As the law stands right now in Saskatchewan, you need to be 19 years old to legally consume alcohol.
But the majority of those at the Sask Party convention in Saskatoon over the weekend, see lowering the age to 18 as an option.
It’s not like it’s a foreign concept in Canada.
People only need to be 18 before drinking legally in Alberta Manitoba, and Quebec.
Premier Brad Wall has said he would want to consult with SGI, MADD, and the SLGA before any changes are made.
From there it would need to pass a vote in the legislature in order for it to become law.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving responds
MADD tells News Talk Radio that it has asked those three provinces with the 18-year-old drinking age to raise it to 19.
“So, obviously we’d be opposed to anybody going in the other direction to meet them,” said CEO Andrew Murie.
“It’s probably popular with young people and they might consider voting a certain way. But if you look at the research behind it, the last thing we need is more young people dead.”
Murie pointed to New Zealand, where he said, there has been a considerable rise in the number of impaired driving deaths with youth since the country lowered the age from 20 to 18.
“It’s not about voting for your country, it’s not about going to war,” Murie said.
Delaying alcohol consumption will save lives, he said, adding that the United States got it right by raising the age from 18 to 21.
“They figure over 30,000 lives have been saved through that legislation.”
