olds were taken out of the streets and into pubs it could stop the "on the nak" culture where it starts ,,, young kids drinking where they can do it and get away with it( not pubs) and reduce contact with people there (streets and feilds )who see them as a easy target

Quote:
Do you think a pub or the person behind the counter should be fined ?
For what exactly?

sorry selling kids drink:rolleyes:(ill edit that,thanks for pointing it out)

Yes. It's a product at the end of the day and like most products which are advertised it's up to the individual if they wish to purchase the product in question.

thats what i think

What's your opinion OP?

thanks for asking:)

Mike 1972

def wrote: »

Should the legal drinking age be 18?

Its not

The legal age for buying alcohol is 18

token56

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Its not

The legal age for buying alcohol is 18

Indeed if you under 18 you can't drink alcohol unless you are in a private residence and have permission from your parents.

strobe

Jay P wrote: »

As a nation we're not educated enough about the effects of alcohol.

I see a few people saying this, we need more education. I'm all for education but would it make the slightest bit of difference at all? Is there a single 14 year old in the country that would come out of a school run education dealy on alcohol and say "wow, I didn't know that about alcohol. Really it can make make you do things you wouldn't normally do? It can be addictive?" ect. What exactly are we going to educate people about that they don't all already know? Everyone young and old knows, for example, it's not a good idea to drink loads of drink really quickly on a night out, they just choose to do it anyways.

def

token56 wrote: »

Its not the regulation of alcohol thats the problems, its the attitudes that some people have towards drink. For example the drinking just to get so hammered you cant remember anything attitude.

how does this attitude develope, thats the question where i am now the legal age for beer is 16 , and drinking outdoors any where is legal, and i have never seen a group of drunk teens hangin around drunk or otherwise,

maybe takin kids indoors is the key ,,, even ones who dont like sports...

Jay P

strobe wrote: »

I see a few people saying this, we need more education. I'm all for education but would it make the slightest bit of difference at all? Is there a single 14 year old in the country that would come out of a school run education dealy on alcohol and say "wow, I didn't know that about alcohol. Really it can make make you do things you wouldn't normally do? It can be addictive?" ect. What exactly are we going to educate people about that they don't all already know? Everyone young and old knows, for example, it's not a good idea to drink loads of drink really quickly on a night out, they just choose to do it anyways.

I can't really see it turning people off wanting to drink, but it might turn people off drinking as much as humanly possible.
Maybe introducing kids to people with addiction problems might be one solution. I know that when I was in TY it made me think a lot more about alcohol when three men from AA came in to talk to us.

Saying that is kind of like saying that there's no point educating kids about the dangers of unprotected sex because they already know all about sex. It doesn't really make sense.

senbwcs

Mike 1972 wrote: »

This is all based on the assumption that people who drink alcohol tend to have poor skills when it comes to foward planning

Which in a lot of cases would appear to be indeed the case ?

Plenty of people only finish work late in the evening, I've seen people in Tesco who clearly just finished work and are picking up their dinner and a few beers or a bottle of wine get turned away because it's 10:01pm.

Also, the old off-licence closing time was 11:30, not 11 as people keep saying.

def

token56 wrote: »

I can only talk about my experience but I'm not that long out of secondary eduction, but there was not much taught when I was there, and I dont think much has changed. I think also of the emphasis should obvioulsy be on the parents to educated their children regarding the dangers of alcohol abuse etc, but I do think the schools could have a better role in the education of teenagers about the subject also.

parents who do a bad job at raising there kids need something /someone to blame ,"if schools are supposed to be teaching our children... it must be their fault"

every child on the first day of school should be given a list of what there parents should have /should soon teach them ,, parents should be your main educater ,not some person at the top of a room you go to everyday who shouts at you and tells you your not allowed go to the toilet etc

this is not the type of authority figure kids need to learn this stuff from " if this guys such a failure ,should i do the oppisite to avoid becoming a failure in life?"

Atavan-Halen

bryanjf wrote: »

yes, i can't get booze past 10p.m in an off licence

Wasn't that to cut down on underage drinking? Pretty pointless as most teenagers have their drink by 8-9pm before going out.

Wazdakka

atavan-halen wrote: »

Wasn't that to cut down on underage drinking? Pretty pointless as most teenagers have their drink by 8-9pm before going out.

Don't get me fúcking started :mad:
I could write a bloody thesis on how stupid that one was and how everyone just let them get away with it..