Looking at the prevalence zero-tolerance policies in schools, I'd argue that its often children who are being punished too harshly and having their freedoms restricted too direly.

For instance, zero tolerance drugs policies have gotten kids suspended or expelled due to having a single tablet of aspirin in their book bag because the rule is that any medicine must be registered and administered by the school nurse, and even OTC drugs count as part of 'zero tolerance' drug policy.

The same such policy would be hard to implement for adults in a workplace.