usvi-on-line
my letter to editor about college kids and drinking
my letter to editor about college kids and drinking
Those of you from New england know the NH Union Leader, they did a big story about college kids found drinking
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27134057@N04/4065149727/" title="union leader by SHOEMAK38, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/406 ... d66888.jpg" width="155" height="287" alt="union leader"></a>
So comments on my letter to editor
As a parent of a law breaking underage drinker from Thursday nights party, I find it quite amusing that all these law abiding citizens show great distain for these hoodlums. The common thread is these law breakers could have killed somebody in an accident. The first question I have for these law abiding citizens I fully expect, and believe, due to your sincerity in abiding by the law that you’ve never broken the speed limit while driving, or have you in your minds, rationalized that you have the competency to drive over the speed limit because you have the ability to handle the speed.
There is a reason why most college presidents want to lower the drinking age. The simple fact is that the underage drinking law has become a revenue generator by most towns and states. We’ll take this party as an example. Each of the twenty students cited for underage drinking will fined a minimum of $350. If you include the fines of the two leases of the house, the town of Bedford/state of New Hampshire is going to generate revenue of over $10,000.
So to get back to my original point, you law abiding citizens who are outraged at these underage drinkers, yet, will sit there and complain when they get a speeding ticket because they feel justified in the speed they were driving before the authorities arrested them, what is the difference? I can sit here and rationalize that your excessive speed could have put me and my family and other citizens in danger so we need to prosecute you to the full extent of the law. So, we have a group of young adults who wish to have a Halloween party and try to the best of their ability to have it under control and stay within the law except for drinking (doing 65 in a 55 mile an hour zone) have the misfortune of having a person who wasn’t even involved in the party fight with one of the party goers become this big example of what is wrong with young people today and how they need to be taught a lesson for their inability to respect the laws. This is another prime example of what is wrong with this country. Everybody do as I say, not as I do.
part of story in paper
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27134057@N04/4065166117/" title="union leader by SHOEMAK38, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/406 ... 34fbec.jpg" width="366" height="325" alt="union leader"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27134057@N04/4065149727/" title="union leader by SHOEMAK38, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2638/406 ... d66888.jpg" width="155" height="287" alt="union leader"></a>
So comments on my letter to editor
As a parent of a law breaking underage drinker from Thursday nights party, I find it quite amusing that all these law abiding citizens show great distain for these hoodlums. The common thread is these law breakers could have killed somebody in an accident. The first question I have for these law abiding citizens I fully expect, and believe, due to your sincerity in abiding by the law that you’ve never broken the speed limit while driving, or have you in your minds, rationalized that you have the competency to drive over the speed limit because you have the ability to handle the speed.
There is a reason why most college presidents want to lower the drinking age. The simple fact is that the underage drinking law has become a revenue generator by most towns and states. We’ll take this party as an example. Each of the twenty students cited for underage drinking will fined a minimum of $350. If you include the fines of the two leases of the house, the town of Bedford/state of New Hampshire is going to generate revenue of over $10,000.
So to get back to my original point, you law abiding citizens who are outraged at these underage drinkers, yet, will sit there and complain when they get a speeding ticket because they feel justified in the speed they were driving before the authorities arrested them, what is the difference? I can sit here and rationalize that your excessive speed could have put me and my family and other citizens in danger so we need to prosecute you to the full extent of the law. So, we have a group of young adults who wish to have a Halloween party and try to the best of their ability to have it under control and stay within the law except for drinking (doing 65 in a 55 mile an hour zone) have the misfortune of having a person who wasn’t even involved in the party fight with one of the party goers become this big example of what is wrong with young people today and how they need to be taught a lesson for their inability to respect the laws. This is another prime example of what is wrong with this country. Everybody do as I say, not as I do.
part of story in paper
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27134057@N04/4065166117/" title="union leader by SHOEMAK38, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/406 ... 34fbec.jpg" width="366" height="325" alt="union leader"></a>
i think that the biggest issue with the drinking laws is that it makes drinking a forbidden fruit so to speak--
when I was in college the drinking age was 18--now it is 21--at orientation freshmen are told that statistically speaking at least 3 of them will end up either very sick or dead from binge drinking by the end of the year (and this is in a small class)
we NEVER had that problem when i was in school since it was no big deal to go grab a beer with friends--
no one died, we knew how to drink 'responsibly'
I am not saying we were all angels--but the climate created by the 21 yr drinking age is dangerous
when I was in college the drinking age was 18--now it is 21--at orientation freshmen are told that statistically speaking at least 3 of them will end up either very sick or dead from binge drinking by the end of the year (and this is in a small class)
we NEVER had that problem when i was in school since it was no big deal to go grab a beer with friends--
no one died, we knew how to drink 'responsibly'
I am not saying we were all angels--but the climate created by the 21 yr drinking age is dangerous
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
It's sad. Drinking in College is out of control.
I had one daughter that didn't drink and spent her entire college career driving friends home because she didn't drink. We admired her wisdom but worried about her. We told her to charge for her 2 am trips to pick up her friends. She kept more of her friends alive. She is a better person for this experience.
Nothing more to say....
I had one daughter that didn't drink and spent her entire college career driving friends home because she didn't drink. We admired her wisdom but worried about her. We told her to charge for her 2 am trips to pick up her friends. She kept more of her friends alive. She is a better person for this experience.
Nothing more to say....
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sailorgirl
- Posts: 1644
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:03 pm
I also must respectfully disagree. My concern about underaged drinking lies in the excess with which the youngsters seem to indulge. Most teens do not drink "socially", they drink to become drunk. Pair that with poor impluse control in general and its a dangerous combination. Turning a blind eye to underaged drinking does not teach them to drink responsibly, it teaches them to drink irresponsibly and does not reinforce the actions equals conseqences calculus. My oldest stepdaughter is now in her last year of college. Her university was well known for its disregard of the drinking age restictions. In her sophmore year there was a crack down which lead to much wailing and nashing of teeth. Frankly I was quite pleased. Administrators undertake a duty to act in loco parentis when they take custody of our children for those four years. Most administratos favor lowering the drinking age because they don't want to deal with the difficulties of policing the student body or the liability which will arise if they fail to do so.
So although I do get annoyed if I get pulled over for speeding, I must also acknowledge that I broke the law and there are consequences for doing so.
Im stepping down from my soap box, careful not to turn an ankle.
So although I do get annoyed if I get pulled over for speeding, I must also acknowledge that I broke the law and there are consequences for doing so.
Im stepping down from my soap box, careful not to turn an ankle.
Last edited by sailorgirl on Sun Nov 01, 2009 5:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If we had a more European approach to drinking alcohol-making it no big deal and a truly social experience (not to get obliterated), I think it would solve a lot of problems for us.
But the way it is now, well-- it is the law. I don't necessarily agree with the drinking age, but if people can selectively choose which laws they disobey (based on their degree of agreement with them) that is a problem for me.
So-kids drink-they get in trouble and fined. Adults speed, they should get in trouble and be fined.
So in a way I agree with the article, that there might be a double standard (with kids drinking vs. adults speeding).
But I wouldn't be able to support or defend my kids if they got caught.
This is coming from someone who broke quite a few laws as a kid. If my parents hadn't bailed me out or ignored it so much, I might not have done so many stupid and dangerous things. Not blaming my parents, but consequences do make a difference.
A seemingly innocent college party will often have events happening afterward that never would have happened if alcohol hadn't been involved.
That said, I am sure it it really sucks to be in college and not being able to drink legally.
But the way it is now, well-- it is the law. I don't necessarily agree with the drinking age, but if people can selectively choose which laws they disobey (based on their degree of agreement with them) that is a problem for me.
So-kids drink-they get in trouble and fined. Adults speed, they should get in trouble and be fined.
So in a way I agree with the article, that there might be a double standard (with kids drinking vs. adults speeding).
But I wouldn't be able to support or defend my kids if they got caught.
This is coming from someone who broke quite a few laws as a kid. If my parents hadn't bailed me out or ignored it so much, I might not have done so many stupid and dangerous things. Not blaming my parents, but consequences do make a difference.
A seemingly innocent college party will often have events happening afterward that never would have happened if alcohol hadn't been involved.
That said, I am sure it it really sucks to be in college and not being able to drink legally.
"Sponges grow in the ocean...I wonder how much deeper it would be if that didn't happen."
I knew we would have fun with this yes, my son will be paying his $350 fine with his money. However everyone is missing my point whether it will be speeding or underage drinking our cities and states continue to increase the fines not as a deterrent but as revenue generators in these poor economies.
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Pete (Mr. Marcia)
- Posts: 1471
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:48 pm
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Pete
not so much rationalizing (I do believe European ideology of a lower drinking age) more in the amount of the fine $350. most of us are naïve about the increased use of higher fines to legislated morality until we incur one of these fines. And yes I include violating traffic laws. And you're right attorneys love this as another way for them to generate revenue.
As a side note I remember my first traffic camera violation. I was the army over in Germany back in the 70s and I got nailed going to the airport to pick up my parents outside Frankfurt in a construction zone. The camera was hidden in a construction trailer on the side of the highway. What made it even more funny was the violation was in July and my company commander got the ticket in January 30 days before I was leaving Germany You have to pay the fine before you can come home
not so much rationalizing (I do believe European ideology of a lower drinking age) more in the amount of the fine $350. most of us are naïve about the increased use of higher fines to legislated morality until we incur one of these fines. And yes I include violating traffic laws. And you're right attorneys love this as another way for them to generate revenue.
As a side note I remember my first traffic camera violation. I was the army over in Germany back in the 70s and I got nailed going to the airport to pick up my parents outside Frankfurt in a construction zone. The camera was hidden in a construction trailer on the side of the highway. What made it even more funny was the violation was in July and my company commander got the ticket in January 30 days before I was leaving Germany You have to pay the fine before you can come home
shoemak38 wrote:I knew we would have fun with this yes, my son will be paying his $350 fine with his money. However everyone is missing my point whether it will be speeding or underage drinking our cities and states continue to increase the fines not as a deterrent but as revenue generators in these poor economies.
Oh please.....fun with this?
Tell that to all the college kids that have died from alcohol poisoning, or from them driving after being drunk. Killing not only themselves, but other people. Tell it to their loved ones who have to suffer from those consequences.
Believe me, I know. Underage drinking is a big problem is this country. Period.
"Paradise...it's a state of mine"
connie wrote
indirectly you agreed with me raising the drinking age has not solved the drinking problem only made it worse as our young adults have no socially viable means of drinking. When I was 18 I could drink we had college sponsored/supervised events there was no binge drinking. Consider the Europeans. They have not mandated a drinking age. They have legislated morality by lowering the acceptable, blood-alcohol level for drivers and thereby effectively legislating the problem where it belongs managing drunk drivers.Tell that to all the college kids that have died from alcohol poisoning, or from them driving after being drunk. Killing not only themselves, but other people. Tell it to their loved ones who have to suffer from those consequences.
Believe me, I know. Underage drinking is a big problem is this country. Period.
Shoe: I do not mean to disrespect you but I feel you are so wrong on this. So, fines raise revenue--you feel that is wrong? The law is the law and this law was made for a reason--certainly NOT to raise revenue. You can try to justify and defend it all you want but the bottom line is that you are trying to defend your child for breaking the law.
A child who reaches age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do so.
The three leading causes of death for 15- to 24-year-olds are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides -- alcohol is a leading factor in all three.
Teens who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21.
I am not saying that you child is going to have problems but I think you should be careful of what you are defending and your reasons for doing so.
GG
A child who reaches age 21 without smoking, abusing alcohol or using drugs is virtually certain never to do so.
The three leading causes of death for 15- to 24-year-olds are automobile crashes, homicides and suicides -- alcohol is a leading factor in all three.
Teens who begin drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who begin drinking at age 21.
I am not saying that you child is going to have problems but I think you should be careful of what you are defending and your reasons for doing so.
GG
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sailorgirl
- Posts: 1644
- Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 3:03 pm
This topic may prove tragically timely.
http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/unive ... sophomore/
Yale is the university I was referring to in my earlier post.
http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/unive ... sophomore/
Yale is the university I was referring to in my earlier post.