Education key to reducing underage drinking

In reference to “Alcohol laws become stricter” featured in the March 20 edition of the Indiana Daily Student, it is difficult to believe that laws will help end underage drinking. Teaching smarter habits and prevention methods are the key. Underage drinkers can be found pretty much everywhere, from farms to college campuses. Legislators are now making new policies to make the laws for underage drinking and supplying of alcohol to minors stricter. As a student, you and your friends might have experienced underage drinking as young as 13. Yet, I question if it is worth the effort of changing the various policies that are in place. Why not invest in the futures of the underage drinkers by providing worthwhile alcohol intervention classes during high school and giving them the needed resources to make informed decisions? Another policy that has been challenged is to change the legal drinking age to 18. This could be beneficial on some levels and quite possibly could be used as a way to reinforce the rules of alcohol consumption. All the while, I do believe that it starts in the home. Parents need to instill values in their children and teach them right and wrong, rather than blame society and its problems for the child’s substance abuse. Change and improvement are possible, yet wemust be smarter about our actions. Regardless, laws are already in place for this issue, but I think now is the time to try a \nnew technique.