This is an opinion submitted to The Bridge by a member of the university community that has asked to remain anonymous.The Bridge will withhold the writer’s name from being published only when the writer shows just cause for it to be withheld.
Night life in this border town sometimes makes us feel as though we were on the other side of the border and that 21 is merely a number, not the drawing of a line between those that can legally purchase alcohol and those that are too young to drink.
It’s 1 a.m., and the bar is filled with a number of college students having a good time. I approach the bar, as a legal drinker, to ask for my next beer. A second later, an acquaintance approaches and pays for my Miller-Lite. She is 19. I politely and hesitantly accept the beer as many of us accept the blatant breaking of the law-the legal age to drink alcoholic beverages is 21.
Recently, I’ve seen underage drinking nearly to the point of intoxication at almost every establishment in this city. Why is this allowed to go on? Is it that no one can actually fix this problem that afflicts our city, including our university community, or is it that those that are charged with the responsibility to prevent this are merely turning a blind eye?
So who is to blame? Is it the bouncers who welcomingly wave their hands to a group of pretty girls in short skirts? Is it the bar staff that buys a group of young men a round of shots, in hopes that they’ll bring their friends next time? Is it the security guard at the door who looks at the I.D. without actually doing the math? Or is it TABC that is not doing its job? Whoever is responsible for this is handing all of us a recipe for disaster. We have to actually ask ourselves these questions and try to sort out this growing problem.
So why bring this issue up now? I can’t think of a better time to do so other than now with spring break around the corner and so much potential for disaster.
Life is too precious of a gift from God to throw away on a couple of rounds. We have to stop and think that our actions will affect not only ourselves but our entire family; including our university community. In a matter of seconds we can lose everything we have worked so hard to attain and cause so much pain to those that love us.
This is my opinion regarding a problem that needs to be fixed.
It’s last call…