Minor drinking

Serge Seplovich / The USD Vista

You walk into the local tavern and march straight to the bar. To your dismay, you see a teenager, no older than 16 or 17, leaning over the bar ordering a drink. You think to yourself, “Am I in Tijuana?” No, you are in a local bar in the middle of Wisconsin.

In Wisconsin, minors are legally allowed to enter bars and order drinks as long as a parent or legal guardian accompanies them. With no minimum age limit set, bartenders use their own discretion when serving minors.
The liberal perspective on drinking in Wisconsin can be traced to its love of beer. Home to a slew of breweries including Miller, Wisconsin offers many local beers for its residents to enjoy. Many attribute their state’s love for beer to its rich German heritage. As many as 40 percent of Wisconsin residents claim Germany as their country of origin. Drinking beer in this state is one its oldest pastimes.

Critics say that leniency in drinking encourages minors to drink. Many attribute Wisconsin’s high percentage of binge drinking and driving while under the influence to the lackadaisical drinking laws that promote and celebrate the art of getting drunk, but could it be possible that Wisconsin is on to something?

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in a 2003 national survey, 30 percent of youth ages 12 to 20 reported to having consumed alcohol within the last 30 days. If drinking among minors is so prevalent than maybe Wisconsin’s model can be modified to promote safe drinking. Perhaps minors drinking with their parents could be likened to training wheels on a bike, where parents or guardians can monitor their kid’s drinking. Now although I believe Wisconsin’s system is a bit extreme, it could be effective. With minor tweaks, it could be implemented to promote safety. Instead of giving discretion to the bartenders, a minimum age of 18 should be set. This is a time where children are considered adults and are given the right to die for their country. If allowed this “right,” then surely, they should also be given the right to drink.