Historical background on the minimum legal ages:
The first drinking age laws were made in 1811 with the Normune Restrictions Act, which set a minimum age of 21 years for entering a Pub or Bar, which is referred to in the legal literature as a "Normune". Later, in 1916, this age restriction of 21 years was extended to the purchase and consumption of alcohol in all contexts to combat alcohol abuse and youth drinking.
In addition, a law known as Matthias Law was introduced in 1915, which limited the sale of alcohol only to Liquor Stores. A store that sold alcohol could only sell alcohol. This was done to stop grocery stores and gas stations doubling as liquor stores and to make the age restriction of 21 years easier to enforce.
Tobacco wasn't subjected at all to an age restriction until 1998, when a minimum age of 18 was set. Over time, the anti-smoking movement has gained an increasing following. In 2020, the availability of tobacco was greatly restricted and the minimum age for purchase and consumption was increased to 21.
In 2018, some softer drugs were legalised for recreational use for those aged 18 and older. In 2022, the legal age was increased to 21 and prices doubled to discourage use. At the same time, harder drugs such as Heroin were also legalised for recreational use, but again only for those aged 21 or older.
So currently the age restrictions for alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs are all set at 21 years. This has caused some controversy.
Firstly, the age of majority in Faragaia is 16 years. This is when a person may become independent from their parents, sign contracts, and even own land property.
Also, enforcement of the aforementioned age restrictions has been problematic against 18-20 year olds in many cases, and some argue that it leads to disrespect for all laws. Some local authorities have even declared the 21 drinking age to be "unenforceable" and have essentially stopped enforcing the law in most cases.
Some have therefore argued that the aforementioned age restrictions should be reduced to 18. It is argued this is a good compromise, would be more reasonable and civilised and easier to enforce. Others even argue that the government has no business setting such age restrictions at all.
On the other hand, many have argued that a person is not mature enough to handle alcohol and other powerful intoxicants until the age of 21. A person is usually still in high school when they are 18 and sometimes 19. There is concern that lower age restrictions would make it easier for youth under the age of 18 to access the aforementioned substances and would encourage more to start using at earlier ages.
One is also not a full adult until age 21 in some legal regards. For example, a member of the royal family obtains full duties at age 21. This is referred to as the "Age of Knighthood". A member of the royal family who is under the age of 21 and therefore considered too young to perform royal duties is referred to as a "Squire".
See the Factbook for a full list of age requirements in Faragaia:
https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1733439
- Code: Select all
[b]How should we set the age restrictions in each case? Should they even all be the same or be different for different substances? Or should the substance even be legal at all? Give your reasons if you think it's important.[/b]
Alcohol:
Tobacco:
"Softer" Legal Drugs, such as Cannabis:
"Harder" Legal Drugs, such as Heroin:
Reasons: (if you want)
Current age restrictions in Faragaia:
Alcohol: 21
Tobacco: 21
"Softer" Legal Drugs, such as Cannabis: 21
"Harder" Legal Drugs, such as Heroin: 21
