High School Students Get Shot Glasses, Beer Mugs at Prom (Your Tax Dollars at Work!)

Tuscaloosa News ^ | April 22, 2003 | wire staff

[ewing]

Some say Gulf Shores High School is sending the wrong message by giving them shot galsses and beer mugs for prom favors.

While some of the 300 students who attended the prom got picture frames and flower vases engraved with the date and the occasion, others got commerative shot glasses and beer mugs.

But Gulf Shores resident Virginia Benintende, who has tow grandsons attending Gulf Shores High, said the gifts endorse drinking.

'To me it is sending the bad images that drinking is elegant. I can't wait to use it, now that I have this glass,' Benintende said. 'I am sure they are not going to put sweet tea in it or Diet Coke.'

Gulf Shores Principal Larry Keys declined to comment on the glasses.

[ewing]

It is Alabama..(just kidding folks)

[b4its2late]

Hold Muh beer!

[ewing]

mmm...beer!

[Political Junkie Too]

What? No condoms?

And where was the chaparone who checks the girls undies for thongs?

-PJ

[July 4th]

We got stuff like that when I was in high school. (6 years ago). I still cherish my beer bottle opener with my high school logo. But typically, I think this is not "taxpayer money." Our prom tickets were really expensive, and covered the cost of the dance and favors. Major prizes were donated by local businesses.

So, yes, beer mugs are not a brilliant idea, but you're probably not the one paying for them.

[Sonny M]

Same with me, and I went to a catholic school. We got our stuff, mugs, etc, but they were included in the costs of our prom tickets, and they were expensive as hell.

[ewing]

And how do I apply to get that prom job?

[ewing]

Bottle openers sound a little more innocent than shot glasses..(especially since no one can supposedly drink)

[ewing]

At least you got something good, all I got was a crappy picture frame.

[Political Junkie Too]

And how do I apply to get that prom job?

Rancho Bernardo High official suspended over underwear inspection.

-PJ

[ewing]

Hold back a lot more than that before prom is over!

[ladylib]

The last I heard, she has been demoted (and bemoaning the fact that her principalship is over with and her career ruined)and is actually teaching in a public school classroom somewhere in California (yuck!). Of course, she is not teaching my nieces because my nieces' parents have the sense not to send their daughters to a school where parents have absolutely no control over whoever (or whatever) stands in front of their girls in a class room.

[ewing]

So she is no longer an Adminsrator but in the classroom!

[ladylib]

That's what I read. She's still in the system. How nice for the parents and the children.

[sharktrager]

Our proms were funded through fund raisers.

[southernnorthcarolina]

Things have changed in the past couple of decades. Can't say whether it's good or bad (some of both, I guess), but we're definitely becoming more puritanical with respect to drinking. Maybe it's due to MADD, or maybe it's due to personal experiences, but attitudes are different now. I'd venture to guess that if shot glasses and beer mugs had been given as high school prom favors 20 years ago, scarcely a comment would have been made. Of course, the drinking age was 18 in many states back then.

I was a groomsman at a fraternity brother's wedding 20-some years ago. The groomsmen's gifts were glass-bottomed beer mugs, "so that everyone can see where he's driving," said the groom. It was a funny line back then, but you wouldn't likely hear it today.

[eno_]

Yup, I'm shocked anyone is shocked. An 18 year old is an adult, and should have ALL the rights of an adult. It is hard to see how "underage drinking" over age 18 is not a prohibited form of age discrimination.

[Bogey78O]

I got a wine glass or some such thing as well as a candle, picture frame, and a variety of things for my prom and graduation package. All paid for by yours truly.

[rebel85]

18 years old can't drink; 18 years old can't smoke; no one can smoke in public (at least soon); soon no one will be able to drink in public; let's see alcohol, tobacco, firearms (ATF)-- working to take guns away--looks like a trend; now we see why those three items ended up in the same department...not looking very good for the home team.
Slowly but surely we are all losing our freedoms, but as long as they take it from the other guys first, it is really not our problem. Just a thought

[southernnorthcarolina]

I've always thought that we have it exactly backwards here in permitting driving at an earlier age than we permit alcohol consumption.

Certain European countries which shall go nameless because I'm PO'd at them for other reasons have this one right, at least: drinking at 16 is permitted in many countries (a glass of wine in a restaurant when accompanied by parents is permitted in some countries at lower ages than that), but driver's licenses are generally for ages 18 and up. Makes a lot of sense to me: get some concept of what alcohol does to your motor and mental skills as a pedestrian, transit rider, or bike rider before you start slinging around a ton and a half of steel. But of course, the low driving age limits in the U.S. are for the convenience of the parents.