[Margaret Pilkington]

Cashy, again you are right, the judiciary do not set the sentencing, but I am not sure that they have no influence.

I also agree that not all young people have an irresponsible attitude towards citizenship, but I think making 21 the age at which alcohol could be purchased would be a better solution, though it would have to be adequately and reliably enforced to have any effect.

In essence I think the problem lies in the laws being made and then there isn't enough enforcement to make them do the job they were passed to do.

I do not think it is reasonable to penalise the vast majority of responsible drinkers for the ones who show no desire to be responsible....and in the end, the government are going to lose out on revenue, which will have to be garnered from some other source.

I think I should point out here that I am only a very occasional drinker so have no real axe to grind on my own behalf.