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Source: ONE News
A UK psychologist and author will be telling a group of delegates representing more than 75 family-focused organisations in New Zealand that the drinking age should be raised to 21.
Around 200 people are expected to attend the Fifth Annual Family Forum, hosted by Family First today.
Dr Aric Sigman says New Zealand's drinking age should be in line with that of the United States.
"New medical evidence on accident probability, disease and brain development makes it absolutely clear that delaying the age at which teenagers and young people have high access to alcohol will reduce the level of damage they and society suffer at the moment," says Dr Sigman.
He says banning alcohol until age 21 will not, as parents fear, cause teenagers to rebel and drink even more.
"Parents who exert authority over their teenagers about drinking and are strict, are more likely to find their children actually drink less, not more, alcohol."
"We forget that children and young people absorb our values and rules about alcohol and other things - even though they claim otherwise. And this subconscious knowledge that the government and parents stand together on this matter will exert a positive influence on young drinking habits."
But he also says raising the drinking age is not a magic bullet solution.
"Above all, parents and governments must not pander to what teenagers are interested in - they should do what is in teenagers' best interests."
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