Legal age for getting married is 18 for females and 21 for males. Legal age to vote is 18, legal age for getting a driving license is 18. And now comes a new rule - legal age to drink alocohol is 25. And once again like it always happens, with every new rule there is a controversy. Bar owners, pub owners and youngsters are outraged. But the question remains - Would they be really affected by this new rule?
I am not trying to say whether the rule is correct or wrong, my only point being if a rule is made, steps should also be in place to ensure it is followed. Otherwise this would also become one among the many rules that we have in our rule book and which is dusted only once in a while when someone gets caught doing the wrong thing. And as everyone knows, how many times does this actually happen!! And it definitely does not mean that rules are being followed.
I do not believe anyone serving or buying liquor in these stores ever asks for any kind of an identity proof for their age. So how is the government going to ensure that this rule would be followed? Even if we say for a minute that the pub owners would bow down and follow the rule, what about the local bars and the middlemen who sell alcohol to anyone and everyone that wants it. I think the problem here is much bigger and may not be solved by adding only one rule. It is a step yes - but there are many more steps to follow if what they actually want is to implement 'de-addiction policy'.
I live in London where though the age for drinking alcohol is 18, there are certain products - tobacco and alcohol that can be bought only if you are above 25. And this rule is very strictly followed. I once saw a group a male and 2 females, who were trying to buy tobacco. The girl asked for the tobacco and when asked for id proof was refused since she was below 25. Then the guy accompanying her asked for the same, and even he was refused even though he was above 25 - reason being the store owner was not ready to take the risk that the guy would buy it and give it to the girl. And this is how strict it gets here. If you want to buy such stuff, you have to make sure that the group you are in is above the legally required age. Again this does not mean that the problem is completely solved - but it just makes it difficult to break the law directly.
Unless India comes up with similar strict ways of ensuring the rules are followed, these rules would only end up being one among the thousands that people break. And even though the intentions of the people making the rules are good, unless they also devise ways to ensure the rules are followed, it would be a waste of time and money.
I am not trying to say whether the rule is correct or wrong, my only point being if a rule is made, steps should also be in place to ensure it is followed. Otherwise this would also become one among the many rules that we have in our rule book and which is dusted only once in a while when someone gets caught doing the wrong thing. And as everyone knows, how many times does this actually happen!! And it definitely does not mean that rules are being followed.
I do not believe anyone serving or buying liquor in these stores ever asks for any kind of an identity proof for their age. So how is the government going to ensure that this rule would be followed? Even if we say for a minute that the pub owners would bow down and follow the rule, what about the local bars and the middlemen who sell alcohol to anyone and everyone that wants it. I think the problem here is much bigger and may not be solved by adding only one rule. It is a step yes - but there are many more steps to follow if what they actually want is to implement 'de-addiction policy'.
I live in London where though the age for drinking alcohol is 18, there are certain products - tobacco and alcohol that can be bought only if you are above 25. And this rule is very strictly followed. I once saw a group a male and 2 females, who were trying to buy tobacco. The girl asked for the tobacco and when asked for id proof was refused since she was below 25. Then the guy accompanying her asked for the same, and even he was refused even though he was above 25 - reason being the store owner was not ready to take the risk that the guy would buy it and give it to the girl. And this is how strict it gets here. If you want to buy such stuff, you have to make sure that the group you are in is above the legally required age. Again this does not mean that the problem is completely solved - but it just makes it difficult to break the law directly.
Unless India comes up with similar strict ways of ensuring the rules are followed, these rules would only end up being one among the thousands that people break. And even though the intentions of the people making the rules are good, unless they also devise ways to ensure the rules are followed, it would be a waste of time and money.
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