Drinking age

Press, 27 June 1989, Page 20

Drinking age

Sir,—Nowhere in my letter of June 9 did I state, or even imply, that all teenagers were “inebriated young hoons,” as Paula Hitchings thinks (June 15). I merely reemphasised what would likely have happened, had the drinking age been lowered to 18. Perhaps Ms Hitchings could explain why she favours retaining the 20 year limit — could it be that she has only limited faith in the ability or willingness of her peers to restrict their liquor consumption? If so, she should redirect her criticism to those in the 1525 age group whose thoughtlessness has given her an nnecessarily heavy cross to carry. —

Yours, etc., J. J. WALKER. June 17, 1989.

Sir,—l agree wholeheartedly with Paula Hitchings (June 15) about the attitude to teen-agers. I am sick of seeing them blamed for all the carnage on our roads. I know there are some who cause accidents but there are an awful lot of adults and the elderly who cause them as well. While we tend to make excuses for the latter, teenagers are fair game. As for teenagers being prohibited from hotels and night clubs until legal age, why aren’t there places for them to go where they don’t drink alcohol but can still enjoy themselves? Not all teenagers need to drink but many love to dance and socialise on a Friday and Saturday night. Where are all the exciting entertainment and the good bands? In the hotels and night clubs they are banned from! — Yours, etc., JANE F. WILSON. June 16, 1989.