'Power Hour' Drinking and Stupid Laws

Yahoo! News - State Seeks to End 'Power Hour' Drinking

In an attempt to end the practice of "Power Hour" birthday celebrations where young people try and down 21 shots of alcohol in the first hour they are 21, North Dakota lawmakers want to pass a law making it illegal to purchase alcohol until 8am on your 21st birthday.

Ok, drinking 21 shots unless you weigh 7 or 800 lbs is just stupid. Bars should not help people try and kill themselves and anyone of normal size stands a pretty good chance of just that depending on what they decide to shoot during their 21 shot 'Power Hour' marathon.

One man has already died in ND as have many young people all over the country. It is becoming a large problem and one we must do what we can to solve.

But passing a law to change the time you can buy beer and shots is not going to do it. What are these guys and gals thinking? If the kids do it at midnight, why wouldn't they just do it the next day? Changing the time is not the solution, it just gets nice press for those who drafted such a silly law.

Here is my suggestion: Make it illegal to do the 21 shot celebration. Fine bars if they serve this potentially fatal dose of liquor to such inexperienced drinkers and fine the friends and others who allow it to happen.

If someone tried to kill themselves in the middle of a crowded bar and no one did anything to stop it, I'm sure charges would be filled and someone would be found guilty of a crime, probably the bar owners themselves for not providing proper security. Why should it be any different with shots on your birthday?

Don't add another stupid law. Make a good one and just make it illegal to kill yourself with booze on your B-day or serve others who try, not change the time you are legally able to do it. That's just stupid.

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