The Chronicle

BULAWAYO, Saturday, April 20, 1968 — The minimum legal drinking age in Rhodesia is likely to remain at 19 in spite of the recommendation of a Parliamentary Select Committee that the age be dropped to 18.

Ministerial and member opposition has resulted in the chairman of the Select Committee on Liquor Licensing, Mr JW Pithey (RF, Avondale), agreeing that the age should remain at 19.

The recommendation was contained in the first report of the Select Committee, which the House began debating yesterday. The report sparked off lengthy and controversial debate.

In the Parliament this afternoon, Mr Pithey, replying to the debate, said that in view of the strong evidence given to the House since the motion was introduced, the minimum age should remain at 19.

Mr Pithey said the recommendation was made on evidence the committee had heard since it was appointed two-and-a-half years ago.

Evidence was heard from “all sorts of people”, including members of the Ministries of Health, Labour and Social Welfare, and “there was not a tittle of evidence against dropping the age to 18”.

The motion that the House takes note of the first report of the Select Committee, was withdrawn after Mr Pithey had replied to the debate.

Earlier, the Minister of Health, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr McLean, said the reduction of the minimum age would be a retrogressive step. It would introduce a permissive element into Rhodesia society.

He said a permissive society seemed to contain elements of anarchy.

“Anything goes in this free, swinging society that is being rammed down our throats by propaganda”.