Lawmakers Aim to Increase Legal Drinking Age to 21, Prohibit PWDs from Buying Alcohol

The legal drinking age in the Philippines may soon be increased to 21, as lawmakers aim to increase the legal drinking age from 18, and prohibit persons with disabilities (PWDs) from purchasing alcoholic beverages.

This comes as representatives Eric Yap (Benguet) and Paolo Duterte (Davao City) filed House Bill No. 1753 on Monday, which will effectively prohibit “unqualified individuals” from buying alcoholic beverages.

The bill also aims to prevent others from buying alcoholic beverages from the said “unqualified individuals”.

The bill defines “unqualified individuals” as those who are below 21 years of age and those aged above 21 “but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition.”

The bill will also aim to ban the presenting of fake IDs, which is commonly done to misrepresent an age, thus allowing those who are not of legal drinking age to acquire alcoholic beverages.

“Unqualified individuals” who will be found violating the bill will be sent to the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) for counseling.

“Unqualified individuals” who will commit their second offense, they will be sent to the BCPC and will be required to attend two consecutive counseling sessions together with their parents or guardians.

If they fail to present themselves before the BCPC, their case will then be raised to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Moreover, “unqualified individuals” who will commit a third offense will also be sent before the DSWD for further counseling.

Meanwhile, everyone else who will be found violating the bill shall face jail time of up to three months and a PHP50,000 fine. (GFB)