BAGUIO CITY MOVES TO RAISE DRINKING AGE TO 21

BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Council is considering lifting the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 under proposed revisions to the city’s Revised Liquor Code, as officials review amendments aimed at strengthening alcohol regulation.

Councilor Elmer Datuin, chair of the Committee on Health, said the measure seeks to strengthen protections for young people, particularly students, in a city with a large college population that may be exposed to alcohol-related risks.

“Baguio City, with its dense concentration of university and college students, faces a disproportionate risk of alcohol harm among young adults aged 18–21. The current MLDA [Minimum Legal Drinking Age] of 18 means that incoming freshmen are legally permitted to drink on the day they arrive on campus,” Datuin said.

In a privilege speech, Datuin cited scientific studies, including findings from the World Health Organization (WHO), noting that the human brain, particularly the area responsible for decision-making and impulse control—continues to develop until approximately age 25.

He added that while 18 is recognized as the legal age of adulthood under Philippine law, early alcohol exposure may increase the risk of long-term harm among young adults.

“The younger a person begins drinking, the greater their lifetime risk of alcohol use disorder, brain damage, and alcohol-related injury. Raising the MLDA to 21 is not punitive. It is protective, preventive, and constitutional,” he said.

The proposal also includes broader revisions to the city’s liquor regulations, covering sanitation standards, noise control, environmental management, and enforcement mechanisms for liquor establishments.

The City Council has also moved to invite representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) to a regular session on June 8, 2026 to further refine the ordinance.

Meanwhile, the proposal remains under committee review and has yet to be approved by the full City Council.

If approved, the measure would make Baguio City the first local government unit in the country to set a legal drinking age of 21.

Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan described the Revised Liquor Code as a landmark measure, likened to the Smoke-Free Ordinance, which could transform Baguio City into a more health-conscious community if implemented effectively.

City officials said further consultations will be conducted with stakeholders, including public health experts and business groups, before the ordinance is finalized.