“Sadness” communicates the feeling I have regarding youth-sponsored trips to foreign countries where alcohol use is permitted. Regardless of thin-veiled excuses some create, giving youth the opportunity to drink alcohol in countries where it is legal is wrong and perpetuates myths surrounding the issue.

Adult supervisors of these foreign trips are role models, mentors and people we should entrust to be educated on the use of alcohol and its effects, not people who fail to acknowledge their personal role in creating a culture of social drug use.

The 2007 Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking lists all the valid reasons why exposing youth to alcohol is not appropriate or safe. The recent High Risk Drinking Summit in Mankato, that hundreds of community leaders attended in March of this year, addressed prevention of both high-risk drinking and alcohol use by minors.

As much as we would like to think that there is such a thing as social drinking, it really is social drug use. I was relieved to learn that many schools, whose teachers escort students to foreign countries, require a signature from parents stating there will be discipline should alcohol consumption occur. Those that don’t do so should take their lead.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice Research, “Only youth from Turkey drink and binge less than U.S. youth. Thirty four of the nations had a higher proportion of youth who drank to intoxication than U.S. Youth.” The Underage Alcohol Use is Not a Rite of Passage slide presentation is now available to be downloaded at www.health.state.mn.us/alcohol.

Please examine the rates of alcoholism and alcohol abuse within those countries that allow legal use by minors. Just because other countries legally permit a behavior does not mean that it is right, safe or something we should expose our youth to.