Zero Tolerance Makes Zero Sense [VA and RI Parents get jail time for allowing underage drinking]

Washington Post ^ | Aug 9, 2005 | Radley Balko, CATO INSTITUTE

[summer]

The article explains how the RI father collected car keys and the kids had to stay overnight, and could not leave until the next morning. How many kids might have wanted to go to this party and NOT drink and NOT stay overnight? The article doesn't say.

The article also does not disclose that 50% of the population does not drink at all. I don't think parents should be hosting these parties. There are plenty of ways to help kids celebrate prom night without resorting to serving alcohol to underage kids. Ever hear of dancing?

BTW -- as to the author of this article, who seems sympathetic to the parents, in that he supports their decision to serve alcohol:

The writer is a policy analyst for the Cato Institute and author of the study "Back Door to Prohibition: The New War on Social Drinking."

[summer]

PS I know of many towns celebrating prom nights inside the local YMCA, with total adult supervision, and kids dancing, plus there's video games, door prizes and food, etc.; and guess what - no alcohol. And, the kids have fun. So, it's possible.

[misterrob]

Libertairian whining if you ask me...underage drinking is against the law as is serving it to them. If the cops get a call of a party or see kids puking on the lawn then they have the right to suspect a crime has been committed.

What about the parents who don't want their kids drinking? And please tell me what good ever comes of having teenagers and alcohol together in one place?

[atomicpossum]

So this this Father-of-the-Year candidate tell all the other parents that he was having a beer bash for their underage kids?

[dawn53]

The fact that the parents are breaking the law by serving alcohol to minors should be cause enough to land them in jail, IMHO.

I don't care what precautions they take to see that the kids don't drive.

We throw teenage parties all the time. Mountain Dew and Coke seem to keep them happy. (However, an errant teen will occasionally sneek in some Red Bull, LOL...yuck, I don't know how they can drink that stuff, it smells so bad.)

[Moose4]

I'm right there with you that the parents should not be hosting these parties, but I'm worried about police being able to force entry into the houses just because of suspicion of underage drinking. That's getting into jackboot territory.

}:-)4

[dakine]

We celebrated H.S. graduation by being locked in the H.S. for the night with "adult" supervision.
No alcohol, but a lot folks dropped acid....

[Phantom Lord]

Ever hear of dancing?

Dancing! Dancing! Do you know what dancing leads too?

[dakine]

"And please tell me what good ever comes of having teenagers and alcohol together in one place?

A party? You remember those?

[stylin_geek]

My thoughts exactly.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I'd rather have my kids smoking crack at home where I can keep an eye on them than doing it on the street.

Anyone who does not recognize the above as sarcasm should stick their finger into an electric wall socket immediately.

[pobodys nerfect]

What are these parents using for brains?

[July 4th]

Dancing! Dancing! Do you know what dancing leads too?

No! People must not move their bodies in sensuous ways outside of the confines of the home.

Kudos to the parents for attempting to sanely control something that was going to occur anyhow. Send the irresponsible offenders to jail; let parents like these off with a slap on the wrist.

[Al Gator]

Nice, all you blue nose tea-totallers.

Question.

How many of the almost 2,000 troops killed in Iraq and Afganistan were "just too young to drink"?

In your Humble Opinion?

Just a question.

[atomicpossum]

How many of the almost 2,000 troops killed in Iraq and Afganistan were "just too young to drink"?

Six, Mr. Moore.

[Al Gator]

Your Eighteen.

You can vote for the President of the United States.

You can take a weapon and kill for your country.

You can get your ass shot off for your country. And your arms, and you legs, and lose your eyesight and your hearing.

But you're just too irresponsible to drink a beer.

Make me sick.

[Al Gator]

Communist.

[LurkedLongEnough]

1 - The main point is that police can search premises without a warrant in accordance with local ordinance - THIS is as much of a problem as irresponsible/absent parents.

2 - Starbucks Doubleshots.

[flashbunny]

"underage drinking is against the law as is serving it to the"

No it isn't - not in every state. Minors can drink with permission of parents in many states. If all the parents of the children at the party agreed to allow them to drink, and one or more set of parents were on hand to supervise, it shouldn't really be a problem.

This country's idiotic attitude towards minors and alcohol causes more problems than it solves. Minors should be taught how to responsibly drink, not be kept from some forbidden fruit they think will make them cool and popular.

[atomicpossum]

Communist.

Susan.