Madam, - Recently I attended a concert at the Point Theatre, Dublin. Being a legal adult aged 18 years, entitled to vote, be tried as an adult in criminal cases, and purchase alcohol, I was naturally shocked to discover that the Point management had taken it upon itself to exclude 18- and 19-year-olds from the latter right, having set its own minimum drinking age at 20.
It is ridiculous and, frankly, insulting for adults with age cards to be told they are too young to be served. The Government has decided on 18 as the legal drinking age, yet certain venues raise this limit in their own premises to 20, or even 23 in some cases. When asked for an explanation, I was told, "It's just house policy", which seems an inadequate explanation for ignoring government legislation and creating one's own age limits.
If there was an upper age limit I'm sure there would be outrage, but I have a sneaking suspicion that most older adults feel this is actually quite a reasonable policy. It's not. It's discrimination. Eighteen-year-olds, despite our youthful appearance, do actually count as grown-ups. This isn't just teenagers pleading to be taking seriously, it's the law. - Yours, etc.,
CLAIRE HENNESSY, Cremorne, Templeogue, Dublin 16.