As a parent of teenagers I feel it is my civic duty to own and use an alcohol breathalyzer. I was telling my daughter Lovey (currently 17 years old) how I want her to let her friends know that I'm not afraid to use it if they are over and I suspect someone has been drinking.
I let her know that I verified with the local police department that I am well within my right to ask anyone in my home to submit to a breathalyzer test, though they could decline, at which point I would ask them to leave.
Of course Lovey found this mortifying and said:
Lovey: "You really shouldn't. That's taking embarrassment to a whole new level. I think the college visit thing was far enough."
Note: She claims I humiliated her when I asked our tour guide at a recent college visit for her, "What are the rules on boys in girls' dorms and vice versa?" and proceeded to have a conversation with him about the subject. I still don't get what how this was so embarrassing, plus I asked him one on one and not in front for the whole group on the tour, which I thought was thoughtful on my part.
I continued to try to get her to understand.
Me: "It's like owning a gun. It's not like I'm going to shoot someone, but it will make them think twice about breaking into my house if I'm prepared to pop a cap in their ass!"
In the future when she becomes a parent she will appreciate my parenting methods. Minimally a therapist will one day help her understand my good intentions.
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