Underage Drinking
http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2009/11/new_providence_excludes_ages_1.html
I found this interesting article on a new underage drinking law in New Providence. The new law allows for underage drinkers from between the ages of 18 and 21 to be allowed to drink on private property without being arrested. It is still illegal for drinkers under the age of twenty on to drink in public though. The idea behind this is that if children are able to drink udner the supervision of adults they would be less likely to illegally drink in places where there is no supervision and the possibility for alcohol poisoning or other alcohol related issues. people in support of the idea believe that teenagers tend to make better decision when they are given the benefit of the doubt. I think that this is a great idea and takes in the best of both world. Underage drinking is going to happen whether or not it is allowed. In my opinion the ability for people between the ages of 18 and 21 to drink legally would actually lower the amount and frequency that underage drinkers would drink. For one, it takes away the rebellious side of it, something that always drove me to want to drink more. When underage drinkers finally find a place to drink where they wont get in trouble they tend to go all out and drink a very large amount because they don’t know when the next time they will be able tod rink is. It makes the ability to drink into much more of a fun event. I know that since i have turned twenty one i feel the need to drink less than i did before i turned twenty. I also drink more responsibly now that i am twenty one. I feel like because i have been given the right to drink i have to respect it in a way and conduct myself in a way that does not make the age of 21 seem like too young to drink. I believe that when given responsibility, teenagers are more likely to make responsible decisions than in a situation when they are trying to fight the system. I use to think to myself “well if they say i cant drink what can i do to combat that most?”. The answer that usually crossed my mind was to get as drunk as possible, evidently rebelling against the system to the fullest extreme. I think these kinds of laws with also allow parents to drink with their children while they are still at home and in high school. parents can teach their children how to drink responsibly. I see way to many kids who go off to college and need to to learn how to drink responsibly on their own for the first time. This often leads to disaster.
