The caffeine police.

• Author: Klosterman, Chuck
• Position: Ethical Dilemma - Brief article - Reprint

I work at a summer camp for high school students. This year, a Mormon camper decided to drink coffee, against his parents' wishes. Are we ethically bound to enforce families' religious preferences?--Anonymous

ANSWER No. But as an authority figure, you have an obligation to ask, "Are you aware that your parents requested that you not drink coffee?" You might follow that with: "Do you understand why your parents don't want you drinking coffee?"...