By Stefan Kimpton

In case you missed it, Stefan’s editorial last week shared his views on underage drinking as a 17 old attending his last year in high school.

After talking with teachers, peers, friends and community members about their feelings, he decided to write a follow up story.

McBride RCMP Constable Kent Kryzanowski said he is well aware that underage drinking happens in McBride

“Obviously underage drinking occurs here in McBride,” said Kryzanowski. “I won’t encourage it by any means and the minors of McBride need to realize it’s illegal, but we’ve all been in that situation.”

“McBride has some of the most responsible young people I have ever met, and most of them understand when too much is too much and most plan for a safe night,” he said. “But no matter where you go, you’re always going to have that one rotten apple, the guy who isn’t responsible and that’s what we worry about.”

“We want everyone to have fun, but we need everyone to be as safe and responsible as they can. “

Kryzanowski said that the town’s older crowd could take a lesson from youth in the community.

“I still shake my head after seeing a Friday night of partying hard at the bar, and go on shift the next morning and see no vehicles left in the parking lot,” he said.

“You can’t tell me everyone was fit to drive.”

He said kids realize that they can’t drive and find another way home. He feels it is because the penalties are so severe.

Constable Kryzanowski, said underage drinking is always going to be around. There’s going to be times when people go overboard and at the same time, there’s going to be times when people figure out the need to be safe and responsible.

McBride Secondary School’s interim principal Dan Kenkel admits he partied pretty hard back in high school himself, but said that doesn’t make it right, or give students an excuse to do it.

“I think it’s always going to be an issue no matter if you live in a small town or a city. It’s something that our grandparents did back when they were young, but just because they did it, doesn’t mean the youth of today should be,” said Kenkel.

Kenkel said that drinking at a young age damages your brain, and has more severe consequences too.

“The younger you drink the more likely you will have alcoholism. The question we need to ask is why do these youths feel the need to drink in these small town situations. Is it an excuse for boredom or is there something about it that draws kids in?”

“Either way it’s going to be an issue and I would hope students can be responsible about the decisions they make.”