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

[trebb]

I wonder if the author also supports underage sex-fests? It's obvious that morality is a taboo subject among the "elite thinkers" these days; they hate abstinence of any kind and only back the parents that make immoral decisions, while wresting all control from parents that want a say in things their children might be doing, like abortions for example.

[FMBass]

“As did mine. All our parents were in league. I couldn't go anyones house that they didn't ask me if I'd had a few.

To lie was out of the question. It was better and easier to tell the truth.”

With my dad, telling the truth was not only better and easier, it was also a good way to maintain good health and possession of your dental work.

[metesky]

Proms are the most overrated BS part of HS anyway. A waste of time and money with people who, with any luck, you'll never see again.

And what kind of testoserone deprived wimpoid wants to go to a party with adult suprevision? Unless of course you go back every week after that and demand they buy you another 30 pack.

[summer]

Minors should be taught how to responsibly drink, not be kept from some forbidden fruit they think will make them cool and popular.

Yeah, I agree -- but, that is the obligation of the individual parent with their OWN kids. Not with others' kids. If you want to teach your kid how to drink at home, while having a meal, during a holiday celebration or something like that, that's your business. And I think that's fine. That's what all parents should do with THEIR OWN kids. Some kids find out at an early age they don't like drinking alcohol. And, they find that out at home with their own parents, not at someone else's home with someone else's parents.

[summer]

RE your post #26 - Now, THERE's a good question...

[flashbunny]

Agreed - but if the parents got together - all of them - and made that choice that alcohol would be allowed while supervised - then the state should not be involved in it.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Great message these parents are sending their kids, and other people's kids: You can't possibly have fun without drinking alcohol. The casual, unthinking acceptance of alcohol in our society is really scary. Statistically, 10% of these kids will go on to have serious problems with alcohol, but nobody seems to think's that a reason not to promote drinking as a normal healthy part of life. My children will never get that message from me, and they'll never see an adult drinking alcohol in their home, so they won't equate drinking alcohol with being "grown up".

[Cboldt]

I'm worried about police being able to force entry into the houses just because of suspicion of underage drinking.

If facilitating underage drinking is per se criminal, then why not advocate asset (house) forfeiture? That would be a HUGE deterrent.

[Cboldt]

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

Why no take their house as well? It's a strong deterrent.

[summer]

No, I disagree. I still think what happens in your OWN home with your OWN kids is different than throwing a party for everyone else's kids. And, I think another poster was right - these parents are in essence saying to kids, it's impossible to have a good time without a drink. NOT a good message to send kids.

[summer]

RE your post #43 - LOL...

[misterrob]

Back in the day I thought it was a good idea but now that I have a kid I see it differently. I don't want to see her screw up her life by having sex too early or getting knocked up. I know what happens when kids and booze mix. Hell, adults don't do such a good job either I find.

[flashbunny]

So even if every parent agrees, and go along with it- the all knowing state can override their judgement and say a crime has been committed?

Apparently you trust the state to run children's lives better than responsible parents.

[atomicpossum]

What the HELL ever happened to parent being parents and NOT trying to be their KIDS' FRIENDS?

And exactly how do you choose which laws to tell your child it's okay to break (or that you will help them break)?

[Xenalyte]

My mother chaired Project Graduation for my sister's class (1991, I think). The kids were locked in the gym, and had excellent games and kick-ass door prizes.

Did y'all get to roam the school, or were you confined to a smaller area? I've always thought it'd be way fun to be locked in the whole school overnight. You could play the biggest game EVER of hide-and-seek.

[jos65]

This is not a new pnenomenon . It is as old as alcohol itself. Some parents ween their offspring on booze,so we should not be surprised at a parent sponsored prom party. These parents seem to be smply replicating an experience they had at that age.

Not a good idea, particularly since it is against the law and it sends the wrong message to thousands of very impressionable youngsters.

I don't believe a 16 year is mature enough to handle the chemical changes which take place through drinking.

[Cboldt]

And exactly how do you choose which laws to tell your child it's okay to break

That's based on the nature of the laws passed. Do you choose, a priori, that "if it's law, it must be good?"

[metesky]

Hide and seek for HS graduation? Maybe for those on the short bus, but the rest of the dull normals are all trying to get laid.

[misterrob]

Oh, so cracking down on underage drinking is yet another example of big government cracking down on civil liberties?

Get a grip, bud.

[CollegeRepublican]

Minors should be taught how to responsibly drink, not be kept from some forbidden fruit they think will make them cool and popular.

I agree with you. Most of the alcohol poisonings on college campuses every September are from kids who had never been exposed to alcohol before they were free from their parents. I drank in high school behind my parents back, but I think they knew what I was doing. But I never drove anywhere while drinking and I always spent the night where I was drinking.

Some Freepers act like they started life at 27 or something. Jeez.