Bar owners divided on drinking age

Auckland bar owners are divided over Parliament's plans to raise the drinking age back to 20.

Some agree it will help to control youth abuse of alcohol, but others think it may lead to more drinking.

"Parliament is targeting the wrong end of the stick here," said Richard Gillam, owner of Spirit'd Bar.

"Problems such as binge drinking are not related to bars because young people rarely get intoxicated in bars."

Mr Gillam says intoxication usually occurred outside of bars as young people cannot afford to buy too many drinks in bars.

"It's purely an economic thing."

Marvin Royston of Suede Lounge Bar says the move will make it harder to control young drinkers.

"At least with bars they are in a controlled environment where the bar is responsible for them, if this happens then they will take the drinking somewhere else and it will be hard to get them into a controlled space."

However bar owners such as Mr Ali Yildiz of Spy Bar and Mr Frank Cheng of Sponge Bar agree with the proposed increase in drinking age.

Yildiz says the proposed return to 20 is the "right decision" as it will take the pressure away from bar owners who face problems such as young people binge drinking and fighting in bars.

Cheng agreed but says: "Government should take measures and actions to ensure active control of alcohol abuse."

His bar however mainly serves the over-25 age group and he says he does not have to deal with the hassles of a young crowd.

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WHAT YOUNG PEOPLE THINK

'I don't think [raising the drinking age back to 20] is good. Eighteen is a responsible enough age and we enjoy drinking. It could definitely kill my social life.'

Katrina Campbell,19, sports science student, Howick.

'I don't agree with it. If we have access to so much more at 18, like voting and drivers licence, then why not drinking? Twenty is too old in today's society.

Jennifer Howarth, 20, science student, Howick.

'The age right now is fine. I think it's just their way of having tighter regulations and perhaps more monitoring. There won't be much change because parents will still think that the 18-year-old has the right to drink.

Simon Crisswell,19, science student, North Shore.

'If the drinking age is brought up the kids are still going to drink. It's not going to make a difference. I think it's better to have 18-year-olds drinking in bars. At least that's a safe environment that can be controlled.

Marko Stilinovic, 19, sports science student, Henderson.

'The drinking age should be left as it is. People will still buy drinks for younger drinkers, especially if they have finished school and are responsible to handle their own drinks. If 18-year-olds have access to other things then why not drinking?'

Amiresh Lala, 19, science student, Remuera