Milford police roust teen drinkers

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I love how some people talk out of one side of their mouths about how it's okay for kids and teens to have a few drinks but then out of the other side they spew their "Reefer Madness" induced anti-marijuana claptrap. Simply amazes me how uneducated and closed minded a good number of the masses are.
- Tim K, Jaffrey

Hey Disgusted -

Couldn't agree more.

Except for the ending question - and I know this just slipped by you. This little box to write in doesn't make it easy...

The point being "thinking" - "drinking." Although technically not an oxymoron, they are mutually incompatible concepts - especially with young drinkers. That is the problem we are talking about - specifically when ignored and/or condoned by the (supposed) adults.

The point being that when you've been in EMS, and responded to the debris of a life gone - or worse going - enough times; when you've been there when the parents arrive, families you know, kids you know, enough times; when you've had cause to investigate these things, enough times... Well, that's where I'm coming from and I don't want to deal with poop filled diapers whining on something which, from a poop filled diaper is just a bad theory of personal freedoms. Meaning they don't want the diaper; just to poop.

This house should get a memorial in front - and I just suggested what it should be.
- RP, New Boston

In most other countries the legal drinking age is 18 or less. The United States does not have less alcohol related traffic accidents than those countries, or less alcohol addicts per capita, nor are there any other measurable advantages. Strict alcohol laws and a high drinking age do not solve any problems.

Enforcing strict alcohol laws do cost a lot of tax payer's money; money that could have been spend on programs that DO work to fight alcohol related problems (and there are many good and underfunded causes we can put money towards that have actually proven to be very effective.)

What are the high drinking age and the tough alcohol laws supposed to achieve? Is that goal being achieved? And if not: why are so many of you so resistant to giving up on wasting our money on this "solution" and trying something else?

Someone please explain, because I'm not getting it.
- Bob, Lebanon

How come no one ever suggests raising the minimum age to serve in our military to 21 instead of lowering the drinking age to 18?
- Tam, Swanzey

OK Sheryl, from now on, no one who RENTS is allowed to drink! If you don't own your home, you're not an adult.

Regardless who owns the house, this was a private house party. It wasn't loud. The anonymous caller probably wasn't invited and dropped a dime.

The point is that people old enough to be drafted (back in the day) and serve their country today should be allowed to consume and/or possess an adult beverage. The only reason the age went back up to 21 was the federal government forcing themselves on the states with the threat of withholding highway funds.

The police have to enforce the laws, even if it a waste of their valuable time. It's time to change the law.
- George, Bedford

Oh! I know! Let's let anyone with a military ID be able to drink! That way, more kids will sign up for the armed forces to get a military ID and MAYBE they will learn the discipline they are clearly not getting at HOME!!! By the time they get through boot camp, they will need a drink! And will have earned it!

"Apparently, his stepdaughter told him she was having a party in the garage and told him to stay in his room, and he agreed." Well, that's punishment enough. To be publicly called out as a wuss who listens to a smart-aleck teenager? He'll never live that one down. I am actually glad the daughter is 18: she can be legally prosecuted for providing alcohol to minors! 12 years old? What the heck was she thinking??
- Disgusted, Manchester

There is one other thing that could be playing out here - the impotency of step-parenting.

Considering that broken family history is so prevalent thse days.

A step parent can find that his or her authority over a step child is very limited. Too often that includes, when it comes to discipline, there is a wall built by the kid and the natural parent. To touch or try to go over that wall can become its own nightmare. And maybe then you go sit in your room...
- RP, New Boston

Fred,

Enough with the zero tolerence crap. Kids are extemely sneaky and devious. With our current economic situation give the stepdad a break. I could call you any weekend night the way my neighbors act. I think I should, I'd love to fill Valley Street with Milford parents! At least parking on the Oval would be easier.
- T, Milford, NH

Read the article people. There were no twelve year olds drinking, otherwise the article would have mentioned it. The age range was used towards the beginning of the article to keep people reading. So fact one is there was no one drinking under the age of 17. Fact two is that most teenagers drink or have tried it at one time. Now some parents will disagree and say little sussy would never do that, but in all reality she already has along with numerous other things you think your child would never do. Next fact is that someone can enlist and die for their country at age 18, but they can't possibly be responsible enough to drink a beer. This does not make sense, either raise the age for enlistment or lower the drinking age like it once was. Next fact is that there is no mention of drunk driving. One can only assume that if these kids felt safe drinking where they were then why should they leave, this reasoning I know is true from personal experience. Next fact is that this article is inflammatory and sounds like propaganda. This type of behavior has been going on forever, kids do it today, their parents did it and their parents did it as well. This article is simply trying to demonize drinking, which I don't actually disagree with as long as done properly. The fact is that kids in high school are going to drink, they are going to have sex and they are growing up much faster than they used to. Parents need to accept this and only have to look at our society for the blame. This is a norm that has been going on in socitey for very long time, like it or not there is nothing anyone can do about it and the officer's own quote only solidifies that fact more.
- Jim, Manchester

Did the liquor guys get to drive their big van there? What a missed opportunity to drive that $450,000 taxpayer funded mobile home to the partry. I hope they got there!
- Jeff, Concord

Hey George from Bedford....thank you for serving our country in Vietnam.....but please stop telling our teenagers that they are responsible adults and should be allowed to have garage parties.....considereing they are having these parties in Mommy and Daddy's garage.....if they were "adults in every other way" they would be having these garage parties in their OWN garage because they would be working and supporting themselves!!!! If they still live at home they aren't ADULTS YET!!!!
- Sheryl, Milford

Couple of thoughts from the article/comments.

1. A parent was told to stay in his room by his child. Way to be in control there, hope your child raises herself right.

2. There seems to be a glossing over of the pro alchohol voters that there were some as young as 12 there, is that close enough for drinking as well?

3. Brian, I for one, am glad the police just enforce the law. You seem to want to appoint them judge, jury and executioner.
- Kevin, Bennington

Sometimes the comments made are so stupid they speak for themselves - like George of Bedford. But you know, I've got to respond anyway.

Here's the thing, George, and little boy Brian listen up.

Drunk driving, especially of drivers in the most lethal age group, under 21, was not "accepted" back then. George was perhaps too drunk at the time to know that.

The data from insurance and law enforcement was clear - so clear that the drinking age was raised to 21 across the country to try to slow or halt the bloodbath on the highways - and things like drunken brawls at parties.

On the whole, this has worked hugely - hugely and such that the news has far, far fewer reports of deaths and grieving families and friends than it would (will) be if the age was raised. Aggressive enforcement of the law saves lives, injuries and other loss - not just to the drunks but their innocent victims as well. Victims who tomorrow could be you or someone you love and who will be writing the sad comments?

So, please grow up and get over it, or shut up. Obey the law or face the consequences - but on a more basic level just smarten up. It seems to me that you are the type that society needs to guard against - same for the stepfather who sits in his room while...

Oh, and as for Rep. Poznanski, the shining star of the underage drinkers, as to what you "learned." Caught on to your double speak - what you learned is not to get caught next time. Please resign - NH does not need you. You and your self-importance are not needed - and you've already shown your character. Don't come back. I hope the thunder about your indiscretion does not stop until you are out of there - despite the support you got from your numb-witted "constituents." I don't think you have constiuents, kid - just people who voted for you because they didn't have much choice or didn't know any better. This wasn't a one-time "mistake." Take your ego, your wrong headedness, finish college and go far away.
- RP, New Boston

Brian from Bedford,

You don't get it. Police don't make the laws, but they are sworn to enforce them. If you don't like the laws get involved in a political campaign and help put someone in office you think will change them. Don't blame the cops, their just doing what we pay them to do.
- ken, nashua

The police chief said it all with his comment, "It's ridiculous that we have to keep dealing with this issue." I know he didn't mean it in the same way that I'd say it but he should have.

Change the law. I'm from the post Vietnam era and benefited from the lowering of the drinking age to 18 in the early '70's. Sure some "kids" died on the roads but drunk driving was accepted back then. The kids today are much more aware of the problem than we ever were.

Let them have their garage parties. They are adults in every other way.
- George, Bedford

It was the fathers JOB! to know what is going on in his house. He should be held responsible. What kind of household is it where the kid tells the parent how to conduct their affairs. This is absurd. What kind of example did it set for his two sons, now they know they can make the rules themselves and tell dear old dad what to do.
- John, Manchester

They found a large group of party-goers, as young as 12 and as old as 27 in the garage; many of them were drinking. Inside the home, McGraw's stepfather, Thomas Chambers, was watching television in his room with his two sons.

Let's see, "some as young as 12". I suppose that is ok. If one of those kids died there, you people would be calling the dad an irresponsible adult and not saying that it's ok to drink at the age of 18. The drinking age was lowered to 18 once and we had many, many deaths because of it. I do believe, however, that if you are in the service, you should be allowed to drink. That does not allow all 18 yr olds to drink. Alot of them are immature kids in this day and age.
- Gayle, Kinsgston

Hey Brian, the police get it just fine. It is AGAINST THE LAW so they have no choice but to enforce it! Why don't you spend your time reading a NH Supreme Court case called Weldy vs. Town of Kingston NH and maybe you can learn why the police must act and have no choice. It's something about them being held civially liable if they fail to enforce the law!
- Jeff, Bedford

Then tell your reps to change the law in Concord, in the mean time, follow the law! I was just in a convenience store the other day when three 17-18 yr old walked in...from their behavior and actual speech, their intelligence wasn't much better than a toddler...you want to allow them alcohol? They can't drive worth a #### anyway, you want to add alcohol? They can't behave half the time as it is...you want to add alcohol? I told my teenager, you can drink all you want after you turn 21, what's the rush!
- Jack, Milford, NH

While it is odd that soldiers serving our country cannot drink when they come home, most 18-21 year olds are simply immature, as evidenced by them going to these parties and breaking the law. Until the law is changed back to 21, they are breaking the law. Arrest them. And if the law is changed, we'll be back to more young adult deaths on the roads. Look it up. A drinking age of 18 kills.
- Syl, Manchester

Brian, Bedford:

The police get it just fine. If they let the kids go on their way and they die you sue them. They have a choice of either potentially getting sued or taking the kids into custody to ensure that they stay alive. If you think that is foolish then I suggest you read the NH Supreme Court case of Weldy v. Kingston where this very thing happened.
- Walter, Concrod

It's ridiculous police don't get it. We live in NEW HAMPSHIRE. If teens are old enough to go to war, vote and college then teens should be allowed to consume alcohol.
- Brian, Bedford

Another parent flunking Parent 101. He had "no idea".
- George J, Mont Vernon

Most countries around the world have drinking ages of 18. The Donald Street party in Bedford NH last week that had St Anselm students attending were responsible students. Why can't we instill in our children a respect for alcohol consumption as they do in other countries.
The stepfather, Thomas McGraw, being "told by his step daughter to stay in his room", might of considered being a little more responsible to check in on them regardless of what his stepdaughter "told" him to do. Parents have to step up here to check whats going on.
- Vincent, Mont Vernon, NH