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

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?” This seems like a prime opportunity to have a meaningful discussion that might affect the rest of his life. 

—Adapted from ‘The Ethicist’ in the New York Times Magazine