TOKYO, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government is debating whether to lower the age limit for drinking, smoking and gambling, with some in the ruling party arguing it would drive up sales and tax revenue.
The discussions fall under a larger initiative to lower the adult age from 20 to 18 next year, which would give Japanese citizens aged 18 and 19 the right to get married and sign contracts for expensive items without the consent of their guardians.
However, legislators within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have not reached consensus on whether the new adult age bill would blanket the acts of drinking, smoking and gambling.
The move follows a new legislation pushed through in June that lowered the voting age from 20 to 18.
The Japanese Times cited government plans as saying that there would be a three-year transition period after the bill is enacted, so that the new adult age would not be introduced before 2021.
