drink, drank, drunk

This morning on the Today show, this story was mentioned.
A two second synopsis: should kids be allowed to drink at home under the supervision and guidance of their parents? Or should parents who let their kids drink be punished and possibly serve jail time?

I have a problem with the idea of parents being thrown in jail for doing what, in my opinion, is considered to be doing the right thing. If kids are going to drink anyway...and ask any high school student, and they'll mostly affirm that conclusion...wouldn't "being responsible"mean keeping them from drinking and driving? From putting themselves...and their friends...in potentially dangerous situations?

The current legislation regarding underage drinking is one of the most detrimental things we could do for today's kids. To go from a "zero tolerance" to "anything goes" is doing more harm than letting kids be accustomed to alcohol. To say that 21 is a magic age when kids are suddenly prepared to indulge in what, until this point, has been the 'forbidden fruit,' is irresponsible at best and dangerous at worst. Drinking and driving, date rape, and alcohol poisoning are only a few of the pitfalls.

It seems to make more sense to me to allow kids to be around alcohol, to drink with their parents, to not treat alcohol as some forbidden temptation, Anyone who has ever been told that they can't have something knows that that only serves to increase temptation. Have wine with dinner, champagne on holidays. Let kids drink in moderation under their parents' supervision. Don't treat alcohol as some forbidden that can't be touched until 21. If kids drink at their parent's home, take their keys, keep an eye on them, and know that they're not drinking and driving. If they're going to do it anyway...and they are...be smart about it.

Don't put parents trying to be responsible in jail. Put the irresponsible ones who let their kids drink and drive and hit someone in jail.