America’s puritanical streak runs red hot regarding alcohol. That’s why the drinking age was raised to 21, legally acceptable blood alcohol levels are continually lowered and
“sin taxes” on liquor are skyrocketing.
Many of these initiatives are intended to keep “kids” (i.e., voting-age consumers between 18 and 21) safe from that ol’ demon liquor — including two newer efforts, one that uses peer pressure to curb your parental rights, while the other does nothing but protect the profits of liquor wholesalers.
Now, when I was a kid, we used to party at Bill Ranucci’s house. His parents were usually upstairs while we hung in the basement drinking Molson and listening to The Ramones.
These were good times because responsible adults checked on us regularly and made sure we got home safe if we couldn’t make it on our own. Plenty of other kids didn’t have a safe haven like that and they seemed to get into much more trouble — and had a rougher time learning to drink responsibly.
In this light, the Drug-Free Action Alliance’s ongoing “Parents Who Host Lose the Most” campaign that ostracizes Ohioans who allow underage drinking in their homes seems misguided. At best, it’s part-and-parcel with conservative efforts to push abstinence-only education over programs that teach safe sex, which even Bristol Palin now readily admits is “not realistic at all.”
The same, of course, is true for alcohol. It’s unrealistic to think kids won’t drink, so we need to teach them to do so responsibly. In fact, state law recognizes the wisdom of this approach and allows you to serve your own underage child in your home or a restaurant. You can even serve their underage friends, as long as a parent or guardian is present and gives permission.
Conscientious adults who model and instill a healthy attitude about consumption don’t deserve to “lose the most.” Instead, they should be commended.
At the same time, Congress (always “wise stewards” of our national morals) is working on anti-consumer legislation that restricts consumer choice by prohibiting direct interstate wine shipments.
Its supporters claim that HR 5034, the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness (“CARE,” get it?) Act, is necessary to keep alcohol out of the hands of underage drinkers. Because at this moment kids all across America are supposedly plotting to procure expensive, limited-production Willamette Valley Pinot Noir to chug by the railroad tracks before going to prom.
In fact, this sop to corporate interests serves no purpose but to enrich the industry’s middlemen and deny adult consumers the widest possible selection and best price on their purchases. So if you’ve ever ordered a bottle of wine from an out-of-state winery or retailer, urge your representatives in Washington to vote against this ill-conceived legislation.
Otherwise, it’s just another nail in the coffin of your freedom to drink the alcoholic beverage of your choice. And consumers, once again, lose the most.
CONTACT MICHAEL SCHIAPARELLI: [email protected]
