Informed_Debate's profile . Informed_Debate group posts
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| Lex_Magister |
It may well be a localised problem but I have noticed that empty beer cans are out numbering the spring flowers this year! Whilst this can fest is no doubt a heaven sent bounty for the revenue, I wonder? at what cost to the community?
As I very much doubt 'adults' congregate in local dingily dells to socialise and crack open a can and having never seen a rabbit indulging nor the dog walking fraternity, then sad to say it seems to be the younger end.
Underage drinking is nothing new, what has changed is the associated behaviour, vandalism, violence, sadly sometimes to fatal extremes.
Take this acquired behaviour into the pubs and clubs in their Teens and needless to say people do get hurt!
So, what's the solution?
I would suggest a 2 strike policy, if any minor is proven to be in possession of alcohol or has committed any form of antisocial behaviour more then twice, I think they should be put on curfew, if they fail to adhere and are seen to be beyond parental control then a form of social restructuring must be undertaken by both child and parents, maybe if both parent and child were collectively put to work improving their community and were seen by that community doing so, then perhaps either the shame of their situation or a new found sense of respect may turn things around…….
| 16 Mar 10, 1:50 PM condemned UK(M), 11 yrs  |
You are right that the curious teens have always experimented with the odd can of beer while underage.I know i did. The difference these days is they seem to be starting younger and have a massive spending power to buy copious amounts.When i was a teen we were lucky to scrape the pennies together to buy a couple of cans each.It was also not so cheap and readily available as it is these days. Kids are also allowed to stay out later.They are often screaming in the streets at 3am where at 16 i had to be in by 9.30pm,unless it was a special occasion. The primary responsibility starts with the parents.Knowing where their kids are,what they are up to and what they are doing.Hey a few could even get off their self indulgent backsides now and then and go and check what they are doing. The problem with this is we are probably on the third generation of parents who have had less and less discipline and control themselves,so they see nothing wrong with their childrens behaviour.In fact some condone it and even find it funny. The local councils and police have to take it more seriously.If a group of drunken teenagers were drinking,damaging property,urinating,fornicating and screaming outside their house night after night, i am sure they wouldn't view it as 'low level crime' and turn up 3 hours after they were called,if at all. Curfews,banning orders from areas should be used and be enforced quickly,not drag through the courts forever.Having said that teenagers will always gather outdoors and will always experiment with sex,drink and these days drugs.So maybe having designated 'hangout' areas away from people's properties would be a good idea.In these areas they would be mainly left alone,just checked on on occasion to make sure they were ok and not getting too out of control,but so long as they were in the hangout area then an easier going approach would be applied. It is a difficult problem and one that has been going on for years and will no doubt continue for many more. |
