Teens and alcohol
In the last few weeks, the Press has run several stories about cops busting up teen drinking parties. The most recent story included the arrest of two parents who apparently tried to tell police there was no one inside the home and no party going on. But the police, obviously skeptical, found large quantities of empty beer cans and 23 underage kids - some as young as 14. What were these parents thinking? And even if they just got home and found the party going on, why try to hide it?
We will be writing an editorial in the days ahead on the broader issue of teenage drinking, and have been chatting about it here. We've received e-mails from people, some criticizing the front-page publication of such stories as overreaction to kids being kids, and others saying the police HAVE to get involved because the parents are not monitoring their children closely enough. We'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter. Is this a police matter or should it be left to the parents? How hard should authorities crack down on the teens - and their parents?
We will be writing an editorial in the days ahead on the broader issue of teenage drinking, and have been chatting about it here. We've received e-mails from people, some criticizing the front-page publication of such stories as overreaction to kids being kids, and others saying the police HAVE to get involved because the parents are not monitoring their children closely enough. We'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter. Is this a police matter or should it be left to the parents? How hard should authorities crack down on the teens - and their parents?
2 Comments:
As a school psychologist, I am glad that you are focusing on the under-age drinking problem. As with bias incidents, it should not be viewed as "kids will be kids." Police need to be involved, since many parents ignore the problem. I worry about alcohol-related driving deaths; we have had several in Middletown.Also, drinking is dangerous in terms of possible sexuial assaults. As penalties,both parents and teens should be made to perform community service,preferably is some setting related to the aftermath of teen alcohol abuse.Driver's license should also be postponed for a child found guilty; counseling may be helpful, but only with parental involvement to confirm the seriousness of the problem.
One of the most dangerous things about teenage drinking, though rarely mentioned, is that it leads to adult drinking. And adult drinking is one of the country's most horrible problems.
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