Raising Poland's legal drinking age to 21

kerul wrote:


No, they don't.

Many kids don't even have a DL when they're 18, let alone a car. How in the hell would a typical 18 year old kid afford a car in Poland without well to do parents? Somehow I doubt working 20 hours a week at Zabka is enough to pay for insurance, gas, repairs, car payments......

Kids 18-21 use trams, trains, buses or left foot, right foot.

FUZZYWICKETS is right.

Well, maybe Tarnów is a different world, cuz here almost everyone has a car, or drives his parent's car.

Guess what: Poland has changed in the two decades since you left.

Doesn't mean they don't go for the driving license as soon as. I know people who got driving licences in 1991 or so and haven't driven since - still got the quali though.

As for now, our nearest Tesco is on the same road as the driving examination centre. Judging by the people with L plates I see driving to/from there, that driving test is still a young person's rite of passage, car or no car at the end of the deal.

Remember: in PL a car is insured to be driven by anyone; it's not like eg GB where your car insurance is tied to you and 2006 Ford Galaxy, plates FG 22223 or whatever. So you can drive your mate's/parents'/aunt's old banger whenever.

Say whatever you want, teenagers very rarely drive in Poland and very very few actually own a car. Most young adults in Poland don't even WORK till they're 25 and finished with school.....without well to do parents, owning, operating and maintaining a car is nearly impossible.

I don't think it's a good idea. What's forbidden is more appealing. What's more if you raise legal drinking age you should also raise the age in other regulations.It's funny if you can vote and join the army but you can't drink.

That boils down to just plain poor parenting.

I've lived in Poland far longer than Penn Boy did and have never seen a drunken 12 year old.

The age across Europe is 18 for going into a bar and buying a drink, with a few exceptions (in the U.K. a 16 year old can have wine, beer, or cider in a restaurant providing an adult buys it) and nobody is seriously suggesting raising the age from 18. Lithuania is an exception (20) and Switzerland (16) however generally countries are satisfied with the status quo.

"in the U.K. a 16 year old can have wine, beer, or cider in a restaurant providing an adult buys it)"

so a 40 yr old polanski could have a 16 yr old girlfriend like he did with antasha kinski (wait he was 50 right) and buy her drinks but she cant go with friends and get them only her lover?

Drinking alcohol should be limited to 2 per visit. A bar that sells booze to a customer who already had some before he walked in should have its license revoked and be converted into a homeless shelter.

In Wisconsin, a parent can bring their kid into a bar and buy 2 drinks and legally hand one to the child.


Hahaha you have never been to Wrigley Field then!

I remember in my drinking days 2 was just the beginning. The older you get the worse the hangovers become, I dont miss that crap at all.

Don't get any ideas deviant

If they're having a restaurant meal, and one of the party is over 18 (and therefore a responsible adult). A lot of restaurants just wouldn't serve it though, or maybe limit them to one, if it was a group of teenagers with only one just past their eighteenth birthday.

We have always called that the two beer buzz. lol


I agree, 18 should be the legal age with no exceptions.

Me too.........


Agreed.

18 is a good legal age for buying it. With family meals (including in restaurants) some flexibility is good.

To get back on topic..............


I disagree.
Parents should be setting an example of not encouraging or aiding alcohol use or any other drug with children.

Wine with meals isn't a bad example.

Normal across a lot of Europe, and encourages responsibility with alcoholic drinks.

Exactly, as you say very common practice across Europe.
People who were not introduced to wine with a meal as kids often have problems with alcohol in later life.


Food is much better with a glass of wine.

Not for adults but children should not be introduced to any kind of drugs.
If anything, it sets an example that if it is o.k. with the parents then it is o.k. to do.


Which is my point and thank you.
Then when the kid gets in trouble or addicted it points right back to poor parenting.

No,you missed my point.

I know people with alcohol problems that were not gradually introduced to alcohol as teenagers.
My kids, at 14 were allowed a half glass of wine with lemonade with a meal.
At 16 it was one small glass of wine.
Although they both drink on occasion, it is very rare.

It's just encouraging responsible drinking. And wine at meals is a good tghing.

It isn't a vice, and no reason at all to be puriytanical about it. In France, Italy, Germany, Spain etc, it's perfectly normal.

Alcohol is sugar. Cancer loves sugar. Now, tell me why alcohol is good. In small doses, arsenic is good if "good" means harmless.

The evil side of alcohol is that it makes you (editorial) soft and lazy. If you are lucky. Or aggressive and belligerent because it removes mental brakes - if you are not.

The worst is that alcohol destroys marriages, employment, and everything else where the stupid kind of uninhibited "honesty" is a curse.

Russia is dying because of alcohol.

Back on topic again..............


No child should be given any kind of drug even as bad as the water quality is in Poland.
In this day and age there are very good water purifiers to make lemonade and juices.
18 is the common sense age to allow alcohol for young adults.

To buy in bars, of course.

At home with family meals, especially celebrations, there's no issue.

Serving a drug to a child is an issue.
Wanna see who can get the last word ?

A 16 or 17 year old isn't a child as far as the law is concerned for drinking wine in restaurants or at home.


Happily.

Fortunately Europe isn't puritanical.

You seem to be well versed in the subject matter...

And why not? It's part of life here in Europe.