But such arguments imply that young people are like animals that respond mindlessly to stimuli. But the claim that advertising can lead anyone down the bottle-strewn garden path not only to drink alcohol but to abuse it, is pure hokum. And reckless warnings can increase the allure of a product to people with self-destructive tendencies. According to some studies, putting warning labels on products can have the opposite effect. I had to turn that 'no' into a 'yes' or die trying.
Risk is part of growing up.
Young people are not robotic anonyms and should not be regarded as such. They are human individuals and have an ancient, instinctive need to experiment. Paternalism dampens the spirit, fosters resentment, and perpetuates itself. We demean policy and the laws we live by as well. Morris E. Chafetz, M.D., is president of the Health Education Foundation, in Washington, DC., and the author of The Tyranny of Experts .