I thought the beer kid handled the situation perfectly. If we are forever judged by the stupid things we do as a teenager, we are all screwed. He didn't deny it. He acknowledged it and showed how he has changed. That, in conjunction with raising over $1 million for sick children, should allow him to be able to move on with his life.
I guess I sort of understand that the journalist was doing his job, but I bet he regrets how he went about it now. In retroscpect he probably should have gone to the kid first and gotten his response before putting that story up.