Legacy vs. Old school drunkeness

Dude: I'm three times your age, twice your weight and half your speed. I call myself middle-aged, and you call me "old man." Fair enough. To me, you are a teen, a youth, or even "kid." Whatever.
There's something I want you to know.
The greatest gift we old farts give you is our legacy. You and your friends don't use that word a lot, "legacy," but it basically refers to what we pass on to the next generation.
We have passed on some rather remarkable things to you here in Wisconsin: appreciation for the outdoors, a strong work ethic, home-team pride …
Drunkenness.
We, your parents and grandparents, are among the very worst in the nation when it comes to binge drinking, driving drunk, per capita beer consumption and percentage of adults who drink.
We are the shame of the states when it comes to drinking. And we want you to wallow in that barley mire with us. Sort of a family bonding thing.
We insure ourselves against change by sporting some of the weakest alcohol laws in the country. In fact, we are the only state where most drunk driving cases aren't even misdemeanors.
"Drive drunk — go to jail?"
Not.
We make it legal for you to drink with us so we can teach you how it's done. We put virtually no tax on beer — roughly half a penny per can — even though the related property damage and health care impact costs more than Beyonce's bling.
We just make everyone shares that cost, even the ones who (rolling my eyes and using my "duh" voice) don't drink. As a matter of fact, we haven't raised our beer tax since 1969.
Think I'm exaggerating? Google "State of Drinking" or "Wasted in Wisconsin." I'm barely scraping the surface.
We make sure you always see alcohol at weddings, sporting events, get-togethers with friends, community celebrations and even church picnics.
Go find that picture of your parents at the Christmas party or the bowling team's awards night. See the big smiles in the group shot? See what they're holding in their hands?
We have carefully and consistently taught you this: You must drink alcohol. To not drink in this state is to be a nun at a Lady Gaga concert.
When I lived out of state, I saw bumper stickers that read, "It's OK to not drink." How would that message go over in Wisconsin? Might not get your taillights busted out, but it wouldn't win you many friends. Hide it in the drawer with that Brett Favre sticker.
Truthfully, about a third of Wisconsin adults don't drink alcohol. Bizarre. We just try to ignore them in hopes they'll go away, kind of like zits.
As caring parents, we strive to give you a better life than we had — except when it comes to alcohol use. We are determined to see you repeat our mistakes — to stagger in our footsteps, so to speak.
But we must be slipping. According to a 2010 Wisconsin Department of Health Services report, you're drinking less than teens were a couple years ago.
What's up with that? Don't you want to grow up to be just like Mommy and Daddy?
Your potential is immense. You have dreams, you have vitality, you have promise. Dude, what would you have if you didn't drink like us?
Twice our brains and half our troubles.

This blog brought to you by Kevin Wilkinson is the Neenah police chief. He can be reached at pcletters@postcrescent. com

Our Drug/Alcohol Environment Isn't As Fun as a Jeep Wave

You know how when you get a new car, you start seeing the same cars everywhere. I got a Jeep in fall and not only does it seem like everyone else did too, but they are waving at me! Ok then. I guess I became keenly aware of what I have and who else has it in my surroundings.

I find this prevention job to be a similar experience. Embarking on a new job, it sounded like a rewarding position...who wouldn't want to help others refrain from drugs and substance abuse? But truth be told, I possessed a limited awareness of the environment around me. Now being thrust into part of the re:TH!NK machine that sets out to alter this substance laden environment, I see it at every turn. And it doesn't Jeep wave!The feelings are way different.

Last week I saw "Lazy Cakes" at Walgreens as I checked out with my 6th grader. This is a snack marketed as mere pot brownies that have melatonin as their key ingredient saying it causes excessive use of the word DUUUUUUDE. WHAT!!!

I drive by the huge "KeyStone" billboard near Mortons daily. That gains huge visibility as kids walk to Oshksoh West HS and aims to make beer consumption cool and funny for youth. Who in the world allowed that location in our community!!

Me and my son, lil' 7 year athlete that he is, stroll through convenience stores with end caps that boast alcoholic beverages that are intended to GO WITH sports. Are you kidding me, these kids are suppose to be proud of their athletic codes and sports status in HS!!

How do parents counteract? What have you tried? Is anyone else mad? Really, I am interested in hearing.

Join us by checking out www.rethinkwinnebago.org for re:TH!NK Committee meetings planning environmental action plans that address change.