"If only they behaved like adults!"

Parliament has a chance to treat adults as adults - or to undermine all the efforts being made to encourage teenagers to develop into responsible adults, says NORML's spokesperson Chris Fowlie, commenting on the push to raise the alcohol purchase age to 20.

NORML, the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, is committed to the principle that responsible adult use of alcohol should be the goal of all organisations working with teenagers and young people.

"The state is funding all these groups to teach young people to make responsible and healthy choices", says Mr Fowlie, "and then Parliament gets ready to tell 18 year olds and 19 year olds that, as a group, they are too irresponsible to be allowed to buy alcohol".

NORML promotes safety messages when dealing with cannabis and other drugs, says Mr Fowlie.

"Raising the legal alcohol age to 20 is another version of "Just say No". That's a message that will have no credibility".

Young people will not respect Parliament for saying, in effect, don't do what we did - and still do, says NORML's spokesperson.

New Zealand has had good results from campaigns to reduce drink-driving. Its will be a pity if MPs vote for a simplistic, so-called solution instead of voting for programmes that help all young New Zealanders grow into responsible adults.

"Just Vote NO!", advises Mr Fowlie.

- ends -

© Scoop Media