Ban on ‘underage drinking’ isn’t applied to minor children of the privileged class

Underage drinking has become more and more of a problem in many countries—developed and developing—around the world. And the reason for this could be the many social and peer group pressures that today’s teenagers face with respect to alcohol consumption.

The Philippines has not been spared this problem. This, despite the fact that hereabout, it is illegal for any establishment to serve alcohol to a minor (anyone under the age of 18). And this may be because double standards are applied in the enforcement of the law.

For example, from the perspective of the International Justice Mission (IJM), an American nongovernment organization, minors from underprivileged background who are caught drinking alcohol inside a bar or restaurant are considered victims of human trafficking (Republic Act No. 9208). The owners of the establishments serving alcohol to minors are thus considered as human traffickers and may be arrested, denied bail and punished with life imprisonment. IJM considers the minors involved to have been “rescued.”

On the other hand, minors from privileged classes and families are openly seen drinking expensive alcoholic drinks (branded vodka, champagne and cocktails, to name a few) in the bars and nightclubs of Makati, Bonifacio Global City, Boracay and even in the new world-class casinos in Metro Manila. It appears that IJM does not consider the children of the elite victims of human trafficking, and their flagrant binge drinking attracts no attention or “rescue” attempts. Maybe, the drivers and bodyguards of the elite minors could qualify as human traffickers as well—after all, they are generally complicit in obtaining “special privileges” for their underage charges.

This is a clear case of double standard applied by a prominent NGO funded by the American taxpayers, in its class-biased crusade. Maybe the “rescue” of privileged minors is not in the agenda of IJM.

—JOSE DANTE CALANTUAN,

[email protected]