We were diligent in our efforts to stop our preschoolers from running into the street. Our teens are engaging in behaviors that are equally dangerous and we are told we're being punitive if we intervene. I think not. The legal age for drinking alcohol was set at 21 for a reason. Before that age, human bodies are still developing, and research shows alcohol has negative effects on the growing brain and liver.
Psychological effects are greater, too.
For instance, the earlier a person starts to drink, the more likely that person is to experience problems with drugs and alcohol later in life. Island teens are under a great deal of stress and pressure due to class loads, sports, jobs, parental expectations and myriad other causes that come with the teen years. Still, drinking and drugging are not acceptable means for dealing with this stress. This is a health and safety issue, period. Surely we are not being asked to believe every successful MIHS graduate's stress relieving strategy is to be a drug-taking boozer.