Drinking Age to be lifted from 18-19!

On the 19 November 2009, SMH Online  reported that Ian Hickie, the executive director of Sydney University's Brain and Mind Research Institute called for the Prime Minister to push for the drinking age to be lifted from 18 to 19. He believed that by doing so, the 'connection between school leaving and drinking' could be broken.

In my opinion, I believe that this proposal is ludicrous. Underage drinking is already a unstoppable phenomenon.  SADD Statistics declares that 'three out of every four students (75%) have consumed alcohol (more than just a few sips) by the end of high school'. By raising the drinking age by 1 year, underage drinking statistics will not plummet, but sky rocket.

Legally speaking, an 18 year old is considered to be an adult and is protected by certain Human Rights including the Age Discrimination Act 2004. Under this act, the government ensures that people are not treated less favourably on the ground of age in various areas of public life including: employment, provision of goods and services, education and administration of Commonwealth laws and programs

Therefore, by denying adults aged 18 the right to certain goods such as alcohol, in essence, certain human rights are breached!

Do you believe Ian Hickie is breaching the Age Discrimination Act 2004?