[PhoenixAzul]

What I've noticed here in the UK/Northern Ireland/ Republic of Ireland is a very different culture around drink. The pub (short for public house, FYI) is an extention of the home almost...a really large parlour with footy on the TV and good chips and a cheap pint. England recently extended serving hours in bars, and it was expected to explode the number of drink driving/alcohol infraction charges...truth is that there simply wasn't an increase.

The R. o. Ireland just published last year's drink driving figures...for all 26 counties, there were only 33 arrests. And being arrested for drink driving in ROI and UK is almost immediate revokation of your DL. Part of the reason is the ease/cost of getting a taxi. It's easier/cheaper to get a taxi to the pub with 5 of your best mates for 5 pound than get in the car, spend the petrol, and then pay to park. People rarely rarely rarely drive drunk here. It carries a HUGE stigma.

Compare that with Pittsburgh, where there are maybe 2 cab companies, and it can take well over an hour to get one to come, if it shows at all. Belfast has over 20 different cab companies, not including the ones on the outskirts.Then the cost....I'd be willing to guess that it'd cost you the better part of 50 dollars to go from downtown to the airport. You can get a bus from Belfast City Center to the Int Airport for 7 pound return, taxi costs about 20 pound, but its almost an hour drive. So what do people do? drive home drunk, especially because the buses are basically useless after 8. Belfast has set up a "get home safe" bus service that stops in the neighborhoods with high amounts of students, pubs and clubs. Cheap fare too (they make it up on volume!).

And you RARELY if EVER hear of anyone dying of alcohol poisoning.

Ok, rant over.

Otterbein has the distinction of being in the "Dry Capital of the World". Up until this past election, you could not buy or sell alcohol within Westerville city limits. Now there is a pub-style restaurant that can sell wine/beer, and a pizza place that can sell you a 6 pack. Alcohol is not permitted on campus, or at campus events. But there's still a fair bit of drink consumed, despite insistance that it doesnt. Just because you cant get it in westerville doesnt mean that it doesnt get drunk.

Long and short of it? I'd vote for the legal age being 18, and I don't even drink.