The fear of getting in trouble for a minor in possession of alcohol infraction is outweighing too many students’ concern for their safety - a dangerous trend that current enforcement policies encourage.

Cracking down on underage drinking does not teach responsibility, it only causes students to fear for their legal well-being. And often, students would rather lie on their sides or watch a friend throughout the night then call for help, for fear of getting a ticket and being punished.

This can very quickly lead to tragedy.

But not all precincts enforce alcohol laws the same way. East Lansing police have the right idea. Its officers have better things to do than catch sick drunk kids, handing them a ticket as they’re on the way to the hospital.

Across Grand River Avenue, however, a call for an ambulance means an MSU police officer knocking at the door, often with an MIP ticket in hand. MSU police should be more concerned with students’ safety than busting kids who do the responsible thing by calling for help.

This attitude sends a bad message, and it’s one of the many reasons why students don’t like police.

Police should not have to respond to calls for medical assistance involving alcohol unless there is danger to medical personnel or to other people, such as a fight or if weapons are involved.

Strict legal consequences for underage drinking do little to solve the real problem. A bill slated to make second and subsequent MIP infractions an offense deserving of up to 90 days in jail is an example of a foolish measure that does little more than inspire greater fear in underage students.

Since state law regarding MIPs was passed in 1995, hundreds of misdemeanor and civil infractions have been recorded. In 2000 alone, 507 alcohol-related misdemeanors and 167 alcohol civil infractions were given out on campus.

The numbers may be higher than authorities like, but the current law is not where the problem lies. Rather, our current culture is flawed, encouraging underage drinking and ignoring the responsibility that comes with it.

This isn’t to say that catching underage drunks while out on patrol is frowned upon. Drinking before age 21 is against the law and police should enforce that.

But the priority should be on catching drinkers of any age who are being destructive, driving while drunk or destroying property, harassing pedestrians or beating each other up. There are more important things to crack down on.

The state Legislature would do better to find ways to encourage more responsible drinking, and helping students to learn what could happen to them when they drink.

This bill will only make students more afraid to ask for help when they or a friend is in need of assistance due to alcohol. And this fear could very well cost someone his or her life.

That’s a high penalty to pay for a night of private drinking.