<p>
[quote]
In my opinion, if you are going to drink, go slowly with hard liquor, and avoid beer, that stuff flat out SUCKS!
[/quote]
actually, i think beer would be better to "learn on" because it's alot harder to consume massive amounts of alcohol as opposed to hard liquor where it doesn't take too much by volume to do it.</p>
<p>I don't think anyone should really drink. I mean, I'm cool with it, but I read an interesting book by a University-expert where he compared alcohol to something called a pitcher-plant. How the pitcher plant works is, an insect lands on the top and starts drinking the nectar. It continues to go deeper and deeper into the center of the plant as it continues to drink, until finally, it becomes so bloaded it cannot even fly out. As it nears the digestive juices of the pitcher plant, it can even see all the dead parts and corpses of other insects, yet at that point it cannot even stop drinking the nectar until finally it dies. The point of the analogy was, that every person is somewhere along that course in the pitcher plant; aka, when you drink your first beer ever you just landed on that plant. The guy even mentioned that he does not believe there is such a disease as alcoholism, because anyone can follow the course and become addicted to alcohol.</p>
<p>All in all, the guy advises not to drink at all. Because the thing is, even if you start drinking responsibly or in moderation, you WILL drink is heaver and heavier amounts over time. Personally, much of my extended family are alcoholics, and my dad was an alcoholic (I know the guy says the disease doesnt exist, but you understand what I mean). My dad stopped drinking booze a couple years ago (he drank for 30 years and now never touches anything), he realized how terrible the stuff was . Now he doesn't like to give advice but the one thing he told me about college was that if I circumvented the whole alchohol road I would be saving myself from a great headache down the road. And this isn't coming from some highly religious christian conservative nut or from some moral high ground. My dad did a whole bunch of stuff in his days and the one thing he warns me against is booze. Take that as you will.</p>
<p>By the way, using alcohol or getting drunk to be social, outgoing, or fun is getting you no where. How are you ever going to learn to be social, confident, or fun while sober aka the actual you?</p>
<p>If you want to be social go to parties sober and LEARN TO BE SOCIAL. It comes from experiences, many of them potentially awkward or embrassing. But you will learn. Otherwise, the drunkards are never going to learn how to be social without booze, and make for bland personalities during the day. Whenever they're uncomfortable they crack open a bottle of Bud and then 20 years later their simply drinking booze in front of the TV and probably have a spare tire around their waist also.</p>
<p>Not to mention, you can certainly embrass, offend, damage property, and hurt yourself badly with booze. When drunk you also can't make a good impression with the opposite sex. Sure you're a bit more relaxed and discovered "confidence in a bottle" (why don't you develop REAL confidence?), but you can't think straight and it will end up ruining your game. Sure, booze makes other people look better to you, but not vice versa.</p>
<p>But hey, it's college, and everyone loved the movie Animal House, so if you want to be like the rest of the lemmings, be my guest. Just thought I may give you one perspective of the matter.</p>
<p>exactly my thoughts ^^^
good post!</p>
<p>I'm kind of echoing other people at this point, but here goes.</p>
<p>Before you drink, make sure this is really what you want to do. Figure out why you want to do it and if this is a good reason.</p>
<p>Start slow. No shots at first. The first time, try one or two drinks and see how they affect you. They may do nothing, or they may get you visibly drunk. Don't take your first drink at a big party; do it in the company of friends you trust a lot--enough to completely cut loose with them. Perhaps even more importantly, don't drink when there's peer pressure to do so. Personally, the more pressure I feel to drink, the less I want to drink, and I (and my parents, too!) think that's a very good thing.</p>
<p>I'm not telling you not to drink, just to proceed with caution.</p>
<p>And if you decide that drinking and partying every weekend is not your thing, then don't do it. You will be able to find similarly minded people. Last year, I would be willing to bet that my friends and I had more fun playing Bridge until ungodly hours of the morning than a lot of people do getting drunk. And we didn't even run the slightest risk of blackouts, hangovers, random regrettable hookups, or vomiting as a result of our fun.</p>
<p>So in conclusion, be true to yourself. I know it's a cliche, but there's some truth in it. If you're not the kind of person who gets their fun from drinking and partying, don't try to be.</p>
<p>
[quote]
actually, i think beer would be better to "learn on" because it's alot harder to consume massive amounts of alcohol as opposed to hard liquor where it doesn't take too much by volume to do it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>On the flipside, consuming hard liquor from the get go will acclimate the person faster in the consumption of alcohol than going out from beer towards the good stuff (vodka cocktails).</p>
<p>
[quote]
By the way, using alcohol or getting drunk to be social, outgoing, or fun is getting you no where.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Ever had a drink? You'd be surprised.</p>
<p>parker, i disagree with much of what you say. comparing taking one drink to an endless spiral of alcoholism hardly seems reasonable. alcohol isn't some all consuming power that rules over your life all day everyday. for almost all people, it's just a way too loosen up a little. it's hard for some people to just LEARN TO BE SOCIAL. alcohol makes everyone "lower their guard" a little in terms of social protocol and rules. contrary to what you believe, you can balance alcohol and a meaningful, fulfilling life. now that's alcohol in moderate portions and appropriate times, not drinking heavily every night of the week.</p>
<p>i have to ask you: have you ever had a drink before?</p>
<p>
[quote]
On the flipside, consuming hard liquor from the get go will acclimate the person faster in the consumption of alcohol than going out from beer towards the good stuff (vodka cocktails).
[/quote]
i hardly see how acclimating slowly and learning your limit and behavior over time is a bad thing.</p>
<p>i say **** up once and be done with it. learn your limits the first time, and you'll never cross the line again.</p>
<p>
[quote]
i say **** up once and be done with it. learn your limits the first time, and you'll never cross the line again.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>BINGO. My friend went crazy his first time last weekend, had a really bad night, but now he nows how far he should go.</p>
<p>yea, i see what you mean. that makes sense.</p>
<p>as chef always says... "There's a time and a place for everything... And it's called College"</p>
<p>if you're ever going to have a drink in your life ever, now is the time... just don't fall to peer pressure.. don't be scared of drinking, but don't drink because you feel obligated... if you want to have a couple, have a couple... but once you start especially if you're a beginner... think of it like walking, if you tried to walk before you could crawl, you're going to fall flat on your face... don't go out and drink 10 beers your first shot... have 2 or three, see how you pull up... if you're okay, have a couple more... time is the key too, space your drinks out... i'm sure many of us have learnt the hard way, spent nights vomiting and headaches the following day...</p>
<p>and beer doesn't taste bad once you get used to it... there's nothing better than slamming down a cold beer, especially on a hot day...</p>
<p>I wouldn't go as far as peter_parker did and say you shouldn't drink, just be EXTREMELY careful. A lot of my extended family members have trouble with alcoholism, but because of that, I have learned to be cautious. I don't find anything wrong with drinking, only with getting drunk. I don't think the spiral down to alcoholism begins when you take your first drink, but when you get drunk the first time. I will probably drink in college- but I will take it slowly so that I do not go past my limits and get drunk- that thought is too scary for me. To lose control of myself (even a little bit and even around people I trust) is not something that appeals to me, and I have seen firsthand what alcoholism can do to people and families and I don't want to risk that. Honestly, I had fun all throughout high school without getting wasted, and things are off to a great start here without any alcohol whatsoever.</p>
<p>so parker, have you drank before?</p>
<p>yes.</p>
<p>but not anymore.</p>
<p>drinking isnt that bad, culture just makes it seem alot worse than it is. dont worry about it that much. things like being overweight are worse for your health anyways.</p>