Students on underage drinking and after-balls

File photo / Bay of Plenty Times

nzherald.co.nz asked students what they thought of police this year taking a tough stance on underage drinking and cracking down on after-ball parties.

Many parties have been cancelled after police earlier this month raided a Pakuranga College after-ball that students had been taken to by bus.

Here are some of the students' responses:

"I am a year 12 student who has an older brother and older sister who have both gone to their after-balls and they have both told me that the night was and is still one of their best memories, with no recollection of anyone getting completely drunk and doing anything stupid.

"I think the view that the police have taken on the after-balls is unfair and very judgemental. They are treating teenagers like children thinking that we are all going to drink to get absolutely wasted, when that is not the case.

"I have been to parties in controlled environments before and nothing has ever gone wrong and my mates and I have had a really good time.

"So just because there are going to be more of us in one place why is something going to go wrong? Because there is more of us there will be more parents that can help and control the night. Just because of one tragic death caused by alcohol, the police are now cracking down on us all, but we are all not like that.

"People want a quick answer when someone dies but this is not it. Look at raising the legal drinking age and trying to find out why some teenagers need to get completely drunk."

- Jack

"I believe that we live in a really sad society when an after-ball can only be deemed 'fun' when there is alcohol involved, and when 'getting wasted' every weekend is the social norm.

"I think in light of recent events (the boy from Kings), a 'crackdown' on underage and binge drinking is something that this country really does need."

- Lizzy