committee advises Ontario drinking age should remain

Toronto (CUP) — On- tario students can heave a sigh of relief now that a provincial advisory com- mittee has recommended retaining the current drink- ing age of 19.

The report, submitted to Consumer and Com- mercial Relations. Minister Monte Kwinter, also calls for extended hours of oper- ation for drinking establish- ments, tougher restrictions on advertising, and looser guidelines on the sale of al- cohol at sporting events.

“A philosophy of mod-

eration and responsibility’>.

was the driving force be- hind the committee’s initia- tives, according to project manager Rose- mary Grange. Many of the report’s more than 90 rec- ommendations aim to re- duce drinking and driving, cited as the most important alcohol-related problem.

Student re- action has been almost uni-

versally positive, following months of intensive lobby- ing to prevent an increase in the drinking age.

“We're very pleased,” said University of Toronto stu- dent council vice-president Titch Dharamsi. “An in- crease would have been a big mistake.”

Guy Giorno, president

of the Young Progressive

Conservatives in Ontario, also. embraced the rec- ommendations enthusiasti- cally.

“We find it very pos- itive,” said Giorno, whose group had pushed to re- duce the age to 18. “The majority wanted to raise it, and leaving it required willpower.: Statistically it is still inequitable, but hold- ing the line is, to us, accept-

able.”

John Bates, president of People to Reduce Im- paired Driving Everywhere

(PRIDE), said he found the

report deplorable.

“It’s disastrous,” Bates said. “Not only will the extension of drinking hours surpass subway clo- sure times, but the refusal to increase the drinking age will cost many people, espe- cially students, their lives.”

Most of the recommen- da- tions can be implemented

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budget of the Ministry of Youth was virtually elimi- nated last year following In- ternational Youth Year eel- ebrations, leaving Charest a minister responsible mostly for announcing and promoting programs devel- oped in other departments:

The government also promised shortly after the Katimavik cancellation to introduce a national youth

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by the government imme- diately, although Kwinter will probably bring them to the legislature first. |

Should they be passed in their current format, there could be major reper-

cussions for students. Not only will pubs be allowed to stay open until 2 a.m., but alcohol could be served

policy, but has yet to an- nounce anything.

Howard McCurdy, New

Democratic youth critic,

believes the Conservatives:

have been silent on a youth

policy because “this gov- |

ernment really doesn’t care about youth. not one bit.”

Charest is not apolo- getic for the government

of the Field and Stream Club | CHARLOTTETOWN’S

Monday Nights: Tuesday Nights:

Wednesday Night: Thursday Night:

Blast to the Past! : Music from 1965-1985

Ladies Night: You could win a $100.00 CASH DRAW

Student Night

a an

at many campus sporting events. _ ioe

“It’s nice to see then bringing Ontario into the 20th century,” Dharam; said. “If (the recommen. dations) are enacted, yoy ‘can bet that the student. run pub will be open later

the very next day.”

“~ a ee

: falling through om its com: mitment to develop a youth policy.

“I refuse to buckle un. der when people are pre. tentious and tell me I don't understand the problems of youth,” Charest said. “J

refuse to play ‘programitis and throw out programs t whatever political animal i; out there.”