Final answer:
Minors face consequences for underage consumption of alcohol, smoking, and vaping, with laws like the National Minimum Drinking Age Act designed to protect them.
Step-by-step explanation:
Minors face consequences for being under the influence of substances such as alcohol or for engaging in activities like underage smoking and vaping, which are illegal or highly regulated. The government's role in this context is to protect the welfare of its citizens, particularly minors, by enforcing laws such as the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. This act required states to raise their drinking age to 21 to prevent underage drinking and avoid the loss of federal highway funds.
Similarly, the varying legal statuses of substances, such as marijuana, can result in legal consequences for minors who use or possess these substances in states where it's illegal, even though it may be legal for adults over certain age thresholds in other states. Furthermore, there are important discussions around the government's responsibility in immigration context, such as ensuring that unaccompanied minors seeking asylum receive a fair hearing, an issue highlighted in legal developments including the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.