The federal and state governments really arent looking after the kids.
Everyone is up in arms about teenage drunkenness yet where is the government awareness campaigns regarding the real dangers of hanging around pubs, clubs and nite spots?
No leader anywhere speaks out about the real hazards for teenagers of pub and nite club life. I never heard of it.
Death haunts these dark places. Drug dealers infest them.
A teen can get glassed even stabbed to death in a pub...its happening most days somewhere.
Where is the government warning?
Are we such a booze-oriented nation that we see nothing wrong with the teenagers getting caught in this lifestyle?
There are so many sad cases of young folk going into a dark hole and coming out with serious injuries.
Someone, maybe a K.Rudd, or a M. Ilemma... needs to talk about it in front of the tv cameras.
Why would you go to a pub with so much violence in them these days?

I think people are aware of the risks. A club is actually far safer than a private party. You don't get pot smoking out in the open - you don't even notice it unless you go looking for it. They are crawling with bouncers. We don't need the government to tell us the obvious - that you can get into a fight at a bar.

Indeed. I'm with Freediver.

It happens, and yes, it happens on a basis that is far too frequent, but it's not as common as your post makes out. I have a suspicion that you're not speaking as a regular pub-goer yourself, instead going by media reports, which as with most cases, tend to sensationalise the situation and make it out to be more severe than it really is.

It's not the government's place to tell us this. It's not up to you or the government to tell the teenagers to stop participating in this lifestyle.
Most will grow out of it. Some won't. That's their choice.

Freediver ~ "A club is actually far safer than a private party. You don't get pot smoking out in the open - you don't even notice it unless you go looking for it."

Sigh. Can't remember the last time I saw a fight as a result of people smoking pot. I also can't remember the last time I went to the pub and the place didn't end in some drunken brawl.

Pubs and clubs are no more or less safer than doing anything else. More safer than driving, I'd suggest. Common sense prevails in certain situations. People generally get hurt cause they don't acknowledge the early signs of danger and walk away.

I was thinking that public awareness, by good government, might help encourage some of the dumber teens to at least think about where theyre going in their social practices...a sort of duty of care. My wife said her brains didnt kick in until she was 27. Not by any means being dumb, she takes that as a standard for young girls. Thats a lot of misery young girls can get into in the booze scene between drinking age of 18 and the late 20's. A lot of guys are not much brighter though as a rule I think after highschool, around about 22-23yrs old, they tend to calm down. I just see a world of violence at the moment and much of it is pub/club related. Governmments also seem to me to be in decline allowing many moral codes to slip. Theres not a person in the land in a seat of power that is speaking about the sex criminals porn is creating. Its all looking like what 2 Timothy 3 says about the last days, with no really good strong men in government to attempt to stop it...apart from that grand old christian gentleman Fred Nile.

This is a good topic to raise. I think to fine the parents if they are under age which many are( big Fines)

Other than that it really is the way kids are raised.
Perhaps we need to start at base camp.
Control who is having babies first and issue licences.
Some people should not have kids because they are not a good example and many live off welfare.
Thats is where this should all go back to IMOP.
For now I guess all one can do is teach our own and keep a close eye on them while asking for more police and start putting more behind bars.
No easy answers I am afraid. You right it is a huge problem and getting worse by the day.

People are no longer safe walking of an evening.

Tonight on A Current affair they showing a town somewhere that are taking matters into their own hands because its so out of control
A bunch of oldies. If I knew where they were and could find time I would give them a hand.
These kids have made these peoples lives a hell after coming our from pubs and clubs.
There is no respect anymore. Maybe invest in a cricket bat.

Bottom line its a parent thing and not really up the Gvernment to teach our kids right from wrong= but Hey somebody has to.

Other than that it really is the way kids are raised.
Perhaps we need to start at base camp.
Yes PALE,
Out of touch "experts", utterly idiotic Kids' TV programming, ceaseless bombarding of mindless video clips, constant escapeism entertainment, constantly pushing the "money is everything" agenda, ceaseless reference to the "ideal body" image, nothing less than "University Education" and, particularly in Australia, sport, sport & more sport, the speculation market etc. etc.
This is what every kid or youngster is facing every minute of the day. What hope does anyone actually think youngsters have when the adults are getting more & more focused on themselves. Kids need GUIDANCE not NONSENSE. The baby boomers have failed miserably in their duties & soon they'll be paying for it dearly.

All these comments are wonderful and show the thought given to the subject. May I add that the whole scenario is driven by REVENUE. Thats all. Thanks

"Sigh. Can't remember the last time I saw a fight as a result of people smoking pot.

You missed the point stg. I did not imply any such relationship at all.

"I also can't remember the last time I went to the pub and the place didn't end in some drunken brawl.

Can you remember the last time you went to the pub? I've never seen a full on browl in a pub. I've seen a couple of nasty one on one fights and had someone try to pick a fight with me once, but that's all.

PALE... I take it these are your views, and not those of the organisation, when you say that parents should be licenced.

As much as it breaks my heart seeing bad parenting and neglected children, the idea of a government choosing the 'right' people to have babies is pretty sickening.

I mean, one of the criteria you put forward is if they're on welfare.

Crikey, I hate to think of the political point scoring that would begin by the Christian sect so beloved of the likes of Gibo.
I'd damn well hate somebody like Fred Nile getting his foot in the door on the matter of who should be allowed to have kids, though I suppose at least the Catholics would have a time of it if they tried, given their attitudes toward contraception.

What would follow? Only married couples? The idea of gay couples having kids (via sperm or egg donation/surrogacy of course) would be heresy to many, so I guess they'd be on the chopping block.
What about age? Would we start telling 17 to 19 year olds they're too young?
Would we extend it to grades in school? After all, what better way to stop so many dumb kids entering the system?

I'd support any moves to strengthen child services and for bad parents to feel the full brunt of the law, but this suggestion takes social engineering too far.

It is called "Positive Parenting" Classes.
I truly believe child/youth behaviour is a Learned thing.

The adults in their lives have been the role models but what are these role models teaching. History always has a way of repeating itself. You have to teach CONSEQUENCE. Consequences for both GOOD and Bad behaviour.
You see a parent smack about someone, then the child will learn that is the way to solve a problem too. You seem them do it, then you better take a close hard look at yourself.

Positive parenting classes are a good thing. They teach how to show your emotions effectively and Not at the expense of others dignity. Instead of 'You make me angry'. It is about 'I' Statements and owning the feeling. It is "I feel angry when you...'.
Where is ownership of the anger now. Where is the root of it all.

I would say it is about significant adults teaching it is ok to have anger and other seemingly 'negative' feelings, but it is the way it is expressed that matters. Don't 'glass' someone because you had your drink split.

And yes, MEDIA sensationalise Everything nowadays and have a lot to answer for. Look at all the attention on Corey.

Gibo have you ever been beaten up in a pub?