You know those billboards they just put up at the corner of Perry and Monroe and at McClure and Prospect? The ones where they talk about how underage drinkers are more likely to abuse alcohol in their later years? It couldn’t have come at a better time.

     I've been thinking heavily about this issue for about the last month and a half, mainly what's the major problem and how can one person stop it. First off, it's not really drinking as a whole that I'm opposed to. In fact, I'll probably have a drink from time to time when I'm of the appropriate age. What I'm really against is the underage use of and/or abuse of alcohol. Second, another problem, though not directly related, is use by my colleagues, particularly those who had shared the same views as me at an earlier point. I think it's safe to say I feel a little betrayed.

     So, we've established the problem, but what's the big deal? Why am I so opposed to this? One would think that people just don't have the facts of what alcohol can do the human body. In short, it'll mess you up, big time. I'll spare you the details and give you this link ( http://www.intox.com/about_alcohol.asp ), which should give you all the information you need to know.

     Another thing people might not realize is that alcohol is a drug, and, like all other drugs, is addictive. Don’t believe me? Example: What’s the first think you think about when you get a headache besides, “Dang! I have a headache?” You try to get some aspirin, or ibuprofen, of whatever you use to kill pain. Alcohol isn’t much different. It's a temporary release from a problem. Alcohol doesn't solve the problem, and it only encourages people to put the problem off. Thing is, the problem will return, whether you're ready for it or not.

     The main problem I have isn't that people are drinking. It's that people WANT to drink. Why people drink is a question you'll have to answer for yourselves. So how do we stop this problem? I doubt we can do much at this point. Abolishing or lowering the drinking age would cause HUGE immediate problems, I can promise you that. Heightening the drinking age wouldn't do much, either. It'd only make people want it more.

     I'd say the best option would be to heighten the punishments of those who drink underage or abuse alcohol. It'd be how your parents taught you right from wrong. When you did something unfavorable by your parents as a child, what happened? You were scolded, that's what! You learned at one point or another that doing that thing would get you in trouble, so you didn't do it. Hopefully, you learned WHY it was wrong, but it doesn't seem to be the case with this issue. Underage drinking is an oft overlooked stain on not only Woodruff’s, but our entire generation’s reputation.