Following on from the previous post - I've been thinking more about changing attitude to drinking.
We ate in a well known Pizza restaurant last Saturday where I observed an interesting phenomenon. There was a group of youngish people, of whom some may have been over 18 but most looked about 16/17. They were all, as you would expect, drinking.
In fact, it's something that I remember doing when I was that age. You knew that:
a) In a restaurant you were more likely to get served
and
b) There was some loophole in the law (which at the time none of us knew the details of) that meant it must be legal.
Anyone who has watched the Inbetweeners may be familiar with this concept:
So what's the point of all this?
Well they weren't causing any trouble. They were sitting down, talking, and of course eating (which we all know is a very sensible companion to drink). In my view the perfect conditions for younger people to drink.
In a few months when they're all over 18, they'll be standing up, downing drinks to "move on", shouting, and skipping dinner because it costs money and takes time (and calories). And that's where it all goes wrong.
So surely we can learn something from this?
Why not change the law to allow 16 and 17 year olds to also consume beer and wine in restaurants as long as they're seating at a table with a full meal. Then, in addition, up the age you can drink in pubs & bars to 21.
It may seem like a radical idea at first, but once you think about it a bit more it achieves our objectives of changing the culture and attitude to drinking. It desensitises the excitement of drinking. After all, by the time you're old enough to drink in a pub you'll have had 4 years of doing it in restaurants and there'll be very little to be too chuffed about.
Wednesday 14 January 2009
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4 comments:
Darryl it is worth checking the legal situation as I thought there was some flexibiity in allowing 16/17 y.os to consume alcohol with a meal in a restaurant?
Raising the pub age to 21 may seem to have some merits but we should not underestimate what a major cultural change it would be - imagine the effect on Universities, town centres and wouldn't it just be another kick in the teeth for pubs? And why should the actions of a few spoil it for the majority?
To me the answer lies in the promotion and the strength of alcohol, both of which have increased significantly since I were a lad.
As I understand it, they must be accompanied by an adult and the adult must purchase. I'm suggesting that this could be dropped.
I certainly take the point about another blow to pubs - but I'm cautious about using the term to cover all licenses establishments.
My view is that the intention would be to impact somewhere like Wetherspoons, and not your proper pub which would have largely older clientele.
However when you start to consider that Wetherspoons also sell food now it's clear that a lot more work is required on the concept!
The Childrens act 1933 says it is illegal to give a child under five alcohol except in an emergency. Prior to this you were able to administer it as an aesthetic (as was the case with heroin).
it is legal for under 18s to be in a pub if supervised by they cannot drink alcohol. It may be that a pub has specific licensing obligations which means it will deny entry to someone under 18, 21 104 etc.
it is legal for 16-18 year olds to have alcohol with a meal in a restaurant if accompanied and if order by an adult.
it is also legal to buy alcohol and allow children over 4 (ie 5+) to drink at home.
Why impact and damage the successful Weatherspoons and prop up the failing Daves Boozer?
Have we gone French and decided to pick local champions?
I think you have looked to Spain and Italy - perhaps France too for your inspiration. Families regularly eat out and the youngsters enjoy a glass of wine - in the company of adults. I think the first thing to try and reverse in this country is the not sitting down at table/no time for family. If the family were a strong focus for all concerned within it, then the restrainting of pub going would not be required.
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