Well, it seems like there is a possibility of the younger gen being more sober for the coming years as a bill that would increase the age limit for alcoholic drinks was filed at the House of Representatives.

The Philippines currently has the legal limit for purchasing and drinking alcohol at the age of 18, but it is not strongly implemented as minors can easily buy them at convenience stores and sari-sari stores.

The bill filed by lawmakers Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte and Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, House Bill 1753 also referred as “Anti-Underage Drinking Bill” sees that young people under 21 and those deemed “unqualified individuals” are banned from purchasing and consuming alcoholic drinks.

Unqualified individuals

One of the highlights of the bill aside from its age limit is the term used “unqualified individuals”. This refers to:

• persons under 21 years of age
• people with disabilities or a mental illness
• those 21 years old 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

In case of violation of unqualified individual

Violation in any of the provisions shall be afforded the following interventions in order:

• First offense
• The Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) will counsel the unqualified individual before he is properly handed over to the parent/s or guardian/s for the first offense;
• Second offense
• the violator will be required to attend, together with the parent/s or guardian/s, two consecutive regular sessions of counseling conducted by the BCPC
• Subsequent offenses
• the unqualified individual shall be handed over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development office for appropriate counseling and proper disposition on the matter

Punishment and Penalties

If this bill is enacted into law, selling alcohol to those below 21 or just pretending to be over 21, will be illegal. Establishments and individuals caught in violation will be punishable under the proposed law.

• First Offense will result to either a fine, jail time or both.
• Fine: P50,000
• Imprisonment: not more than 3 months

• Succeeding Offenses will result to all three penalties
• Fine: P50,000
• Imprisonment: not more than 3 months
• Revocation of the license to operate a business

• The most senior officers of a corporate violator will be held liable.
• Public officials who block the enforcement of the law will be punished with suspension and a jail time of up to six months.

Alcohol use kills 2.5 million people yearly, including 320,000 peopled aged 15 to 29, Mr. Duterte said, citing data from the World Health Organization.

“It is the third leading risk factor for poor health globally, and responsible for almost 4% of all deaths in the world, according to 2004 estimates.”

Duterte said alcohol use is the third leading risk factor for poor health globally as it causes an estimated 2.5 million deaths every year, a significant proportion of which occurs in the young.

The lawmaker cited data from the World Health Organization, alcohol use kills 2.5 million people yearly, including 320,000 peopled aged 15 to 29 and further stated that the youth have a vital role in nation-building and it’s the duty of the state to promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being.