Lawmakers may approve alcohol tasting for some teens
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington senators are moving ahead with a proposal that would allow older teens to taste alcohol in college classes.
The plan approved Thursday by the Senate would permit alcohol tasting for students enrolled culinary, beer technology or similar programs.
The students must be at least 18 years of age and supervised by faculty or staff at a community or technical college. Students are supposed to taste but not consume the alcohol.
Supporters say the proposal would improve educational programs for students and help them learn about an important industry.
Democratic Sen. Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam opposed the measure, saying he fears that the bill is the first of many that would lower drinking ages and expand access to alcohol.
The measure passed 42-7 and now goes to the state House.
The plan approved Thursday by the Senate would permit alcohol tasting for students enrolled culinary, beer technology or similar programs.
The students must be at least 18 years of age and supervised by faculty or staff at a community or technical college. Students are supposed to taste but not consume the alcohol.
Supporters say the proposal would improve educational programs for students and help them learn about an important industry.
Democratic Sen. Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam opposed the measure, saying he fears that the bill is the first of many that would lower drinking ages and expand access to alcohol.
The measure passed 42-7 and now goes to the state House.
The drinking age should be put back to 18 where it belongs anyway.
If these kids are going to be alcohol tasting, make sure there are no balconies around and that all windows are secured, locked, and barricaded.Â
nothing like a cold beer after a joint :)
This state is a mental hospital being run by the patients. My family, the Mercers, are rolling in their graves! @JustAnotherMo
@appy3238Nice island ya got there.
The problem with America is that we make things "taboo" by forbidding them. Access to drugs, guns, alcohol, etc.
In many places in Europe there are no functional legal limits on ages for consuming alcohol, it's a cultural issue. In Germany the technical drinking age 16 but in private settings it is not regulated, why? Simple, it's a cultural thing. Over there they consider beer, wine and spirits to be just another type of food and they teach children from an early age how to responsibly handle it. If you drink to excess inappropriately there, there is tremendous social and peer pressure to stop acting like a moron which is a million times more effective than our silly laws.Â
You cannot legislate obedience.Â
@NW-Economist I was drinking beer when I was eight years old. I had my first (and last) sip of bourbon at around ten or twelve. I have never had an alcohol problem and gave up the stuff entirely several years ago for reasons of health.
Declaring something taboo simply creates more interest in it. Parents telling their children to not drink, while holding a martini (or whatever) program them to think that drinking is somehow an "adult" thing and the children will want to do it so they can be "adult", especially when with their friends. Being open with your children, letting them partake of small amounts under controlled situations will be far more effective in making them responsible than putting an absolute ban on drinking.
@NW-Economist - we're Not in Europe !!
@TorqputtyAmerica was founded by Europeans. Our common law and most of our model penal code is taken from British common law. Much of our language, traditions, customs, holidays, etc., have their roots in Europe. We are a VERY European society. It's too bad we can't learn from some of their best successes.Â
Don't get me wrong, they don't do everything right. For instance, many European nations ban firearms and have skyrocketing violent crime because of it. Yet, when we see a good idea elsewhere, part of American opportunism and ingenuity is that we grab it and transplant it here.Â
@Torqputty @NW-EconomistThe argument about japan is a non-sequitur. Learn some basic info surrounding it: http://www.davekopel.com/2A/Foreign/Japan-Gun-Control-and-People-Control.htm
@NW-Economist - its a good idea in your opinionÂ
- Mass transit is another good idea, but i dont see a lot of folks in Puget Sound embracing it.  Â
Japan has a low gun violence rate and Restrictive Gun laws - should we import their Ideas ?
i have not contradicted anything - a consolidation of cultures does not equal to "lets do things one way, the European way" - it equals to "lets do things the Diverse way"- and America is less European as you would like...Â
good luck with your teens alcohol consumption !!!
@Torqputty @NW-EconomistReally? What is :uniquely American" besides an attitude towards liberty? That statement alone contradicts your viewpoint if you try to suggest we are an amalgam of all cultures.
Besides, in the end, who cares where the idea came from? It's a good one, we should use it.Â
@NW-Economist - founded by Europeans, but its a diverse culture of Native, European, Asian and African - only applying European principles (laws) limits effectiveness of what you wish to accomplish to cultural attitudes uniquely American....
Just wait for MADD to but in and start throwing their Mother weight. Â There are the ones that lobbied to tie the drinking age to federal dollars to begin with. Â Face it either you are an adult or aren't at 18.
Uh yeah, I am sure this will be the first time alcohol has touched their lips. Â
I think that cup holds more than a taste.......
Yeah that's just what the UW and Wazzu needs is more kids drinkin.'
Deutschlanders are absolutely hysterical over this!
Some people can handle alcohol at 13, some at 18, some at 21 and some never have the responsibility to handle alcohol. To think that is is as simple as affixing an arbitrary age to responsibility is to me the height of irresponsibility.
Just amazing how people in this country treat alcohol as if it were magic poison for anyone under 21. Don't people have better things to do than to worry about what adults--and 18 year olds are adults--do with some alcohol? After all, it isn't as if they don't have all the alcohol they want already.
As I recall most military bases allow drinking beer at 18..
@Windowseat Old enough to die for your country, certainly old enough to drink in it.
"Lawmakers may approve alcohol tasting for some teens" What could possibly go wrong?
"Students are supposed to taste but not consume the alcohol."
Are these morons bringing this proposal complete imbeciles? Â Are they are part of the "I smoke pot, but I didn't inhale it" horse manure?
@Gaikokujin Yes, they are.
@komonews Lawmakers approve alcohol tasting for teens komonews.com\/news\/local\/Lawâ¦Ll@BradBanksWAs@bigbanks06s06 All for MJ but this is rediculous
@lemings @komonews @BradBanksWA @bigbanks06 What is also ridiculous is someone that cannot spell ridiculous. Do you also pronounce it as if it had the e rather than the i?
I love how you can be deemed not old enough to be responsible enough to drink, but responsible enough to be charged with the crime of drinking underage.
@therunner huh????
@therunner means - you're legally an Adult but they treat you as a Child !!
So we can trust an 18 year old to be a warrior in our armed forces but we can't trust the same 18 year old to drink. This country has to make up its mind on what constitutes an adult. I know that a 21 year old can make better decisions about drinking so maybe we need to restrict military and voting and other decisions until they are 21 also. But then the US would not be able to get enough kids into the military.
@Beam_Me_Up If you are enlisted in the military and ON BASE you can drink.  I joined the Air Force at 18 and was able to drink, no problem.  I have to admit though I never really cared for it.   Â
@K. Coleman That was also the case at Camp Pendleton during the time I was there about 15 years ago. At one point though, they changed the rules at that base at least, and you had to be 21. Not sure if this change was just on that base, or everywhere.
@K. Coleman 30 years ago in most places if in uniform you could drink too.
@K. Coleman @unobtanium 30 years ago the drinking age in AZ was 18.
@unobtanium Yep... I hate to show my age but it was over 30 years ago for me. Â