The legal drinking age in the United States is 21 years old, but some parents feel that as long as they’re present when a minor is drinking, it somehow justifies breaking the law. But when was the government changed to the individual ideas of the parents of America? Rules and laws wouldn’t matter because they would all be different. There would be no uniformity or justice. What one person would see as wrong, another would see as right. Law is made for a reason. It tells what to do and not to do. If parents keep on giving their children alcohol, they may suffer the consequences, or they may not. Either way, it’s still illegal. But it’s still a choice that can only be made by the one doing it. The question is, is it worth the risk?
Each day 7,000 kids in the United States under the age of 16 take their first drink and 19% of them get if from their parents. What may seem fun, cool, and interesting may not be. Alcohol is the number one killer of teenagers. By drinking alcohol, it can affect the body, mind, and family of a person.
Recent research shows that the human brain continues to develop into the early twenties, so underage drinkers could be damaging their brains. Teenagers who abuse alcohol may remember 10% less of what they have learned than those who don’t drink. The liver of a human is what filters all of the poisons out of the body. Alcohol is one of these major poisons and if it’s drunk in access then the liver could be damaged or even ruined. By drinking too much alcohol death could occur because of liver damage. Drinking alcohol also could create a “beer belly” if drunk in access. Drinking alcohol may make people become overweight and may cause health problems. These risks are all factors every time alcohol is used.
Alcohol also provokes drunk driving and teen suicide. Many teens that drop out of high school drop out because of their drinking habits. Aside from these risks parents still continue to give their teens alcohol. Parents who think underage drinking is okay think that as long as they’re controlling the situation, then their children are safe. But everyone’s open to these risks, especially teens because they’re younger. Parents and teens still have to follow the law and that means that drinking alcohol is for those 21 and older. But not everyone listens to the law.
Some adults agree with the parents who give their teens alcohol and think that it’s all right to do it because it’s their decision. “The best thing for parents to do is to create a safe environment for their kids to drink in,” said John Sparks (on the internet drinking poll on underage drinking).
But is it safe to break the law? Some students at Fraser High School are torn on the issue. “If you can go to Canada at 19 and drink then you should be able to drink in the United States,” said Andrea Hamann (senior).
The United States has the highest drinking age in the world. But there are still some FHS students who play by the rules. “I don’t think that people under the age of 21 are responsible enough to drink, no matter what the conditions. There is no ‘smart’ drinker in my opinion,” said Rebekah Tacoma (senior).
The basic laws of the city of Fraser on underage drinking are as follows: children who drink and are caught can get a fine, have to perform community service, go to a juvenile detention center (if the case if severe), get their license taken away if they are driving drunk or will not be persecuted and instead their parents will take the blame.
If a parent gets caught giving their children alcohol then they can get many fines and go to jail for a number of years. Even if a parent gives their children alcohol or tells them it’s okay to drink at the house, if the child has a friend with them drinking and they get in an accident on the way home and die or are injured the parent is liable for everything and could even be charged with man-slaughter if the child is killed.
The Fraser Director of Pubic Safety says, “ The consequences of underage drinking are the same in Fraser as in anywhere in Michigan.”
Teenagers look up to their parents for everything. Whatever a parent does, the kid learns from them how to do it. If parents teach their children it’s okay to drink underage then they’re telling their kids it’s all right to do illegal things, period. They may be creating a “safe” environment, but is it really safe when it can hurt their children physically or mentally?
Teach children to be safe by following the law. Overall though, it’s still a decision. Just ask this question: is it worth the consequences and the risks? No one wants to spend their life in jail or ruining their future just because of one beer. In the end, no matter what, it’s still and always will be illegal.