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DRINK YOUNG AND CRASH

New Zealand's decision to lower the drinking age to 18 has resulted in an alarming increase in teenage car smashes, a landmark American study says.
Ref. https://www.stuff.co.nz/hlc/1,,93498~3524119a10~,00.html

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The age of eighteen seems old enough to be responsible, but if it is not then the problem is with society and not the driving age. However, if the risk for accidents will be improved by raising the age limit then I am all for it as most times I never could understand why teenagers simply just can't take a taxi or bus.

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I think it is a bit ridiculous to blame car accidents on drinking alone. JB is spot on when he says 18-year-olds are responsible enough. That is the legal age of drinking in Australia and most other places in the world.

In Europe they even start younger, but are taught to drink reponsibly with the family. I think this is a very good system because it shows children how to enjoy alcohol in a safe way.

From my experience with the drink driving problem in Australia, a lack of serious education is the real problem. The Government is too scared to get tough on drink driving and drug education at high school. They also won't introduce breath tests machines in pubs and nightclubs.

I've even asked a police officer for an RBT before and been refused. I was told you can only be tested on the road. That is their attitude. The government just wants people to drink because they get such a huge tax windfall from it. And the cops, who work for the government, also earn revenue catching people who drink and drive.

Anyway I believe it is way too simplistic to blame a rise in car accidents on lowering the legal drinking age.