So let's see if I have this straight, junior, who is underage, is gonna go do something illegal anyway, so let's help him "get away" with it because that's what parents do (never mind saying NO and you can't do that, then we wouldn't be "his best friend"). Oh, and let's also, help his friends do the same. I'm sure there were notes and phone calls to all of the friends parents as well being right up front about how these parents were going to help teenagers safely break the law. Did they have any idea if the other kids parents wanted their sons and daughters there drinking underage? Did they know if any kid had a medical condition or was taking any medications that absolutely precluded alcohol? Or did they simply want to be the "cool parents" and live vicariously through the kids? We wonder why young people have little respect for the law or for authority or even for their parents? Of course all it took was for me to see the word athletes and the word coach, and then I understood.

Tim, Worcester, MA

Here's a solution. Lower the drinking age to 15, and raise the driving age to 21.

Wendy, Indianapolis, IN, USA

Illegal drinking. Is that somehow like illegal immigrants. We throw the mom in jail but legalize illegal immigrants. What a crazy nation we live in. Has anyone ever heard of upholding and enforcing the law? Well, I guess it happened with this woman but it won't happen with 12-20 million illegal immigrants or those who hire them.

Melvin D. Sharp, Liberty, PA

To all those who say she acted responsibly, how about the word "no".
No, son, you can't have a keg party for your friends.
No, son, I cannot take that responsibility for everyone elses kid.

There are times whe you have to tell them no.

She claims no one drove afterward. How can she actually enforce and verify that? Have all 60 kids sleep over? Not a chance.
Did ALL of the other parents give the OK? Again, not a chance.

Having said that, actual jail time for this is way too strong a penalty.

PR, Newport News, VA/USA

The parents served alcohol to UNDERAGE MINORS who totaled in number 60. Not only did this violate VA law but also was incredibly niave and stupid on the part of the parents, All it would have taken was for one kid to keep a second set of keys, leave after everyone went to bed, and be involved in an accident for this to have turned out much worse.

I seriously doubt that the prosecutor would ahve worried had the party involved a handful of kids )say 10 or less) but 60 was a number which can not be ignored. The parents were wrong and got nailed for it.

Robert Owen , Conway , South Carolina

These people did very well by what they did. The law they're being tried under IS arcane, ridiculous, picayune, or whatever dirisive form you prefer.
And, "Guess what," that legislative process that's in place is the same process that PRODUCED this oppressive, discriminatory, self-destructive law in the first place and is run by "informed citizens" too ignorant to realize they do more harm than good by keeping their kids ignorant, rather than exposing them in a gradual, mature manner.
It's very much like living in Saudi Arabia, and for the same pseudo-religious reasons. America is poisoned by their outdated, oppressive Puritan laws and social mores. Europe had the wisdom to drive those people out - good for them - but we Americans had the ill fortune of having to inherit them!
This is the foremost reason why I believe "it's for the children" and "it's for your own good" are the most dangerous words ever spoken. Along with "The Bible says so." May the gods help us all.

John O'Sevens, New York, USA

People in the United States seems to take great pleasure when "examples" are made though disproportionate sentences and lives are destroyed by power hungry, ambitions judges and prosecutors. Hopefully these ambitions ones will be the next victims of American "justice".

Joe , Bangor, Maine

This prosecution is evil and wrong and cannot be allowed to stand in a just society.

People of any age have a right to consume alcohol within their own homes. Laws restricting purchase and public consumption are reasonable but they don't need to intrude into the home unless lives are in danger.

Allowing youngsters to drink in moderation with adult supervision is the best way to prevent them from becoming drunks in later life. When alcohol is seen as a special adult privilege teenagers will seek it out and drink to excess, as seen most graphically at any college campus in the US.

Peter, London, Great Britain

It seems to be the case that in restricting and punishing certain forms of decadence with psychosomatic substances such as alcohol, overall, people's health and safety are being jeopardized. With the approach of community activism and just getting to know people reducing dangerous drug/alcohol induced behavior would be a simple matter of being a good neighbor and looking out for one another. Punishing people doesnt seem to work. The hysterics of the mod-driven with hunt has not been fazed out yet. In such a volatile clime people are driven away from one another. However, if people were accepted despite perhaps having an apparent tendency of a debauch, when something became a problem the community would be there to address the problem. Instead the conflict seems to work out to some kind of political ploy driving criminal and legal business.

David, rochester, ny

Yeah, a lot of things don't make sense in US. Add to this the fact that in different states the restrictions on the law are different. In California you can drive fast and crazy without plates and cops will not pull you over - in N. Carolina even slowing down to look at a direction sign is enough to make cops suspect you of something.

Tom, Playa Del Rey, CA/US

Spot-on, Matteo. Where the Federal facists find that the constitution prevents them from forcing their will on everybody, they use money to coerce (bribe) the states and force them to behave the way they wish - just like they use foreign aid, military support, emergency relief, and other funds, to coerce (bribe) other counteries into adopting the federal draconian laws

Bob, Bellevue, WA

As one who spends a great deal of time there, let me tell you, Stephen, it is NOTHING like Saudi Arabia.

John Lynch, Whittington, Shropshire, UK

judges should be punished in some way when they hand down obviously severe and damaging sentences. look at his record. look what other people are doing for far more serious offences. the judge should experience lock down. he is out of touch with reality and feels he is above the law.

jim cody, ventura, CA

I got my learner's permit, in Kansas, at the age of 14.

Carolyn Randall, Los Angeles, California, USA

Kids are going to drink regardless. While I wouldn't suggest encouraging the kids to drink - the reality is that it'll happen if they want it to happen. I much more respect someone chaperoning the event instead of allowing their kids to go off to a park or woods or wherever and jeopardize themselves and others. While the law is the law, it makes no sense - that a 17/18 year old kid can kill someone in the line of duty, but not have a drink.

JA, Philadelphia, PA, USA

This is exactly what my parents and my firends' parents did when I was this age. My mother would say, "I'd rather know where you are than think that you are in some supermarket parking lot with God knows who." And, after all these years, (I'm now 40), I'm still here - not dead or damaged in some drunk driving accident. The New Year's Eve party where they car keys were locked away by our friend's mother was an annual tradition for folk ranging from teens to older adults. Not everyone drank, but no one had to worry about those who did.

hilary, Washington, DC

It might not make sense to non-US citizens, but it is the law of the land, and as such, it needs to be honored. I work with adolescents, and I'm sick of hearing them joke about how their parents help them flaunt the laws by procuring alcohol for them and basically chaperoning their parties. I have nothing against a teen having one drink at home with parental permission - but what about all the other parents who weren't given the option of withholding consent because this parent decided she was above the law? Plus, if these were all "good kids" and athletes, etc., I bet they signed pledges stating they wouldn't use alcohol during the season. If so, these kids clearly broke that contract and should be held accountable. If the law is ridiculous or arcane or picayune, guess what? We have a legislative process in place, by which informed citizens can attempt to change it. I feel sorry for this woman's tribulations, but she brought a lot of it upon herself.

Caroline, Portland, Maine, USA

Sounds a bit like living in Saudi Arabia

Stephen, Nairobi, Kenya

In addition, in N. Carolina, you have dry countys right next to wet countys, so if you want to by alcohol just travel in any direction and within an hour you can bring back a whole trunk full of beer in a county that you can not buy alcohol. This is what comes from freedom, the unconsistant rules of engagement. You can understand why not only non-Americans are confused, so are Americans.

M. Nelson, MANHATTAN,

Laws restricting the consumption/sale of alcohol by age are state, not federal statutes. The 1984 law that the article sites makes federal funds to the states for road maintenance contingent on such restrictions being enacted at the state level.

matteo, pisa,

The parents behaved very responsibly. Law and ass, anyone?

Gerry, exeter, england devon

American eighteen year-olds can enter into legal contracts as well.

You're absolutely right. None of this makes sense at all.

JD, Cottage Grove, WI/USA