Drinking age questioned
INCREASING the drinking age is just one tough measure that would help curb random violence, according to a top health expert who says the time for "soft actions" is over.
Professor Mike Daube says the US, which has a legal drinking age of 21, shows it can be done and it works, but adds that it's "unlikely to happen" here, because many voters and the drinking industry would be vehemently opposed.
As part of the national Real Heroes Walk Away campaign, news.com.au asked Prof Daube, who is the co-chair of the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol and the director of the Public Health Advocacy Unit, what he thought could be done to stop street violence.
He said easy access to copious amounts of alcohol at all times of the day and night was a big part of the problem.
"They're drinking younger, they're drinking to get drunk … the more access (to alcohol) there is, the more violence there's going to be," he said.
Read more at News.com.au
