07.09.08
Vertical licenses: the answer to underage alcohol sales?
North Carolina’s jumping on the vertical license bandwagon.
Huh, what? Yeah, that’s what I said, too.
Essentially, those under-21 will have vertical driver’s licenses, which will prevent store clerks from accidentally selling alcohol to minors.
While I think the idea has its merits, I’m not sure it will significantly slash underage drinking rates. Remember, I’m 19, a college student — not even old enough to go to the ABC store to interview somebody for this article. I have encountered plenty of underage drinkers, but I’ve never known any of them to waltz into a liquor store, gas station, Walmart, or similar booze outlet and walk out with alcohol. I don’t think I personally know anybody who’s even attempted it.
Furthermore, those minors I’ve heard of who’ve purchased their share of alcohol and cigarettes in public knew the clerks personally and would have gotten away with it even if their license was shaped like Mickey Mouse.
Like many people I spoke with today, I think most teenagers get their alcohol from older family and friends, and don’t bother trying to get away with purchasing it in stores.
I know I get hassled enough when purchasing Powerball tickets, and I think I come off as fairly mature. Granted, I still have my red-bordered “UNDER 18″ license because I avoid the DMV like pickles or frogs or trips to the dentist.
Between the ages of 15 and 21, we’re supposed to make a lot of trips to the DMV to keep up with various beuracratic movements. First we get our permits at 15, then our limited licenses 16, then our full under-18 licenses at 16 and a half, then our under-21 licenses at 18, then finally, we’re 21, and we get a completely normal (and now horizontal) license and are spared these excessive trips. It’s a lot to keep up with.
Hmmm. What do you think? Will this law do anything to quelll underage drinking?
Johnny Cakes said,
11 July at 2:46 pm
I love the “Possibly related posts.”
“Clarification and what not
More Mommy Wars!
something was off.”
Something IS of, indeed, with that combination of words…
Now for something semi-relevant. The first vertical license I saw belonged to one of my schoolmates. Perplexed, I assumed it was just a New Jersey thing. However, after being a college-person, it’s clear that licenses, no matter what position they’re in, won’t deter pre-21ers from getting their drunk on.
As for how the kids at my school do it, I think they just refer to someone at or above the legal age…or just go to shady places to buy their brews. Like you, I don’t know anyone with the cajones to do it themselves.
Some kids just wanna drink. You really can’t stop that (without taking extreme militant measures). Best to just make it burdensome, hoping the youth won’t wanna go through the trouble.
Better yet, just combine the DMV with liquor stores to make the purchases just as long and tedious as a license renewal. Granted, the fusion’s a bit hypocritical, but people will definitely steer clear of it, then.