While attending a Yankee game last week, I had the joy of having seats in what must have been a sea of gangly, pimple covered, awkward teenage boys. Although being the only one who could get the attention of the “bud light man” was nice, what ended up being more useful was overhearing all of the chatter and gossip that game time afternoon.
The first few innings were a blur, as the game was a high scoring close battle, I had a few drinks and the standard glutenous snacking all took there toll. However, by the 5th inning I had settled into a euphoric “stupor” and tuned in to all the young boys conversations going on around me. There were dozens of conversations swirling around, however there was really only 3 topics they all were comprised of, the game, women, and drinking. They all wanted to drink, and had either proclamations of such or ideas on how to achieve this unlawful goal. "You ask him!" "No, You ask him!" Debating between which of the boys would ask a legal to purchase beer for them. "You're such a [vagina]!" One exclaimed. After I hear these comments I began to think about why their relationship is based around criticism and competition, and why the need for alcohol was so strong.
After further research I came across and article, Leisure and Family: Perspectives of Male Adolescents Who Engage in Delinquent Activity as Leisure.
This article discusses the motivations that push young boys to the pursuit of delinquent behavior for purposes of enjoyment. It connects family life to delinquency by absences of a father figures or lack of support of interest in their son's lives. Why should the consumption of alcohol be considered delinquent behavior? I can agree with these theories, however, in the case of teens consuming alcohol at a baseball game I also feel that maybe these kids were just looking to relax, and have a few beers because it is what they see adults in our culture doing. Imitation is a large part of social development. By the time young men are seniors in high school they have reached their maturation. For our culture to deny responsibility and trust to these young adult males will only further their desire to lash out against societies laws. I look at our American culture and I see the mixed signals we are giving to our youth. We tell them to grow up and take responsibility by the end of high school, but we hardly give them a chance when it comes to the big stuff. It is perfectly acceptable for adults to loosen up with a few beers, why deny an 18 year old adult the same freedoms? At the age of 21 an adult male (or female of course) in America is seen as old enough to go to a baseball game, drink alcohol, and make sound judgements. Most countries legal drinking age is 18 as was America for many years. I feel like the lack of trust in our youth furthers the need for them to fight this law. Drunk driving among teens became a huge issue in America and is primarily why the drinking age increased, but what about urban environments where transportation is primarily public transit?
Listening to teenage boys under the influence of alcohol at a baseball game may be more annoying then sober teenage boys, but at least we won't have to worry about getting arrested for supplying them with the beer!
"Only recently have motivations such as the pursuit of fun, thrills, and excitement been recognized as acceptable explanations for involvement in delinquent behavior." (Agnew, 1990).
http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5001883192
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