Dear Editor,

With the current debate of banning the music or at least banning production of music of convicted criminals serving time it would be prudent for our parliamentarians to consider raising the age limit for alcohol purchase and consumption from 18 to 21.

The inability to enforce the law prohibiting under-age alcohol consumption at dances and parties is glaring evidence that the age limit should be raised. Other countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and parts of the United States have a minimum legal drinking age of 21.

It is already clear that alcohol impairs judgement, even in adults over 30. Unpopular as it may be with alcohol beverage companies and the youths themselves, the broader picture must be taken into account. With all the ills of society today, raising Jamaica’s minimum legal drinking age will assist with curbing these ills.

I call on the member of parliament for St Ann South Eastern Lisa Hanna and the member of parliament for St Elizabeth South Western Floyd Green, both charged with the political responsibility for youth, to make a bipartisan plea to raise the minimum age limit for alcohol purchase and consumption in Jamaica to 21.

Duncan “Junior” Buchanan

juniorbuck1@yahoo.com