DR. WALLACE: I'm 20 and disagree with some advice you gave to an 18-year-old "social drinker." I don't think you should have told him to stop drinking entirely. This advice definitely reflects society's misunderstanding of the young people in our society.

Why is it so wrong for a teen to be a social drinker, but O.K. for an adult to be a social drinker? I think you should take some time and rethink this bit of advice! — Joe, St. Charles, Ind.

JOE: Who says it's O.K. for adults to be social drinkers? Not me! The whole world would be a better place to live if it were devoid of all alcohol.

I'll agree that there can be a few positives regarding alcohol consumption. A small glass of red wine can help keep the heart healthy. But the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, New York, says that grape juice can be equally effective.

However, the destruction caused by the consumption of alcohol is devastating. When I was a high school principal, I spent time with parents who had lost a son that was killed driving home from football practice. He died when his car was hit head-on by a drunk driver. I also visited a home where a teen was physically abused by a drunken father, who was a good father when sober. These are only two of the many unpleasant alcohol-related memories during my tenure as a high school administrator.

The small benefit of drinking alcohol is overpowered by the destruction of human life caused by one drunken driver too many!

KUDOS TO ALL TEENS

DR. WALLACE: I apologize to teens everywhere for taking so long to write this letter. I am so tired of hearing people of my generation and older complain about the "kids today," how easy they have it, and how socially clueless they are. As a teacher I see so many pre-teens and teenagers who are kind, polite, and hardworking who do not deserve the harsh comments they receive from their bullying elders. They are growing up in a world of stresses and pressures of society that may be somewhat different than we experienced but are equally challenging for a growing young person.

"WE" are their parents and grandparents, the adults who created the world that we don't want these children being a part of. Perhaps instead of looking down our noses and clicking our tongues about how they can't address an envelope or set a table properly, we should remember that respect is about how you treat the people around you...so our generation should start by setting good examples. Our teens are people and they are still young enough to need our guidance and support. If they are left to raise themselves, of course, they may go astray.

I say, "Kudos to all teens who are becoming the next generation for us to be proud of!" - Teacher, Ontario, Canada.

TEACHER: As a former high school teacher and administrator, I totally agree with you 100 percent! Thanks for writing.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Rob Bertholf