On Birthdays and Booze!

My roommate Heather turned 21 on Friday. Whoo hoo! When you're in college and not 21, your social life can really suffer. And this is coming from me! I hardly ever go to bars. It's just that most of the bands that play, play in bars. When people go out, they have drinks. Sadly, if you're underage and a cop pulls you over (even if you've only had a sip of beer) you will get cited while the 21-year-old passed out in his own puke on the sidewalk next to you gets nothing but a ride home. It is frustrating. But now heather has joined the world of legal drinkers. Welcome girl and enjoy :)

I've been 21 since April and I do enjoy the benefits. A drink now and then or an evening dancing at the local nightclub can be enjoyable. But I haven't forgetten life before 21. The annoyance is still fresh in my mind. Let's think about this--- I can get married but not have a drink at my reception. I could die for my country in a war. I can move out of my parent's home, hold down a full time job and go to school. I pay rent, taxes and drive a car, (hell my boyfriend was flying planes before he could legally drink). I mean people can vote for the leader of their country and yet-- god forbid we have a beer.

It makes me crazy. Just crazy. It makes no sense! I realize in life you have to pick your battles, and the drinking age is just one of those stupid things we have to put up with... like commericals for Hugo's grocery story, or speeches from George Bush. But it seems lately that I've hit the wall in patience for stupid, unecessary laws.

I took Heather out on the night before her birthday. At midnight I attempted to order her one martini. The answer-- No.

Did you know that it's is illegal in North Dakota to sell to a 21 year old until the business day of their birthday? Even though bars are now open until 2 am. *sarcasm alert* Well, it's for their own good right, if they were able to have a drink they might go nuts and drink until they exploded... perhaps we should grandfather them in as well? How about only one drink per week until you're 22?

The ND law came out of people attempting "power hours." A power hour is attempting 21 shots in an hour. You know what I say to that? Those idiots are going to drink on their birthday whether you serve them in a bar or not. Meanwhile I'm sitting with a straight-A, pre-med student who's waited 21 stupid years and STILL can't legally have on drink when she's 21. I wanted to tear my hair out. Where were the moral police when the 40 year old at the bar nearly fell off his chair?

The newest noise is that our city council will now require local parks to be alcohol free unless peopel have permits. Now, this law is due to a University event called "Springfest" where students bring bands, port-a-pottys, food vendors and hundreds of college kids to the park to enjoy a fun day and yes, enjoy some beer.

Fair enough, it sounds like a recipe for disaster and it has been in the past (burning couches and fist-fights) but in recent years the student body has worked with the city to make sure there are enough police to monitor the crowd etc. I went last year (just a few weeks after my 21st) and had a blast. Running into people, enjoying music and food... and yes beer. It was fun!

I don't know who I should be more mad at: This ridiculous tea-totaller society that is making alcohol out to be the worst thing ever. Or mad at the idiots who try to do 21 shots in an hour (thank you for making my hometown #1 in binge drinking). Then there's the winners at Springfest who pee in people's flower beds and puke in the street. *sigh* maybe this argument isn't so simple.

I tell you what though. Idiots drive drunk every day and no one talks about taking all the cars away from society to make everything "safer."

How about we punish the people who drink too much, cause fights, light things on fire and pee in public and you leave me and other mature adults alone. That includes my friend who is legally 21 --- give her her damn martini and move on. I promise to use the restroom and not be sick in public. I can't promise I'll be dancing well but I'll be having a great time :)