See no evil; do no evil?

image by Fast Forward Event Productions

A new Maine law, effective on September 12, prohibits children from "observing" alcoholic beverage tastings. The law will require that all "taste-testing activities ... be conducted in a manner that precludes the possibility of observation by children [anyone under the age of 15]." The law raises issues, and causes logistical nightmares, on several fronts.

The concern, according to Maine State Representative David Webster, is that “grocery stores will have families going into them to shop and see adults standing around drinking hard liquor.” There is, at this point, apparently less concern for families going into a restaurant to eat and seeing adults drinking hard liquor.

There also seems to be less concern for 15 to 20 year-olds (who are likely more corruptible by alcohol than 6 year-olds) witnessing the consumption of alcohol. The law may be aimed at younger children because at least some people in the 15 to 20 year-old group can voice their discontent by re-electing, or not, certain legislators.

Maine was the first state to outlaw all forms of alcohol. Is this new law a slippery slope into reckless neo-prohibition alcohol control? Prohibition famously failed. Blinding children to the existence of alcohol will also ultimately fail. Would it not be more effective to educate children about alcohol? Teach them to enjoy it, but also teach them that when abused it can be dangerous?