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Mayor backs ban on alcohol for under-21s
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor17.07.08
Young adults will be banned from buying alcohol in shops under a scheme being backed by Mayor Boris Johnson.
Off-licence owners are to be asked to stop selling drink to under-21s, even though they are legally entitled to buy it at 18.
The voluntary scheme will start in Croydon and is likely to be rolled out across London.
Mr Johnson said that it was the type of solution that Londoners would welcome to the "huge problem" of binge-drinking by the young.
However, the Mayor added that it should be up to individual boroughs to decide on such restrictions rather than enforcing a city-wide blanket ban.
"I do think that we have got a huge problem with binge drinking, underage drinking and general abuse of alcohol in this city, and I certainly think that this idea is a very interesting one," he said.
"Where we have got particular problems in particular areas, off-licences and supermarkets should stop the sale of alcohol to the under-21s. That is the kind of solution that I think Londoners are looking to us to provide. I do think this is something where the boroughs can take a lead and banish the scourge of binge drinking."
The scheme, which mirrors proposals in Scotland, has been prompted by fears that cheap alcohol at corner shops and supermarkets is contributing to anti-social behaviour and violence.
There is particular concern that offlicences and shops are not part of a drive to encourage pubs and bars to introduce a more responsible approach to alcohol sales.
Announcing the plan for a ban on sales to under-21s, Croydon councillor Steve O'Connell, who is also a member of the Greater London Assembly, said he believed it could help to significantly reduce disorder.
"What we want to tackle the corner shops that are selling eight cans of Stella for a fiver because it can lead to young people then getting involved in anti-social behaviour," he said.
"It will require a cultural shift and it would affect their profit margins, but it would stop some violent incidents taking place and, after Croydon, I would like to see this applied across London."
Croydon will now seek to win agreement from licensees, although it expects that it will be several months before the full curbs are in place.
Frank Sodeen, of the charity Alcohol Concern, expressed reservations about the idea saying that it might detract from efforts to combat illegal under-age drinking.
"It is certainly true that the 16 to 24-year-old age group drink the most and that they are more likely to be both the victims and perpetrators of alcoholrelated violence," he said.
"But there is a risk that this would alienate people and it is also difficult to see how it would work unless every shop agreed to take part because otherwise 20-year-olds will find it pretty easy to find the places where they can still buy alcohol."
Under plans announced last month by the Scottish Executive, a legal change to prohibit the sale of alcohol to under-21s is being proposed in a bid to curb excessive drinking.
Such a change would bring the situation in Scotland closer to that in the US, although unlike America, Scottish pubs and bars would still be free to sell drink to those aged 18 and above.
Reader views (54)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
I agree that the drinking age should be raised to age 21. I have only be directed to this link from a teenager against the current drinking age being raised... however this was a young person who needed severe medical intervention as result of drinking too much in a short space of time. Its REDICULOUS that we permit this level of behaviour in our Towns, Cities and Rural Areas... yes I say Rural areas because they think they can getaway from it by drinking in their masses on fields and in woods.... not so! I have personally observed mass drinking and sex in fields whilst walking my dogs and I believe it is primarly due to alchohol abuse.... We have to extend the limit to stop those who think its ok to at the age of 18 going into local shops to buy drink for their underage friends.
We know its the right thing...LETS DO IT!
- Mrs Mc Cousins, CREWE
I've just turned 18 and I’m loving drinking legally but I have to agree this is a good idea.
With alcohol so cheap we can drink until we drop for under a tenner and I believe we can combat binge drinking by making binge drinking a financial impossibility; hence by making the drinking age in on licensed premises higher than off licensed.
Now I think kids start experimenting with alcohol as early as 14 and they need to be brought into the drinking family with responsibility taught at the same time. Maybe if parliament considered in fact lowering the drinking age in pubs, and pubs only, to 16, or even better making it so it's based on the end of (school) Year 11. This would enable young people to drink in an environment where they can be monitored, it will help bridge the generation gap by putting young people in an area where they can mix with older people and in some way rejuvenate a struggling business.
And to the above posters quoting this as age discrimination there are many more things that young people are discriminated against; the fact that the minimum wage is different for U18s although they do the same job and most of the time with more effort and enthusiasm and the fact 16/17 year olds can't vote despite being more educated than many of their seniors with the right to vote just to mention a few. Arguing over drinking, where to be honest as a demographic we are obviously a problem devalues all people that have been truly discriminated against.
- Alex Houghton, St Albans, UK
Um, excuse me, but let me get this straight - the government, more specifically Boris Johnson, are actually ENCOURAGING discrimination based on age.
This is going too far. I'm 15, going on 16, and I admit, that there are teens out there who drink irresponsibly, and I'm glad to say I'm not one of them - but from ages as young as 12 and 13, if they are the type that are going to drink, then even THEN they manage to get hold of booze. So tell me how - HOW is this public act of discrimination going to stop teens drinking booze if they want to.
All this is going to do, is make teens MORE angry, and feel more targeted, and then we'll just lash out more in response.
And also, did the government ever stop for one second to just ask WHY we're all turning to booze and drugs and God knows what else? Maybe because we need support in the general everyday stresses - what with modern day life becoming more fast paced and stressful, and the increasing number of broken homes - why don't they just invest in Guidance Counsellors or something?
- Francesca, London
I find this act to be complete discrimination against the young people of Britain. Binge drinking may be a problem but by taking away the ability to buy alchol in a offlicence if you are under 21 is ridiculous. It will only make people go and find somewhere else to buy it or get a fake i.d. Taking away access to alcohol isn't the answer, people need to be educated about alchol.
- Frances, London, England
This is not right, we shouldn't discriminated against. There is a larger percentage of responsible drinkers, why should we be penalized for the small amount of irresponsible people out there.
- David Bromley, Bristol- England
This is just stupid!
The government gets LOADS of money of tax from beer in pubs coz they should only cost like 10p but coz of the tax they cost like £5 so the government would be losing out on ALOT of money!
Never mind loadsa people losing there jobs!
And stuff like that!
Boris needs to think about what he's doing coz it's not gonna solve anything anyway!!!!!
- Lydia, lancashire
This is ridiculous, this is not going to solve anything. If they try this absurdity it will be more likely to increase problems rather than sort them out.
For 1, when something is illegal, it encourages people to do it more. Drinking was more of a novelty to me when i was 17 and doing it, than now when i am 19. I personally am quite a sensible drinker most of the time and i do not think that making it illegal will help.
Also secondly people learn from life experiences, getting wasted when you are say 13, is more likely to teach you to drink less when you are older. If you are stopped from having any experiences with alcohol till you are 21, then once you can get your hands on it, you won't know what to do with yourself or how to handle it.
It is true that there are a minority of people that abuse alcohol, but that will never change. Like when the smoking law was brought in that in increased it to 18, that did not change much. There are still 11 yr olds, smoking behind the bike sheds at schools.
The better thing to do to be honest is to educate people upon the dangers of alcoholism, or simply to just let people learn from their mistakes. Lots of people i know have got completely wasted and have now stopped drinking of their own accord.
Culture needs to mature, and increasing the alcohol drinking age to 21 is not going to achieve this.
Also, if a person is considered an adult at 18, can go to uni, move out, get married even why should they be denied the right to drink?
- Roxy, North Somerset
I find this insulting and unfair, those of us who are 18 and drink in moderation on nights out are being branded with those who go out and cause trouble. If I go into a shop and am prevented from buying alcohol then I will feel personally as though it has been insinuated that I am going to go out and cause trouble...because this is what Boris is labeling every 18 year old as, a drunken, irresponsible vandal.
- Will Clutton, London
I think that isn't a good idea because although there is a problem of binge drinking, people will get alcohol from friends who are older than them and drink what they can when they can. I dont think this will solve the problem, and for those who drink responsibly, its not fair!
- Heather, London, UK
I think that this may have a negative affect. I mean, we do need to try to combat binge drinking, but I personally would be more likely to drink more at once, if it was difficult for me to get alcohol. Limiting the amount you can buy would be more appropriate, but banning it completely to under 21's is absurd.
- Taniz, London
The unintended consequence of this will be an increase in drunk driving wrecks. Dry counties here in the US are testament to that. The rational being; 18-21's will still drink, but now they must drive a greater distance to obtain alcohol, effectively increasing the odds of an accident by each additional mile of travel.
- Mark, Chicago, USA
i think that this is discrimination,, and segragation, pub culture is part of the English heritage.
not all people and teens abuse the alcahol and love to just go out and dance, which could stop...
i have been dreading this conspiracy being broight up again. it is just not fair
goin the pub and havin a laugh is part of English student life
DONT TAKE THAT AWAY FROM UURSELVES
- Rhianna 18, England
Boris has thought of a brilliant way of suppressing society's problems without ever addressing the cause! This is fabulous! We can now forget that Croydon is an incredibly poor area, like most high crime areas, and just take away the resident's legal rights! This kind of quick fix solution has worked really well in the past, as you can see from America's policy of over 21 drinking, where everyone 16 and up smokes more cannabis then we in Britain could ever dream of... until now when our youth will start looking for alternatives to their once legal alcohol. I, personally, would much rather an 18 year old go to a drug dealer every Saturday then Waitrose.
- Wilf, London
What a joke! At 18 you are considered an adult, you can vote, go to university, hell you can even be in the army but you can't drink?
For one, the people who are are over 18 but under 21 and have been enjoying the fact that they can legally drink alcohol and are responsible for their actions whilst drunk; now they must wait another 3 years again to drink?
There are a lot of new rules being introduced to try and curb how people behave; raising smoking age to 18, this hasn't worked, people under 16 were still able to buy cigarettes when the legal age was 16 and not much has changed!
As a 19 year old, I find it offensive. 'Violent crime' is a favourite of politicians, all the kids in crime 'hotspots' have said its because THERE IS NOTHING TO DO.
So, for the minority that are ruining it for the majority; violent crime will still happen, people who have that mindset don't need alcohol to attack someone. Instead of going to the shop for a Stella, they'll go to their neighbour and start buying crack instead.
GOOD ONE BORIS
- Antonia, Bromley
i think boris should stick to panel shows hes not really cut out for this mayor business.
shop owners are not gonna stop selling alcohol to the under 21's, they care more about the money and if they do refuse sale they are more likely to get there shop vandalised or robbed.
- Greg, london
So...
This guys firing line is just anyone who isn't a fat white middle aged bigot...?
Or have i missunderstood?
- Jack Barker, Cornwall, UK
It's already hard enough to get alcohol, more and more teenagers are just gonna turn to illegal drugs like they are already cos it's cheaper and more easily accessible! But I feel sorry for you Boris, cos once you DO make the age to 21, there's gonna a WHOLE LOT MORE young people ending up in hospital cos of drug overdose.
Teenagers mostly drink because THEY KNOW THEY NOT SUPPOSED TO! It's called rebelling. Maybe if you gave us teenagers a chance then maybe you wouldn't get to much underage binge drinkers! Like the smoking ban for instance. You raised the age, now MORE teenagers are smoking cos they think it makes them look 'bad' as they know they ain't supposed to.
So go ahead.. On your own head be it
- Gabby, London, UK
I think that its all going to far. When I was 17 and the age for buying fags went up I was furious...I could buy them for a year then suddenly couldn't! and now that I'm 18 I'll be damned if that idiot Boris is going to stop me going out or buying alcohol. Its just not fair, I'm very responsible when I'm drinking and know my limits. You cannot judge the whole of the under 21's as chavy binge drinkers because you see it sometimes! I for one will be protesting. And Boris....you are already hated by the young generation in London...so why want to be hated more...let us have fun like you did when you were young!
- Jordan, London
It scares me how many people voted for Boris looking for better leadership. That's just ridiculous. I don't care whether you're a Tory or not, Boris was never going to be anything but a joke. It's like Bush on a much smaller scale - thankfully. Even for a Republican, he took the michael.
Anyway, onto the subject in hand. I'm 16, nearly 17, and when I drink I don't buy the alcohol. Fancy knowing who does? My parents. Because they've bought me up well enough to know when enough is enough and thus, they trust me. Thats what's lacking in this idea - trust. Boris and his spiffing officials do not trust anybody who may - or may not - be abusing alcohol in their teenage years.
I personally fail to see how further restrictions when it comes to drinking will help at all. When the Cigarette 18+ law was brought into use I didn't see any less people smoking and I knew many who took it up with a vengeance as something else to rebel against. Stop introducing ridiculous laws and abolishing those still in play and I honestly believe that much of this teenage violence/abuse will stop.
Lovely.
- Roisin, Surrey, England
It's not going to solve anything is it!
People will still find a way to get alcohol, it doesn't matter how much legislation you throw at it. As Boris pointed out there are problems with binge drinking - yes, by over 21s too!
It's the government once again using young people as a scapegoat - clearly we're all the cause of the major problems, so lets just ban them from everything because they don't know what they're doing.
Well we're future voters, and both Labour and the Conservatives have lost my votes, I'm going MRLP.
- Alex, Surrey, UK
I'm 20 and I think that drinking laws are already too harsh on people in my age group. Whenever I go out anywhere I'm always accused of having a fake ID or I get mine examined so closely.
There's no trust or responsability for young people anymore and I agree with everyone when they say that this is why young people binge drink or go over the top with alcohol as soon as they turn 18.
If you're allowed to get married and move out at 18, why shouldn't you purchase a bottle of wine or a few beers for your own home?
- Daniella, London
You cant just turn round to a 20 year old and say, your not allowed to buy alcohol anymore.
- Sal,, Surrey
Do we know when this scheme is likely to come into play?
- Ollie, London
It is rediculous that they are going to increase the drinking age from 18 to 21. In my opinion and I am sure many will agree with me, 18 year olds are legally adults and should be treated as such.
Look at countries like France. No problem with underage drinking there because alcohol is introduced at a younger age and it is taught to be respected. That is the only real way of reducing alcohol abuse in the UK. It is simply up to future parents to teach their children to be mature and to enjoy alcohol responsibly.
- Chris, Harefield
I don't think it will happen. Alcohol is a large part of income for shopkeepers, and its human nature to be greedy. They won't miss out on cash because of some crazy politician's morals.
- Jacob, Kingston, Jamaica
I'm from the U.S. where the drinking age is 21, and let me assure you that it doesn't keep people under 21 from drinking.
- Kelsey F., Portage, WI, USA
I disagree with this idea that it is discrimination of an age group. I am 17 and 18 in two months and the facts are there: under-age to 21s drink a lot and it contributes to violence and disorder etc. I think it is stupid and reactionary to call it 'discrimination'. However, the ban will never work! By his own admission, under-age drinking right now is prevalent and an issue - does he really think that this will change anything? We will still know the shops and pubs etc. to go to where we will be served! This is a ridiculous concept, where we will become more and more like our friends the USA in their bigotry and injustice; when will we learn that theirs is not a society to emulate? You can be sent to war and executed there before you can have a pint! The problem of binge drinking will not be solved by a superficial and flimsy ban like this. As far as i am concerned the problem with alcohol consumption is when it is excessive and leads to antisocial and criminal behaviour - the way to combat this is to really punish those offenders. Not the ones who enjoy a couple of beers with their mates. Boris has totally the wrong focus with this ban.
- Guy, London
I've just turned 18 and I feel that this is a ridiculous idea. You cannot stereotype the younger adults as binge drinkers. In fact I have always found that its the 21-30 year olds that drink the most. By doing this you are only going to upset thousands of young people and receive thousands of complaints but its patronising. I completely agree with the above comment that is discrimination of an age group. I say we ban alcohol for people aged 30+. Sort it out Boris. We all voted you for a change not a disaster (again).
- Andrew, Bromley, London
I m with Jess, I m 19 and voted for Boris, I m pretty sure there was no mention of this before!
- Tony, London
Who voted for Boris and where can I find them? Did any one seriously expect him to make any good decisions? This idea is flawed, unrealistic and most importantly; it won't work. It will prove incredibly patronising to young adults, who will obviously still end up drinking, just like many under 16 year olds binge today. Also- advising shops to not sell to under 21s when it is their legal right is simply prejudice, and is discrimination against an age group.
- Georgia, London
To stereotype the youths as "binge drinkers" and therefore raise the legal purchasing age would simply encourage even more unacceptable behaviour. As it is, teens have to go to drastic measures to get a hold of alcohol and to make it even more out of reach will only push them to further lengths. Is it not human nature to crave what we are told we cannot have?
- Julie, London
It amazes me how young people from the age of 18 onwards are entrusted with the vote yet can't be deemed responsible enough to purchase alcohol responsibly.
If anything this is a step backwards - and a kick in the teeth to all the under 21s who voted for Boris.
- Jess, London
The drinking ages across Europe are lower or the same as ours and yet we have the highest number of binge drinkers. Therefore its evident that the root of the problem must lie elsewhere and I for one am totally against this proposal. Uni students after the age of 18 should be entitled to buy alcohol if they want to and I'm not about to have a joke of a man like Boris make a decision like this. If Boris is out to alienate the younger generation he is well on the way to reaching his goal.
- Leila, Cambridge
This is an outrage teenagers are being totally disregarded. Boris is pushing teenagers to breaking the law if he is going to up the age. Teenagers nowadays i think respect the age and can't wait till they are 18 so that they can feel like mature adults. By upping the age to 21 he is prolonging the anti social behaviour problems we have rather that getting rid of them. Teenagers will get the drink somehow if they really want to by having the age at 18 it is showing some trust in them. Boris should never have been elected he's made false promises and now look he is disrespecting our laws that previous great men have struggled and carefully made.
- Chloe Bruce, stone
The problem isn't with Off License owners being 'prepared to sell to under 18s'. I’m sure many of us are familiar with the scene of a friend who looks almost 18 being sent in to the Off License shop to buy alcohol despite being under-age. Then emerging from the shop and passing around alcohol to a group of under 18s of various ages.
21 year olds are less likely to socialise with those who are under 18, and are more likely to behave like responsible adults and not pass on alcohol to those that aren’t legally entitled to drink it. So long as the age increase is accompanied with an increase in fines to those Off Licenses that sell to under age drinkers, therefore encouraging the Off License owners to ask for ID from every customer, this should prove to be an effective curb on under-age drinking which is so often linked to other crimes.
- Sara, London
How stupid this idea is! Oh god, it's inconvenient for everyone: under21's, because they can't drink any alcohol at a time they are allowed by the law; off-licence owners, because they would lose lots of money (18-21 people is an age frame in which people go partying and drink mostly); the government, because all the taxes that alcohol-selling contains would lower dramatically,...
I don't agree at all with this proposal! when I lived in Britain, everything was easier than it is now!
- Daniel, Madrid, Spain
How Stupid?
Can we do anything now without a law limiting or telling us we cant do it until we are 80? The government is too controlling and seriously needs to stop! Give us our freedom back! The next thing you know we will turn out like Russia. They say we are democratic, I don't think so. Cut the rubbish. We are like hamsters in a giant cage with the government doing all their little experiments on us.
- Daniel Harrold (15), London
The idea of lowering pub drinking age is an extremely good one, as the problem of binge drinking is on the streets, and not drinking respectfully. If anything, raising off-licence age to 21 and lowering pubs to 16 would encourage responsible drinking.
- Mike Malyan, Coulsdon
What a ridiculous proposal - if the government are trying to tackle binge drinking in 14 - 17 year olds how by raising the age to 21 will it solve the problem. Off license owners who are prepared to sell to under 18's will be surely prepared to sell to under 21's. The target of the squeeze will continue to drink unsociably and in a yobbish manner, while young adults who want to enjoy alcohol responsibly in clubs, at university and their homes will be unable too. A ridiculous non solution to the problem. The problem is not, for the most part, in pubs, but rather with dodgy off licenses which will continue to be dodgy whatever the legal age. Great move Boris, you just wiped out over half of your support from under 21's.
- Rupert Bradshaw, Croydon, England
It's an interesting idea - allow drinking in pubs prior to purchasing at off-licences. However, I thinking raising the age in off-licences isn't the way to introduce that - lowering the age at pubs, say to 16, would make young people feel less discriminated against. Pub owners would then (hopefully) ensure that people were drinking responsibly, perhaps with a drinking limit which would not prevent drinking more (one could always visit another pub) but make it more awkward, and the introduction to alcohol would reduce binging at a later stage.
- Luke Abraham (15), London
This is completely stupid.
This country is becoming a police state more and more each month.
and if the public don't stand up for their rights, they'll be taken away.
1984 by George Orwell anyone ?
So apparently the government knows what's best for people now ?
I say kick Boris Johnson out of office and bring back Ken Livingston.
- George Woodford, colchester
My major concern is how this new 'scheme' can have come through so quickly, and with little to no interaction between the London mayor and the young population of London. If this is how all decisions will be made in the future, I can't see how we will ever have our say.
- Max Goddard, London
Rowan could not be more right
So many times youths etc have been generalised as yobs accused of vandalising or destroying things or stealing. This stereotype was obviously put in place by those who are over 21 and want to blame the younger ones of us for what they are doing wrong.
18 makes you an official adult. It's a birthday to look forward to when you can sensibly enjoy your adult hood with a sensible glass of champagne. If this goes ahead, 18 year old would have to celebrate with a glass of orange juice which doesn't mean as much.
We teenagers aren't all as the stereo types say we are. Most of us are nice law abiding people. The only thing that stands in the way of our fun is 1% of us decide to ruin life's good points for us.
If the problem itself was solved, it would be better, rather then guessing it's the young ones causing a problem
Tell you what, take an average of the people arrested for being drunk and disorderly, I bet you most of them are over 21
- Caroline, Weybridge
I think that this is ridiculous.
To generalize all young people as 'binge-drinkers' is just discriminating a stereotype that actually, very few people actually fall under. Instead of actually making the age higher, possibly limit the amount of alcohol one can purchase in one go?
Moreover, put higher pressure on establishments to STOP selling alcohol to those already drunk, because, as we all know, a lot of places will just continue selling even when someone is in such a state. And more police patrols in areas known for busy nightlife, will probably help combat the problem.
Also, I find it incredibly unfair that all older adults have had the opportunity to make such mistakes. People learn through their mistakes, if the older generation had that opportunity, why shouldn't we have it?
Also, It could simply lead to 21+ year olds becoming the 'new binge-drinkers'. When that happens, are they simply going to raise the age again?
Who knows?
- Rowan, London
The above commenters are right. Why is this not seen as discrimination against age? It is legal at 18, and yet if we are refused, with valid ID, what can we do to complain of this? For example, if it were that 30-40 year olds were the most common binge drinkers, then would they take the same route?
Sometimes people drink too much and do stupid things, some people don't need to drink to do stupid things; allow people to make their own mistakes. I'm not saying I'm innocent of this myself, but at the same time, I can behave in a mature way, for example tonight I only had two drinks and performed a featured poetry slot in central London (I'm 19).
It is a cultural issue, not an age issue, and this will not change anything. If you look at countries in Europe and their culture in relation to alcohol, it is more positive and that isn't because they keep lowering the age restrictions! Boris needs to get a clue!
- Carmina, Worcester Park, England
This is absolutely ridiculous, not all young people are binge drinkers, why discriminate against the majority of young people who like to enjoy a few drinks now and then, because of a minority who abuse alcohol?
Just a point - its not actually illegal to abuse alcohol in your own home anyway (I'm not condoning it!). But it's not a politicians business to mess with people's private business, so long as it is within the law.
- Joe, London
I don't understand how this new scheme could actually be enforced- after all, they are not changing the law, merely 'encouraging' off-licenses to not sell alcohol to people aged 18-21. And thus, when it actually comes to us buying alcohol it is still permitted by the law, and so we can't actually be stopped...
Whose to say that binge drinking is purely concentrated in the 18-21 year olds? I know a vast number of supposed 'mature adults' i.e. over 30 who drink in the local bar every night and I never see them sober.
Binge drinking is a problem in the UK in general, so rather than restricting and generalising all young adults, the issue should be addressed for the country as a whole - raising the drinking age will not stop people drinking, in fact it may encourage it further as a sort of rebellion.
As someone who has just turned 18, I enjoy being treated like an adult, and being able to purchase a bottle of wine when it is needed. I know that us teenagers can go a bit overboard occasionally, but I am sure most people who drink have had nights out when they have taken it too far. So the younger generation are not alone.
- Emily, London
This is stupid, it would not stop drinking at all. If young people want to get hold of Alcohol, they will get it. There is no need for such a law, I believe if people want to cause trouble they'd do it with or without Alcohol, it is something that has been around for centuries and while it can have a negative influence it is only recently that our so called leaders have been blaming it for societies ill, and I'm sure Boris Johnson and all the other politicians drank when they was under 21 - hypocritical! If people want to buy Alcohol to drink within their own homes that's fine, my only problem is if they're drinking on the streets.
P.S I know this would make me biased, but I am 18 myself.
- Dom Ellis, London
I doubt this will make any difference and, more importantly, it open to legal challenge. Politicians should note at their peril that people have a vote at 18 not 21 - these are young adults they are talking about not children.
- John, London
How many more freedoms are going to be sacrificed by draconian measures. Does anyone understand the concept of individual freedom anymore?
Admittedly with freedom you risk murder rape terrorism being acted but without freedom you are someone slave and already this government is enslaving the British population with 42 days terror laws that will be abused just like current terror laws are to "encourage people to walk through knife detecting barriers.
As a "model" citizen over 21 although this proposed violation of our freedom does not affect me I find it yet another judgement of enforced slavery being perpetrated by the mayor. Perhaps he forgets what prohibition did in the usa?
If he does not want his kids to drink till they are 21 fine but don't force his Victorian pretensions on the more educated.
Secondly its daft as it would never pass with the 19 year old students!
- Hellen Urth, london city
This is one of the most foolish ideas to come out of city hall this year!
This is a blatant discrimination for the under 21's and will not solve anything.
Tackling the root causes behind binge drinking is what should be addressed, not the random actions of a foolish administration who are looking to score cheap points.
And if this was the answer to solving the problem, surely an increase across the whole country is what should sought.
- K, London
I do not believe a blanket ban on 18 year olds is the way.
I think that the French method is much better. Children here think it is grown up to drink because they are not allowed into establishments, the way they are in France, so go mad when exposed to it.
If I was an eighteen year old now, I would use my vote to show my opinion.
- Anne Mcpaul, Streatham, London
This scheme might help to curb irresponsible drinking - a little bit. But I am not in favour of it - I am currently 19, and I have been drinking fairly regularly, and quite heavily, until recently - about four months ago I decided that I did not like the effects of alcohol. It is nice to lose one's inhibitions, but it doesn't make up for that horrible feeling you get once you're on the floor and about to puke.
There is a reason why binge drinking is most prevalent in the 18-24 age group - once people are allowed to buy alcohol having been forbidden for 18 years, they go over the top. The same will apply if we raise the drinking age - the forbidden fruit effect will increase, and the 21-27 age group will cause the most trouble.
I'm afraid that this will continue until we all adopt a much more mature attitude to drinking, like they do in other European countries that have much more lower age restrictions. Children have to be introduced to alcohol at a fairly young age - that way they will learn its dangers. Once one experiences a dangerous substance, one is much less likely to abuse it.
The nominal drinking age we adopt will have little bearing until we all grow up.
- Jo Secher, London
Is it not already ‘illegal’ to sell to the under 18 year olds? And are the under 18's still able to buy alcohol and consume it on street corners? So how will this help? Yet another ill conceived unenforceable gimmick from Boris and his army deputy Mayors...
- Ade, London
