Standing in the check-out line at Kohl's Department Store in Castle Rock last week colorful boxes caught my eye displayed on shelves a few steps from stuffed animals and no more than twenty feet from the boys clothing department. There sat a rack of games with names such as "Drinko," "Keg-Pong" and "Darts and Shots" complete with pictures of happy looking people and shot glasses. I read enough on the boxes to understand what these games, manufactured by Elements, a division of the International Silver Company, are all about. They are about drinking potentially fatal amounts of alcohol in shot form.

During the days after first seeing these dangerous games at Kohl's, I could not get the stupid things out of my mind. Sales are not restricted in any manner. They are displayed openly for children and teens to see and even purchase, if they choose. I don't see Kohl's offering firearms and tobacco products in their stores. Why offer products which promote ingesting potentially fatal amounts of alcohol, or any alcohol at all?

I have visions of youngsters wide-eyed with fear witnessing their parents take shots of alcohol until they cannot stand up. "Oh, shweetheart," I can hear a drunk mother utter. "Donchu worry. Mommy and Daddy are jus' playin' Drinko!" And that could be the best case scenario.

My outrage grew.

I decided to explore. When I searched the internet using the words "alcohol" and "poisoning" and "overdose," the search engine turned up with more than 600,000 hits.

Each year more than 1,400 college students in the United States die accidental deaths, mostly in automobile accidents, due to alcohol consumption, according to the Findings of the Harvard School of Health College Alcohol Study (Read more at www.thegordiefoundation.org/home/savealife_links.asp ). According to various other sources, approximately fifty college students per year die of alcohol overdose.

Did the common sense of the makers and sellers of these alcohol abusing games fly out the window with their social responsibility?

I returned to Kohl's in Castle Rock this week to speak with the store manager, Roxanne Shulz, about these games. I was told she was in a staff meeting. I waited about fifteen minutes, then left word for Ms. Shulz I'd call her.

Before leaving the store, I decided to purchase the game Drinko. Enclosed were instructions for play, which I read when I got home. Each player has a designated shot glass, according to game directions, and color-coordinated poker chips. Players take turns dropping chips down a maze toward a row of shot glasses lined up across the bottom. Where the chips fall determines who must take shots. The final instruction reads: Play as many rounds as desired or "Last man/woman standing" wins.

I did call Ms. Shulz, the manager at Kohl's. She was gracious on the phone and firm about one thing. She would not comment on the games. She directed me to Kohl's vice president of public and community relations, Vicki Shamion, at Kohl's headquarters in Menomonee, Wisconsin. I learned Vicki Shamion was away for several days. Her voice mail directed me to Julie Lando, also in public and community relations. I left voice mail for Julie Lando, as well, and waited.

While I waited, I decided to check out Kohl's Web site, www.kohlscorporation.com. Sure enough, these alcohol abusing games are available for purchase there, too. "Good times!" the web site touts as part of the promotion of Drinko.

Also on Kohl's web site I found information about a special corporate program called Kohl's Cares for Kids. Following is a quote from their web site:

Kohl's Cares for Kids® is not just a program, it's a promise of hope for a brighter, healthier future for kids in our communities. From injury prevention and immunization programs, every day across the country, Kohl's is putting time, effort and funding toward keeping kids healthy.

Who could miss the irony?

Julie Lando at Kohl's headquarters did call. She, too, was gracious and professional. She said she was working on her due diligence and did not wish to comment on the games until she had finished. She agreed to receive questions from me about the games via email. I sent them, and I continue to wait.