On the Nature and Necessity of Fake I.D.’s

In college, it is not uncommon for many students to have fake Identification. In Legal terms, this is punished very strictly. The holder may receive up to 5 years in jail, and a $10,000 fine. “The majority of the court cases are thrown out,” says an official, yet it happened to a friend of mine. There is an inconsistency in this line of thought, however, when we look at the marketing industry. In a country where liquor adds target young adults, like this one, it is questionable whether these laws are justifiable.

I am a student, which significantly hurts my voice, cause now you all know I drink illegally. This and a few other factors highly hinder my argument; so let me attempt to refute them quickly. I’m underage, so unlike people who are not, I have immediate first hand experience in this area. Adults may say they have been there, but the ones past forty have forgotten, and the others are getting there slowly. Also, I am closer to being a child, and thus, closer to having a culturally unbiased view in this area. Despite what you may think, my voice does come from a bird’s eye view. Now that that is done, I will proceed to enter the conversation in a timely manner. Here are a few speculations I have regarding underage consumption.

1. 18-21 is about figuring it all out.

Take me for example. So I’m moved out. College has started. I’m learning things, both in and out of class. I’m learning to be punctual, to pace myself, and to schedule all my time. My parents don’t really help me financially, so I’m learning to budget, the hard way. I just got my first debit card, which I overdrew last week (ya it sucks, I definitely won’t do that again). but when it comes to alcohol, it is illegal to experiament. it almost gives experamenting a bad feel, which it shouldn't have. If you followed the law, you would be a stranger to the substance. The problem is that everyone else wouldn't be. You would be surrounded by people who knew what they were doing, and you would be clueless.

2. Interest in breaking the law negates the law's intention.

Obedience psychological studies aside, everyone loves to break the rules. It’s fun. Even if you don’t, it is socially encouraged. I’ve gotten way more girls by playing the wild, not caring, all around bad dude, than being the chi drinking book reader that I am. That’s just how it works. Accordingly, the illegality of underage drinking actually, imagine this, makes it more enticing. I’m guessing that was not the original intent of the law.

3. The culture we are born into promotes alcohol, yet laws prohibit it.

In my experience, many people grow up in the presence of alcohol. My parents had parties a couple times a year, and I learned quickly that the raised voices and nature of the conversation was a result of alcohol. It is commonly assumed that teenagers are targeted by alcohol advertisements. An American Academy of Family Physicians article says that the frogs used by Budweiser in 1996 were more recognizable to young children then “the Power Rangers, Tony the Tiger, or Smokey the Bear.”

These factors promote alcohol, yet it is not legal. This type of mixed message environment confuses, and is unfair.

4. Alcohol transforming into romantic necesity.

On a more serious note, I have seen this happen. The active role that alcohol plays in the social hierarchy, coupled with the inhibition that follows could cause some serious problems. In other words, the requirement of intoxication to speak to a girl. Although this takes pressure off the guy, it goes against our idolization of bravery, and suggests that one must be drunk all the time if this is to be successful.

Now, I’m not going to make the argument that alcohol is beneficial. They way us college students drink it; there is no question whether it is a detriment to the health. Yet, it is necessary on some level to experament, which should be encouraged, not shuned.