I kinda see why this shouldn’t be a big issue and also see why it could be. The school I went to in high school (obviously not here in the US) had us taste different wines and liquors to be able to work with them as part of our food technology class. Under proper supervision it really shouldn’t be a problem. we just saw it as an ingredient.

But I also see the hesitation on this. It’s avoiding lawsuits. If one of the students ends up with an alcohol-related crime or injury (even outside the school) parents will definitely find a way to blame the school for it (my kid never drank before they took this class, etc)

It’s such a shame because in the article the senator who is opposed to this already knows that his son - the human being he raised - is too irresponsible to follow rules.