Alcohol and Children

Six Flags in Arlington, TX will now be selling beer at their theme park. Most people probably are saying, "Big deal. All theme parks sell (or should sell) beer and alcohol". Many parents protested this move hoping the Texas Alcohol and Tobacco Bureau would deny the permit. Others . . . well . . . others made it seem as if alcohol and kids are synonymous.

I do not have children and have no intentions of it. But I do work with area schools with gang and crime prevention issues. This position also commits me to the role of mentor. Neither my role as a mentor nor my position with crime and gang prevention has anything to do with me thinking selling alcohol at ANY theme park nor area where children are present and playing is a bad idea. Me being a child at many functions that always had a drunken uncle, cousin, or family friend acting an ass does.

I know many parents feel a need to self-medicate; especially those with teens. But honestly, is it really necessary to ALWAYS have liquor available? I'm no teetotaler. I've written a few articles that outline what and how to drink! I'm just wondering if we are going to continue to send a message to kids, generation after generation, that we have to appease alcoholics! Seriously, if you can't go out for a few hours and just be a parent to your kids and hang out with them without alcohol, you are an alcoholic!

Yes, I know college students over the age of 21 go to these places too. And I think it was right here in at the aforementioned park where a (sober) young woman decided to have a "Girls Gone Wild" moment and flashed her boobies in an area heavily populated by small children. Do we really want to add alcohol to the mix?

Again, I don't have kids. But I know a lot of people who do. And they do not feel it is necessary to have alcohol at events where children will be present. It makes me wonder if there are any places left in America where kids can just go and be kids and where adults are happy just knowing they are leading by example.

Cheers!