By Kathleen McAleese
Editor-in-Chief

Red solo cups in hand, shot glasses litter a basement coffee table. Many high school parties involve alcohol and drugs, and as teen culture grows, so does the acceptance of alcohol.

Alcohol is the most commonplace drug of choice for teenagers in high school, and its use has become just that for one Westford Academy senior girl.

An anonymous source, admitting to using alcohol just about every other weekend, primarily at parties hosted at her own house or at other houses but classifies use as relatively typical for high school.

“I feel like some people go overboard and do it by themselves but the average is just doing it when people are at parties,” she said.

The commonality of alcohol use, could, according to the source, could be derived from teens simply not being allowed to drink alcohol. According to the source, drinking is not just popular in one high school demographic. It has become an activity as commonplace as weekend get togethers themselves.

“Sometimes it surprises me [who drinks]. You just don’t think they would but not just the ‘party kids’ do it,” she said.

With facilitating parents, the student finds that hosting parties has become relatively easy.

“My parents have found out. They don’t really care… They turn a blind eye but make sure that everyone stays in and no one drives,” she said.

The nonchalance of parents is an attitude that seems to be a common denominator with many house parties in high school culture.

This student also supports the lowering of the drinking age. With a public attitude that is less of alcohol shaming and more embracing, she thinks that it would keep young people safe and allow them to learn about using alcohol and not endanger themselves or others.

“If it weren’t so big of a deal, kids wouldn’t get to college and go overboard. If it was more embraced, people wouldn’t want to go out, binge, and then throw up. They would have a backup plan.”