A federal survey released today revealed that 40 percent of underage
drinkers scored their booze from an adult free of charge within the last
month. About one in four teens said they got the alcohol from an unrelated
adult, one in 16 got it from a parent or guardian and one in 12 got it from
another older relative, according to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration study. Are these adults sober?
These well meaning folks probably think they're doing their teen loved ones a favor.
They reminisce back to the days when they were the braced-faced gawky high
schooler downing a bottle of Bud at that gnarly party and figure if the
teenager in their life is going to drink, they might as well do it under
adult supervision. The enabling behavior might seem harmless. But it's not
always fun and games.
Ask Sara and Jeffrey Hutsell. The Deerfield couple was convicted last year of allowing an underage drinking party at their home after 18-year-olds Ross Trace and Danny Bell, were killed in an
alcohol-related crash following that bash. Adults must be honest and direct.
If you drank before 21, admit it and tell the teens it doesn't mean it's
right. Moms, dads, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters need to grow up.
Stop trying to act cool and you could save a life.
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Their 21st birthday does not suddenly switch adults from being 100% incompetent to 100% competent. People who have had no experience drinking alcohol are the ones who end up binging and purging -- or worse. Responsible parents gradually introduce their children to alcohol, giving them sips of champagne on special occasions, serving beer and wine with food, and never to excess. I do agree that alcohol is not appropriate for teen parties, where peer pressure encourages irresponsibility. Family gatherings encourage responsible drinking because parents model temperate usage, and because there is a high ratio of mature adults to teens.
Alcohol ain't that great.
the drinking age should be 18 plain and simple... It is ridiculous to think that an 18 year old in America can die for his country's corporate obligations but can't grab a drink on leave in the states
This whole country needs to grow up and get over its irrational, paranoid, schizophrenic approach to alcohol. It's asinine and counterproductive that we can expect our children to learn the lessons of moderation and responsible consumption by forbidding them from ever drinking alcohol until they're 21, at which point we turn them loose in bars and liquor stores and hope for the best.
I wonder how many teenagers' lives would be spared if we removed the bizarre, irrational taboo on "underage" drinking, stripped alcohol of its allure as a forbidden fruit, and placed the task of teaching children about responsibility back in the hands of their parents where it belongs. To that end, some sane states -- Illinois included -- have a sensible policy of allowing children to drink alcohol in their home under the supervision of their parents or an approved guardian.
Adults should not be providing minors with alcohol. First, it is illegal and second, minors are not old enough to decide if they want to take the consequences of drinking. I know the argument is that they will drink anyway but buying the alcohol sends the message that it is OK to break the law and that the adult approves of it.
The only time that drinking is OK for a minor is as part of a religious practice such as the sedar or communion.