Drinking Age

I believe that the drinking age in British Columbia should be reduced to 16. This is an age where parents have more control over their kids, and therefore can introduce alcohol in a safe and healthy environment. If they are exposed to it earlier, then they will be more prepared as they enter the partying days of their grad year and college. Nineteen is too late, in my opinion. It will be more of a shock, say if they abide by the legal drinking age and have not had exposure to it before then. There are many young individuals who binge, and cannot handle their liquor and encounter serious issues as a result of not being educated about alcohol before they turn nineteen. It is very difficult to teach your children after they become adults, and head off to college. They are thrust into an atmosphere where partying and drinking are commonplace. It is like if they regulated bike riding to nineteen. When you become of age and you are thrust onto the bike, and sent off to ride by yourself. Undoubtably, you will end up flat on your face because you lack the experience, much as with drinking. Alcohol is easily obtained by underage kids, and because they have to hide it, I feel it is more dangerous because it is more likely that they will not drink in a safe place, which can have deadly consequences. Many kids in Penticton will go down to the beaches and drink after dark. This can be fun, but if someone gets too inebriated, they can easily wander off and pass out. If they are suffering from alcohol poisoning, they need medical attention immediately, which is usually not found because of the fear of getting in trouble for underage drinking. If the drinking age is lowered, this scenario would most likely not happen. If the individual wanted to drink, then they would be at a bar, where the alcohol consumption is monitored. There would not be the bingeing danger, and it would be alot safer. Once it is lowered, underage drinking would become less of a factor in today's society, and help to make safer, and more concientious teens.