Red Cups, and Yearbooks

I saw this story about parents upset over a yearbook, and it reminded me of this story about kids in Wisconsin that were reacting to a school administrator that saw kids "partying" on Facebook, and cited the red cups that the students held. (Yes I know that I am focusing on the red cups a little more then either story may merit)

I use these red SOLO cups myself around the house. I use it when I have a party, such as a birthday party with family, a 4th of July party, etc. Yes, sometimes we have alcohol and sometimes we have tea. Usually we have soda. Pizza parties, holiday parties, and even some dances at schools, I would expect, use disposable cups like these as well. Saying that the red cups indicate alcohol seems absurd. At least to me, it may be one of those things that says more about the person that is making the accusation then the person with the cup.

Not to say I disagree with the general complaint about underage drinking. I think the term partier might be more indicative then the red cups. But even that, I'm not likely to be upset about, since I realize that you can party without alcohol. See the above comment about the person making the accusation.

It also reminds me of parties I attended when I was in High School. Some had cans of beer provided. I would attend, but because I was driving, I wouldn't want to drink. In some of the parties there was peer pressure to drink. When that was the case, I would go into the bathroom, and poor out the beer in the can and fill it back up with tap water. I'd nurse that can for an hour or so, and then get water saying I have had enough for a while. I'm sure the opposite happens, with cans of coke and vodka, etc.