web links and documents
In 2002, Dr Alexander Wagenaar and Dr Traci Toomey published a literature review titled, 'Effects of Minimum Drinking Age Laws: Review and Analyses of the Literature from 1960 to 2000'This surveyed a wide range of studies on the effectiveness of the United States' increased drinking age on alcohol-related problems. The review found that the effects were essentially positive. This is a quite complicated document, however, it repays careful reading as many of the conclusions popularly reported about the effects of the United States' legal drinking age of 21 are based on what this survey has stated.
The full text of the report can be found at http://www.noys.org/Wagenaar-MLDA_Literature_Review.pdf
On October 22, 2009, The Sydney Morning Herald published an article titled, 'Call to lift minimum drinking age to 21, written by its urban affairs reporter, Paul Bibby. The report focused largely on the views of Professor Ross Homel, of Griffith University, who criticised the NSW Government's attempt to reduce pub assaults in Sydney with measures such as a 2am lockout.
The professor said overseas research had shown overwhelmingly that raising the drinking age, increasing the cost of alcohol and reducing hotel opening hours were the best ways to cut violence. The full text of the report can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/national/call-to-lift-minimum-drinking-age-to-21-20091021-h92i.html
On October 23, 2009, The Maitland Mercury published an editorial titled, 'Too late to raise the drinking age'. The editorial argues that the grounds that lead to the drinking age first being lowered in Australia still pertain now. The full text of the editorial can be found at http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/too-late-to-raise-the-drinking-age/1657405.aspx
On November 18, 2009, The Courier Mail published a report of recent calls to have the legal drinking age in Australia raised to 21. On the Courier Mail's website there is a video accompanying this report which includes the views of a number of Queensland young people on this proposal. The full text of the news report together with the video can be found at http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26373798-952,00.html
On November 19, 2009, The National Times published an opinion piece titled, 'Through a glass, darkly' by Chris Middendorp. Middendorp argues that raising the legal drinking age will not solve Australia's alcohol-related problems. The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/through-a-glass-darkly-20091119-iot9.html
On November 19, 2009, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Brisbane Times published a news report titled, 'PM under pressure to raise drinking age ' which details the views of a leading mental health advocate, Ian Hickie, and others, who are calling on the Australian Prime Minister to open a debate on whether the legal drinking age in Australia should be raised to 19. The full text of this report can be found at http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/pm-under-pressure-to-raise-drinking-age-20091119-imuu.html
On November 20, 2009, The Daily Telegraph published a news report titled, 'Raise the drinking age, says NSW's top cop' written by Joe Hildebrand. The report detailed the views of New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione that the state government should consider raising the legal drinking age. The full text of this news report can be found at http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/indepth/raise-the-drinking-age-says-nsws-top-cop-andrew-scipione/story-fn4hfjim-1225799903072
On December 10, 2009, The Sydney Herald published an opinion piece written by James Pitts, the chief executive of Odyssey House McGrath Foundation. Mr Pitts argues that it is time Australia reconsidered raising the legal drinking age to 21. He suggests many of our supposed remedies to curb alcohol-related problems are not working. The full text of this comment can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/ignore-the-whines-of-protest-and-raise-the-drinking-age-forthwith-20091209-kk68.html
The editor of the Institute of Public Affairs Review, Hugh Tobin, has published an opinion piece claiming that current calls on governments to take stronger action against alcohol-related problems are an over-reaction. The piece is titled, 'How long until our pubs have no beer?'
The full text of this comment can be found at
http://www.ipa.org.au/publications/1366/how-long-until-our-pubs-have-no-beer-