Bel Air is dead…well, at least after 9 p.m.

My original intention of this article was to inform the public of activities to do after 9:00. As I interviewed peers around the school, it didn’t take long before I realized the article was nearly impossible. Every person I confronted about the issue found the question awkwardly humorous and commented on how there was nothing to do.

I got generic answers such as movies and selected restaurants, but beyond these few clichés, I didn’t receive many answers at all. Summer hours extended some popular locations until 10:00, but nothing more than that.

So what is there for a teen to do? Nothing? But “nothing” leads to trouble. When teenagers are bored, they tend to delve into drinking, drugs, and vandalism in order to entertain themselves.

Many authorities and elders have become aware of the danger within the youth community, but it seems as if no attempt has been made to solve the issue. If places like mini-golf, the mall, playgrounds, arcades, laser tag, and other teenage attractions were opened later into the night, the amount of illegal activity would most likely decrease.

I’ve often heard friends say that all they do drink on the weekends, but if there were better things to do, they wouldn’t be forced into those situations.

As it is, teenagers have the option of driving around aimlessly, hanging out in parking lots, or going over to a friend’s house–all likely ways to get into trouble. A teenager isn’t meant to go to sleep early, and just because things close down then, doesn’t mean that they will too.

Bel Air lacks a Sonic, Jack In The Box, Drive-In Theater, Checkers, local shows, or any other activities to keep kids out of trouble past 9.

But without having the ability or power to build these, all teens can do is complain until changes are made. They have to trust the older community to make changes that best represent their opinions. But adults aren’t making these changes, or even attempting!

It would make sense for adults to appreciate the idea that teens would stray from trouble if they had other options. There’s no reason why adults shouldn’t take a chance on our generation and make these places a local reality. Best of luck, Bel Air.

Ryan Selvy can be reached for comment at [email protected].