Could Policy Change (& Parental Involvement) Change The Face of Underage Drinking?

Underage drinking isn’t new.

This week it’s the topic of conversation after police arrested 32 underage drinkers at a graduation party that took place in East Pierce County. The parents who hosted the party were also arrested.

It's been a decade since I graduated high school, and remember attending gatherings where parents hosted senior parties and supplied alcohol (I gave an example of this in my comment on a recent story about yearbook content).

Who's to blame?

In my opinion, it's the parents who supply alcohol without supervision and parents who don’t know where their kids are at night.

Adults who fail to secure or keep track of their booze, and older siblings who provide younger siblings with the contraband are also at fault. Media and peer pressure also play a part.

Underage drinkers are not blameless either. But are they victims of improper supervision, poor parenting, or social stigma?

The drinking age, or rather, the way we treat underage drinking may hold the heaviest blame. 

Here’s why I believe this is (partially) true:

During my senior year in high school I went on exchange to Australia for four months.

I remember my surprise when I was first offered a beer at a family BBQ. After all, I was 18 and perfectly legal to drink. Also many ‘underage’ teens were allowed a drink or two at these gatherings as well.

Because I didn’t know my limit and everyone else my age (and some younger) were being responsible, I did not drink to excess. In Australia, drinking was a natural part of social gatherings and seemed to be introduced in a family setting.

It’s not to say that I never got drink during my exchange, especially when I went out with friends, but the culture was different, and the penalties more severe for drunk driving.

Six months later and back in the states, I took advantage of an opportunity to drink with some friends whose parents were out of town.

And I overdid it. Really.

The drinking culture (for the 18-20-year-old-set) seemed so different once I returned home. In the states, this secret social gathering was about drinking, and drinking in excess.

In a way, I think we need less stringent laws and a more involved community.

What’s your take on underage drinking? 

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