Youngsters have enough trouble dealing with alcohol without getting helped down the path to destruction by adults.

It’s a tragedy when an under-age individual kills himself or herself or somebody else because of alcohol abuse. It’s so needless and so devastating to many.

What’s just as bad, however, is when so-called adults help young people demolish themselves and perhaps others by greasing the skids to disaster.

How many times do we hear or read about cases where older people have been on binges with under-age drinkers or have played “good fellow” by providing the booze?

When Americans now turn 18, they are supposed to be adults, at least from the standpoint of voting and other rights and privileges. However, most states have established or re-established a drinking age of 21. People under 21 learn early on that they easily can obtain liquor, the most abused drug in our society. Sadly, the enablers, in many cases, are family members, worst of all, parents.

One can make the argument that if a youngster officially becomes an adult at age 18, he or she has to accept personal responsibility. How wonderful if people turned 18 and immediately were imbued with the maturity and judgment it takes to handle alcohol sanely and sensibly.

Many never achieve that goal at any age. But that does not mean we should lessen efforts to school young people on the dangers of drinking, and make them feel that they have to take charge of their lives.

Such a status got support recently from a judge in Bloomsburg, Pa., who threw out manslaughter charges against a man who allegedly gave a teen vodka at a fraternity party and the youngster, in effect, drank himself to death. The supplier, age 22, still faces charges of furnishing alcohol to a minor.

In a court order, the judge said the older man cannot be held criminally responsible for the death because a videotape at the fraternity party in question showed the victim “needed no prodding.” The tape also showed friends imploring the youth to ease up on the drinking.

“At least two times they took the bottle away from him, but each time the victim got it back and started drinking again,” the judge stated. “The victim himself voluntarily chose the path that led to his tragic death.”

Fraternity members discovered the youth’s body the next day. He had a blood alcohol level around .40 percent.

It is disgusting to hear about adults, particularly parents, who have a hand in drinking binges for youngsters, of any age. But there still is the chance for the drinker to step back and say “no” to further imbibing.

What program or tutelage does it take, in schools, homes and other venues to get across to young people what they face when they so casually misuse alcohol?

Years ago, a Kansas University authority stressed that alcohol abuse causes at least a 14-1 ratio of problems in comparison with other drugs. There is every evidence that has not changed much because of the ease with which young people can obtain alcoholic substances  either on their own or with the aid of adults who should provide much better guidance.