Why should any island change their laws to accomodate American kids who don't know how to control themselves?

Seems like the problems start here at home with how they are raised.

I just laugh reading all these posts bashing Aruba. It was not ARUBA who made a falling down drunk girl go off with 3 strangers. It was not ARUBA who made her falling down drunk friends just wave "bye-bye" and let her go. And it was not ARUBA who made whoever do whatever he did with her!!

When do adults start taking responsibility for themselves?? (and you can't have it both ways...those teenagers were either 18 and adults, or they were 18 and kids. Make up your mind!)

p.s. I know this is kinda ranting off of the original topic of the post, but I'm so sick of hearing the finger being pointed all over the place. Especially at the island and the police and military forces who are trying their best to clean up a mess that they did not create!!! All the while with our media is doing more harm then good getting in the way!

Thank You for stating that opinion cause alot of people agree that kids need to be more responsible and aware they are traveling abroad and not to be so naive. Im just so grateful that I have not many but 2 good friends that I grew up with and yes we liked to party but never did we let one of us go off with a stranger especially when drinking was involved.Unless MS Holloway was forced out of the club and into the car, which dont think happened, I might feel some sympathy but its hard when she left with these boys and did not looked forced. Ms. Holloway might still be here had someone intervened at one point or another that fateful night. As far as her being 18 and an adult, dosent mean that if you are a shapperone and your visiting another country, whether your 18 or 100 yrs old, you should have someone watching out for you. especially when drinking. Aruba is a beautiful Island and ive experienced that the Aruban people will go out of there way to make sure you are happy and have a good time. I own a timeshare there and plan on visiting every year despite this ordeal.

My family is from Aruba, unfortunately for me I was born in the States. The drinking age is 18. However if you go into a bar or restaurant with a parent and they order your drink...you can have it. They believe it is the right of the parent to make that decision. So if your children were with you, they would not have been carded.

So it is up to the parents.........
I feel like I have done a good job raising my now 21 year old son. However having raised him in the U.S. I do not feel like I had much input into teaching him to drink responsibly. Yes I have displayed responsible drinking but past that once he became legal I did not sit him down with a beer and say OK now son it is my job to teach you about drinking. I mean come on!!!!!!! I never let him drink before that because I did not want to contribute to the delinqecy of a minor by breaking the law. So he turned 21 last March and his friends took him to a bar and he got drunk. I gave him lectures before he left and than hoped for the best. He has only been legal for a short time and I think he drinks to much. I talk to him about drinking and can only hope this phase passes for him and his friends. (He is the norm in our area!) I understand in Germany the drinking age is 16. When you turn 18 you can get a drivers license. This way the parents can teach their kids to drink and than after two years teach them to drive. I think they have the right idea!
Sorry about the soapbox!!!!!!!

Your laws are much different then here in the USA, here we could hold the bar where a minor is sold alcoholic beverages liable if anything where to happen to them... I have been reading these messages and the one that really made me sick, (not mad) was the one that said something about selling ladies, yes I suppose it happens..
Your country is so beauitful and must bring so much serenity and now its been shadowed with this, and may never be considered the place to go, for teenagers that is..
My support goes out to Mr. and Mrs. Holloway and America's prayers are with them, if by any chance they would read this maybe they need to put pressure on Carlos N' Charlie's and their staff in serving minors, because I have been reading on Aruba and it is clear the drinking age is 18, their daughter was 17.. apply pressure where needed it seems in this case..