Drinking age could be increased to 21

Saturday 31st March 2007, 12:00AM BST.

THE Health Minister will consider raising the legal drinking age to tackle drink-related problems among young people.

A study in the medical journal The Lancet this week called for the age to be raised from 18 to 21. Senator Stuart Syvret says that he will read the report carefully before making any decisions – but asking the States to raise the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 was one tool at his disposal. ‘I shall be discussing this study with the Drug and Alcohol Service to see if any of its recommendations are appropriate for Jersey, but what is undeniable is that the Island does have a problem with alcohol,’ he said. ‘I’m not sure if it is ready for an increase in the drinking age, but we need to look at all possibilities.’

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