The increasing of the drinking age to 19 has been ruled out by the federal government as a way of reducing binge-drinking during the week celebrations in schools.
The commonwealth has been called on by health advocate Ian Hickie to increase the legal age from 18 to rule out the link between graduating from school and drinking.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon ruled out taking such drastic action. She told the reporters that it is not on their agenda to increase the drinking age.
The National Preventive Health Taskforce recommended liquor control laws to be made more stringent across the country earlier this year. They also wanted restrictions on the number of alcohol outlets and their opening hours to be to be tightened.
It also demands health warning labels on alcohol packaging and sporting codes to crack down on the alcohol related activities of players.
Ms Roxon acknowledged binge-drinking to be a problem during the schoolies week but said that parents could decide whether they needed to better educate their children.
"I am concerned when it is schoolies week coming up to encourage parents to talk to their children before they head off," the health minister said.
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