Local

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Raise drinking age to 19, school division demands

By: Nick Martin

Posted: 03/2/2009 6:34 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

The St. James-Assiniboia School Division wants Doer government to raise the legal drinking age to 19. (TOBY TALBOT / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)

Related Items

Polls
- Should Manitoba raise the drinking age to 19?

A city school division wants the legal drinking age raised — because principals fear that some students who can legally drink are choosing to go into licensed establishments at lunchtime.
"We’ve had students arriving in the afternoon, 18, able to drink, and we’re able to do very little, unless they’re obviously intoxicated," St. James-Assiniboia School Division board chairman Peter Carney said. "We have many students, in our Grade 12 especially, who can legally drink."
The division is preparing a resolution to be tabled March 20 at the annual convention of the Manitoba Association of School Trustees.
St. James-Assiniboia wants school divisions to demand that the Doer government raise the legal drinking age to 19.
Education officials elsewhere in the city say there are sometimes students who come to school under the influence, but that students legally able to drink and going into a bar or licensed restaurant during school hours hasn’t been a noticeable problem.
Only Alberta, Quebec and Manitoba allow drinking at 18, Carney said.
"We hear about it from the principals. There’s little they can do," Carney said.
St. James-Assiniboia has four high schools.
Other divisions said it makes no difference whether students can legally drink, that coming to school under the influence of alcohol or drugs is inappropriate conduct.
"I’m aware that principals from time to time deal with students under the influence," said Seven Oaks superintendent Brian O’Leary.
The age of the student doesn’t matter, it’s whether he or she has been drinking during school hours, O’Leary said. "We would treat it as conduct unwelcome in schools."
Schools are concerned that students who have turned 18 can buy alcohol on behalf of underage students, O’Leary said, but that concern is directed at adult students going to liquor stores and beer vendors, then delivering the alcohol to underage students.
Students legally entering licensed establishments and drinking at lunch would not be a major issue. "I’m not sure how prevalent that would be," said O’Leary.
"The great majority of our high school students are responsible young people," Louis Riel superintendent Terry Borys said. "There are always people who make bad choices, and have to suffer the consequences."
But Borys said students legally drinking during school hours is "not something I have heard from my principals. That would certainly not be many," said Borys.
"We’re not aware it’s a problem" among 18-year-olds, said a Winnipeg School Division official. "If a student comes to school and they’re under the influence of alcohol or other substances, they’re suspended and sent home."
Doug Mowbray, Manitoba head of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said Sunday night MADD supports any increase in the legal drinking age. Some states in the U.S. have raised the drinking age in recent years, he said.
"Between drugs and alcohol, there is the odd person who does abuse that," said Mowbray. "When someone walks up to me who’s been drinking, I can sure tell that."
But, said Mowbray, MADD is not aware how much of a problem it is for students legally able to drink doing so during the school day.
If schools suspect a student has been drinking, they should call the parents or the police, even if the student is legally an adult, Mowbray said.
Students can’t simply be shown the door, if it means they’re on their own to drive or otherwise get home if they’re under the influence, said Mowbray.
nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

Drinking age

The legal drinking age is 18 in Manitoba, Alberta and Quebec.

In all other provinces, the legal drinking age is 19.

In the U.S., the legal minimum age to purchase alcohol is 21.

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

WFP Hockey

Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
Editor's Bulletin

Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
Winnipeg Jets

All things NHL on our Jets landing page
Twitter

Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
News Cafe

Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
Facebook Fanpage

Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events