Car safety expert backs plan to raise drinking age

One of New Zealand’s leading road safety experts backs proposals to raise the drinking age, as part of a package of measures aimed at easing the damage caused by alcohol.

Clive Matthew-Wilson, editor of the car buyer’s Dog & Lemon Guide, says:

“The rise in youth drinking is mainly the result of younger people having easier access to alcohol. The only real way to reverse youth drinking is to restrict youths’ access to alcohol. It’s that simple.”

The Law Commission wants the price of alcohol raised, the drinking age raised and the blood alcohol limit for driving lowered. Matthew-Wilson backs these proposals.

“Before the drinking age was lowered we had 20-year-olds buying alcohol for 18-year olds. Now we have 18-year-olds buying alcohol for 16 year olds, and the terrible results are there for everyone to see.”

Alcohol is directly implicated in around one quarter of road deaths and 35% of all types of injury. The Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council’s annual survey of 12 –17-year-olds showed that one-quarter of 14–17-year-olds drink heavily and regularly.

Matthew-Wilson says the idea that alcohol is a matter of personal responsibility is “laughable”.

“In the real world, the people most likely to drink are least likely to be able to control the consequences.”

“The reality is that people – especially young people – are not making informed choices about drinking. Instead these drinkers are making appallingly bad choices and wrecking lives in the process.”

• Useful article:

http://www.dogandlemon.com/media/Safety%20PDF/Victims%20of%20Circumstance.pdf