A hoax published a few weeks ago saying the drinking age will be changed to 25 in the UK and US--and another posted on the same website saying it will change to 23 in Canada--keeps on going. A number of users on Facebook and Twitter apparently are still confused by it.
The fake articles were posted on the Sunday Times Daily, a website that allows users to create and share bogus articles.
It says, “We are sorry, but you were tricked! It was just a joke.”
It also adds: “Don’t worry, you are not the only one. [Millions of] people already fell for this. If you liked the joke, you can share it and trick your friends. Also you can create a joke of your own clicking the button below!
The website is generating its traffic via Facebook. The posts appear to be from ABC or the BBC, using official-looking logos.
There’s a number of advertisements on the Sunday Time Daily, meaning the owners of the site are likely making ad revenue from the pranks.
However, despite the website being fake, people were still commenting on it as of Monday afternoon on Twitter.
“So the new legal drinking age is changing to 25 instead of 21 on August 1st. wth?” one person wrote at around 3 p.m. ET Monday. “So the legal drinking age is being raised to 25? Hmm,” added another.
Said another, “They trynna change the drinking age to 25??? Mmkay........ When is the next election?”
“Heard they were upping Canada’s drinking age to 23?.... Good thing we never followed the law,” added another.
The same Sunday Times Daily site has generated a few other viral hoaxes, including one about Uruguay and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez testing positive for banned substances. Another one said England will get rematch against Uruguay in the World Cup, while another says school will be off for six months starting July 18.
Friends Read Free