I did go to Christ's College, and I can tell you that the drinking at the ball was very well monitored and controlled. No-one was kicked-out of last year's ball for bad behaviour, and only one for drunkenness. There was a detox area set up in case of people getting too drunk. People's partners younger than Year 12 weren't allowed alcohol, and boys' parents could choose whether to allow their sons to drink. It was a brilliant night and much credit goes to the school for pulling off such an event, and also for trying to instigate responsible drinking amongst a generation so centred around binge-drinking, due to New Zealand's ridiculous drinking culture.

To Tony #165: actually, technically when the BOARDERS begin their time at Christ's College their housemasters are effectively empowered with the rights and responsibilities of a parent - therefore, it IS exactly like a parent handing them a drink. And this is a stupid argument. Teenagers are going to drink on ball night whether you like it or not. If your son was in this position would you prefer he drank a controlled, sensible amount in a supervised environment, or snuck in a bottle of Smirnoff's, downed it all in the port-a-loo before dinner and ended up vomiting all over the DJ booth? And before you say, oh no, no, my son wouldn't do that, he's a GOOD boy! No. He isn't a good boy. At all. He would do that. And he might take a pill beforehand as well and end up in A & E getting his stomach pumped at 2 in the morning. Stop being narrow minded and appreciate that this is an example the rest of the country should be following; it isn't a SPONSORSHIP of youth BINGEDRINKING. It's an alcohol education. And like every other form of education, Christ's is doing it better than anyone else.

The law in NZ is that it is illegal to sell or supply alcohol to a minor. Parents have the right to serve their children alcoholic beverages. The law rightfully assumes that parents can give their child an alcoholic beverage to drink for example on special occasions. I think it is a wonderful thing. Alcoholic beverages are traditional markers for celebration in the European derived cultures in NZ. Good on Christ's College for not bowing to others. Retain your culture and traditions.Expect responsibility and maturity from your students.

I hope you all have a wonderful evening. Best for the future.

i'm going and my parents have chosen to not let me have alcohol before, at or after the ball, and i am going to have fun. i am unfortunately going alone, but i am hoping to find someone to dance with when i am there.

learn to live a little

The students at this school are going to drink before or afterwards anyway. Isn't it better they are drinking in a supervised environment with the consent of their parents? I think so anyway.

Schools need to accept that whether they like it or not, the students are going to drink. Rather then banning the school balls and angering the students, encourage responsible drinking.

Parent attend most school leaving balls, which the Christs College one will be. Kids might drink at home under parent's supervision, therefore why can't they drink under their parent's supervision at a school ball?

Also, why is this an issue now. It never has been in the past. My own school leavers ball, as well as others I attended supplied wine at the tables and had a bar for us to purchase alcohol if we were over 18, which most of these kids are.

Isn't it better to let kids (of should I say Young Adults) drink in a controlled environment? I mean if we don't allow they'll go and drink elsewhere. This is where our problem culture comes into it (as Rachael # 149 points out). We need to teach our kids the best way to enjoy alcohol, and the best place to do this is in a controlled environment.

Small minded people who can't see the big picture, but just look at the problems our society has without thinking of a way to solve these problems need to cast their minds back to when they are 17/18. I bet 80% of them had a drink at their school balls!!!!

hi! I'm from the cook islands and have just read your article about allowing students to drink at a upcoming school ball which I find simply the start of more student problems. I speak on behalf of my country. No doubt this news will reach here and sooner or later will become a copy cat idea. I'm a single parent and have a young boy at the major college on Rarotonga. Already drinking students is a serious problem here. and any new "thinking" like the one above is going to be a major concern. When will some clever expatriate teacher (usually ex-pat teachers are from NZ)come up with the same.

we had exactly the same thing at our ball and the same rules, it works well and our parents were there to supervise us. it makes it a real family thing and the drinking is not there to get drunk but to drink responsibly.

I read nearly every comment! (An interesting mix of opinions.)

Most of you know little of Christs College. You judge it based on your knowledge of other schools. It's not the same (and no I didn't go there.) These are people who have a culture of success, intelligence and achievement. They know what they are doing and have had a similar approach for many years. All power to them.

The occasional boy might let themselves down but the vast majority will have a great night, enjoy a drink or two and get on with their lives. Someone once said ...

"People don't determine their future, people determine their habits and their habits determine their future"

This institution is teaching good habits. It would be a mistake to judge it based on headlines.