DRINKING AGE

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31993, 21 May 1969, Page 16

DRINKING AGE

Lowering Opposed

Opposition to lowering of the -drinking age was expressed by the New Zealand School Boards’ Association at its southern regional conference in Christchurch yesterday. Representations will be made to the Government opposing any change in legislation which would reduce the legal drinking age below 19.

The conference resolved that in view of the possible lowering of the age to 18, “and the increased problems associated with drink likely to arise among pupils of school age,” reinforcement of the rights of school authorities to enforce school rules should be automatically provided, for in the law changes.

The Minister of Education (Mr Kinsella) will be urged to have the necessary protection written into any validating act. Dr R. T. Baker, of Ashburton College, said that there were 37 pupils there who would be 18 by the end of the year. Any change in the law would introduce great difficulties in enforcing school rules related to drinking, smoking and social behaviour. If restrictive clauses were adopted excluding those at school this could act as a focus for student revolt Opposition should be on the principle and not on the basis of restriction. As things were and if the law changed, a pupil could bring along a bottle of beer and the head could do nothing about it, commented Mr L. H. Allott.