There has been a great amount of recent attention given to alcohol abuse. Much of this has been spurred by what appears to be the alcohol-induced death of a young woman celebrating her 21st birthday, and by the discussion surrounding a proposed Mankato law that would make it illegal to provide a venue for underage drinking. What both of these issues have in common is the persistent lack of accountability by many people, friends, relatives, groups, businesses and community.

It seems that pointing the finger at someone else for the problem of abuse is rather in-vogue these days. We have a cultural protection of alcohol abuse. I’ve listened to parents not only encourage drinking on 21st birthdays but help plan and then participate in bar hopping. I attend high school graduation ceremonies where kegs of beer are part of the celebration. I watch parents, family, friends, and others justify alcohol abuse as “just a part of growing up.”

Liquor establishments create happy hours and other events that encourage excessive drinking, liquor manufacturers create “Kool aid” type beverages that are (not-so subtly) directed at young drinkers. Nearly every sporting event is sponsored by alcohol marketing. Our society not only accepts alcohol abuse, we teach it, we model it, we often excuse it, and we have created it.

Often times the request to deal with alcohol abuse is given to the police. Once the use of alcohol has come to the attention of law enforcement, it isn’t problem solving anymore, it has reached the level of reacting to the results of the problem.

And when law enforcement steps in to address abuse, newspapers give the thumbs down for arresting underage drinkers. Renters and homeowners alike have all kinds of reasons why monitoring liquor abuse shouldn’t be their responsibility in their homes. The University doesn’t call police for underage consumption if the person cooperates with campus security. It is 2007, times have changed, and we have learned a lot about the costly toll of alcohol abuse. It doesn’t need to be a part of growing up anymore.

It contributes to crime, helping kill, rape and murder. It contributes to suicides, car crashes, lost jobs and broken relationships. The repairs are costly, to both pocketbooks and in lives lost and damaged. The victims are drinkers and non-drinkers alike. At the same time we profess to recognize this, we continue to act as if we’ve learned nothing. Just because alcohol was a problem then doesn’t mean it should be a problem now. Our children should be so much smarter then we were growing up. Let’s stop making excuses. Let’s all look to see how we have contributed to alcohol abuse and then vow as individuals to help solve the devastating effects.

Enough with the “Why should I? I can’t. I don’t think it’s fair. I shouldn’t have to.”

Start contributing now to an effective and positive response to alcohol abuse.

Lori Hodapp-Betterton is a captain with Minnesota State Patrol District 2200.