An Alternate Policy: Objectives Continued and Recommendations

Our goal of changing the legal drinking age operates on a provincial level. However, we will begin working towards this goal on a fundamental level in order to ensure that our objectives are realistic. We believe that changing the legal drinking age is a long-term goal which will cannot be accomplished without much change to the social climate. We will begin working towards our goal with the following objectives:

1) To increase the ability of community members, stakeholders, and parents to see young persons as responsible and competent
2) To decrease the focus on youth as responsible for alcohol-related harm
3) To increase the perceived value of the opinions and beliefs of young persons
4) To increase perceived feelings empowerment and self-determination in young persons

Our recommendations for reaching these objectives function on a fundamental level of informing the individuals within communities. In order to achieve our goal of changing the legal drinkng age, first we must create a space for such policy changes to be considered. We must bring awareness to and create investment in the hidden ideologies and stereotypes that are embedded in constructions of youth. In addition, we must inform the general community as to the realities of drinking behaviours in youth. Therefore, we will begin by providing information and action that will allow this issue to have a place on Ontario’s political agenda in the future.

Recommendations:

1) Provide a means of youth voices to be heard in a public facility
2) Provide means for public/community members to challenge and reform common constructions of youth
3) Illustrate achievements and abilities of youth in a public facility
4) Provide accurate information regarding youth drinking behaviour and adult drinking behaviour