EDITORIAL — Big things come from little things

Six establishments across a university have been issued warnings by Mandaue City's Business Permit Licensing Office and the Mandaue City Police Office after these were caught selling liquor to minors.

Now Cebu City is thinking of looking at its own liquor stores to see if they have been doing the same.

More to the effect, Cebu City Councilor Rey Gealon said establishments should not sell liquor within a 100-meter radius from schools and churches.

It’s important to make sure minors don’t get their hands on alcohol. We must never underestimate how big things come from little things.

Big businesses have started from the smallest of ideas. Great talent started from the smallest of inspirations. Fulfilled dreams have sprung up from the tiniest of hopes and ambitions.

Unfortunately this also applies to bad things. A single bad experience can lead to lifelong hatred of an idea. The smallest of misunderstandings can lead to the most violent of fights. A harmless “experiment” can lead to a vice gone out of control.

In the case of alcoholics that destructive habit could have begun with a little taste, a harmless try. And before long it blows up into a bad habit one doesn’t even know exists because it has become so “common” and so “routine”.

Don’t get us wrong here. We aren’t saying people shouldn’t drink or that people who do so will always end up as alcoholics, no. In fact we see nothing wrong with adults appreciating a good drink every now and then for whatever occasion arises.

However, it is different for minors. They may not yet be fully aware of the far-reaching consequences their actions may have or are confident that they have the rest of their long lives to fix any errors they make. We don’t even have to mention how peer pressure factors into such an attitude.

They also may not yet be able say when something has become too much or when enough is enough like the more-discerning adults.

Stores that willingly deal liquor to minors should be found and dealt with accordingly.