Seriously? 18 Year Old Kids Don't Deserve Jail

At most locations in the United States, underage drinking will get you a ticket/citation, or maybe even just a warning. You will probably pay a fine, or do some community service. You basically get a small punishment for the equally small offense of drinking in college. (I personally don't find anything offensive or harmful whatsoever about first, second, and third year college students drinking alcohol but that is another debate.)

So yeah, most places you get a citation and then you walk away. NOT IN ATHENS! Both the UGA and Athens-Clark County police departments AUTOMATICALLY book underage drinkers into jail. It doesn't matter if it's your first offense or your seventeenth. Get busted drinking in Athens, and you go straight to jail.

Here is a list of reasons why this policy is extremely unfair:

1. Athens-Clark County is one of the only places in the United States where underage drinkers are arrested rather than being issued citations.

2. The simple act of drinking underage, when not combined with any other criminal activities, is not severe enough to warrant physical restraint and a trip to jail.

3. Being in jail often causes students to miss an entire day's worth of classes. This is unnecessary.

4. It's traumatizing. There is absolutely no reason to force a young 18 year old girl off from home for the first time to undergo the terrifying and traumatizing experience of being locked in jail with true criminals who are actually dangerous.

"We'll need these fingerprints in case he ever decides to drink another beer."