To the Pub-lic Café, Dear?

The basic driving forces behind a teenager’s actions are sex, hunger and, of course, the desire for alcohol. At least, that’s the stereotype. So when the Café on 2nd applied for a liquor license, it’s no big surprise that parents and educators put on a heroic effort to stop this possible corruption of our youth. The cause is noble. Is it necessary? Maybe not.
The main concern is that the restaurant is literally within ten feet of AHS. The logic is: proximity to alcohol leads to consumption of alcohol. However, there doesn’t seem to be a problem if the café owners and employees are responsible and check for identification. Actually, only 7 percent of teens obtain alcohol from irresponsible retailers—and I doubt that any store near the school, let alone the Café on 2nd, would serve liquor to the students they support.
If I really wanted alcohol, I’d just reach into the refrigerator for dear old dad’s beer stash. After all, no place is more convenient than home, right? This is where 65 percent of teens get drinks—and where prevention of underage drinking should be focused.
Another factor to be considered is the clientele of the Café on 2nd; it’s more often frequented by adult customers than underage ones. The addition of a liquor menu wouldn’t have much of an effect on the student body. Almost every restaurant and store on Main Street and its perpendiculars sell alcohol, so what’s one more? Students dine at many of these establishments without public outcry.
Then there’s that media-promoted image of the typical American teenager. We’re expected to go to great lengths in order to “rebel” so logically, that means getting drunk. However, the average student is working toward the future, not digging in the dumpsters of nearby restaurants for the last remnants of a beer.
Of course, our parents and educators have the best intentions. We’re lucky we have a community that cares about our well-being and future. So maybe it’s time to start trusting the community—including all of its members. Maybe it’s time to stop assuming that all teens are consistent with the stereotype.

Catherine Chiang,
Opinions Editor