What was acceptable when it came to older teens and young adults drinking and partying decades ago would be considered over the line today, writes Business Report Editor Stephanie Riegel in her latest column.
Diving into the spotlight issues that raged during Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court, Riegel reflects on how the party culture of the 1980s is not viewed kindly in the mirror of today’s standards.
“It is interesting, if nothing else, to reflect on what a different reality we were living back then, before MADD and the 21-year-old drinking age and the #metoo movement—in an era of sanctioned debauchery,” she writes.
Like Kavanaugh, she and her friends considered themselves among the “good” kids. “We studied hard and did very well in school. We were the leaders in student government and ran all the clubs. But we drank hard in a culture where drinking was not only permissible but, in many instances, fostered by the adults.”
We’ve become more responsible as a society, she continues, passing laws to curb underage drinking, drunk driving and to protect people from the dangers that come from having too much fun.
It’s comforting to know, Riegel concludes, we no longer laugh off as acceptable what was once considered typical teenage behavior.
Read the full column here. Send comments to editor@businessreport.com
