ATTN: Those of you who do not drink.

Pre-College Issues High School Life
121

<p>"First, I would never want to put myself in the situation where I can't protect myself."</p>

<p>Yeah, admittedly, this is one of my only qualms about it.</p>

<p>"Second, I get crazy and all with orange soda (normally Tropicana) and I don't need alcohol to make me look like I'm drunk."</p>

<ol>
<li>it's totally different and 2. the idea isn't to make you look like you're drunk to fit in for people to like you. have you ever considered that it might actually be fun and feel good? </li>
</ol>

<p>"Third, at my school it is seen as something to be part of the "in" crowd and that you are only cool if you do it, and I don't want to promote that ideal."</p>

<p>This is stupid; it means that the drinkers are judging the non-drinkers which is wrong, and, even as a drinker, I would never do.</p>

<p>"Plus, most (not all) of them are jerks and I have no desire to be friends with them."</p>

<p>Completely fair, independently of whether or not they drink. </p>

<p>"For me, I don't need alcohol to have fun or loosen up."</p>

<p>Here's where things are typically misconstrued. The answer to that statement, presumably ended with 'without drinking,' is "me too." Just because someone drinks definitely DOES NOT mean they need alcohol to have fun. It is just another possibility when considering something to do. We expand our horizons, if you will lol, not narrow them. </p>

<p>"I prefer to remember my memories instead of being like "wait, what happened last night?"And for me, I know that is how it would be, just because of my reaction to foods and drinks."</p>

<p>No, no, that's actually NOT how it would be. Having drank 0-2 (usually 1) times a week since about the beginning of junior year, I have only once not remembered the night the next day, and only a few times felt fuzzy about it. Keep in mind, the 1x week I mention I mean I get drunk, not just have a sip; but really you have to get wasted out of your mind not to remember. For most people who aren't retarded, it's easy to feel your own limit.</p>

<p>It just irks me how someone can make all these statements without really knowing.</p>

<p>"Random question: Is it true that being drunk is like losing a night of sleep?"</p>

<p>True story, pretty much. AP Psych lol. Basically, the sleep that refreshes you and stuff is your REM sleep, which you miss after a night of "bad decisions." Haha, it's kind of funny, oftentimes as we're pregaming my friends and I are like "f*** man, we're about to miss our REM sleep tonight, *****..."</p>

<p>Anyway, that's all i got for now, peace.</p>

122

<p>"have you ever considered that it might actually be fun and feel good?"</p>

<p>See, you missed my point: I don't NEED alcohol to have fun and feel good. I feel great jsut hanging out with friends and walking in the park or watching a movie. If I'm having a great, fun, safe time without alcohol, why add it? I think it's ridiculous to say I need to "feel good" because of alcohol. You know what makes me feel good? Watching my favorite movie, eating icecream, oil painting, singing, writing music. Especially singing, which gives me a natural high. I don't need to drink to have fun or loosen up. </p>

<p>I know later you said you don't need drinking to have fun, but above you made it sound like I was being closeminded because ti was fun and would feel good. </p>

<p>I have zero desire to get drunk, which you mentioned later. </p>

<p>I can broaded my horizons by going to a concert or trying something new that doesn't involve alcohol. I don't have to rely on substances to try something new or broaden my horizons. </p>

<p>Here's something I heard a week ago: "We never plan to make decisions we will regret, we just fail to plan NOT to make decisions we will regret." I hope you understand what I mean by that, for you drinking may be ok, but for me it's not. And I don't want that state or just drinking period to lead me to make decisions I'll regret, and I'd rather not play with fate.</p>

123

<p>The founding fathers of america drank...</p>

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<p>Your point being...? Is the fact that adult men from 250 years ago drank alcohol supposed to be relevant to modern underage/illegal drinking? :confused:</p>

125

<p>Alcohol is bad for you, so are hamburgers. I wouldn't judge anyone for not eating meat, I wouldn't judge you for not drinking but I don't see why people care if others do.</p>

126

<p>ive drank
nothing crazy like hangover, passed out tho</p>

127

<p>I might be one of those people you're talking about. I'm not entirely sure.</p>

<p>Personally, I've decided not to drink. Alcohol tastes disgusting to me, and I've seen that I most likely will never have a high tolerance for alcohol, considering that my father doesn't either, and I take after him physically. <em>shrug</em></p>

<p>I don't have a problem with people who drink who are of age, or even eighteen. What I do have a problem with is my underage friends who get ****-drunk every weekend and then DRIVE while they're drunk. I also have a problem with those planning to do 21 shots on their 21st birthday, because that's been proven to be a stupid idea, and the last thing I want is for a friend to have alcohol poisoning on their birthday.</p>

<p><em>shrug</em> I guess I just have a problem with it when the people I care about could get hurt, and hurt badly.</p>

128

<p>That's my point. It doesn't matter that they drink, just like it doesn't matter that anyone drinks. It's their choice.</p>

<p>Now drunk driving, that's a different story...</p>

129

<p>"See, you missed my point: I don't NEED alcohol to have fun and feel good. I feel great jsut hanging out with friends and walking in the park or watching a movie."</p>

<p>As I said earlier and you also alluded to, same here.</p>

<p>" If I'm having a great, fun, safe time without alcohol, why add it?"</p>

<p>Because, here and there, add a new dimension to something and be a new experience that happens to be fun. The key thing is, you don't have to give up the 'safe' part for this.</p>

<p>Pretty much, I think it just all comes down to the misconception that you DO have to give up the safe part. As long as that's the case, the point is moot. The only way you'd think otherwise would be by actually drinking, which you wouldn't do because you feel that way.</p>

<p>I guess I kind of understand; I can see how, with the underlying assumption that you can't safely get drunk, decide that that 'fact' overrides any other arguments and therefore never try it to prove otherwise. I admit that if I was making that assumption, I wouldn't try it either. I mean, hey, I guess when it comes down to it that's why I don't do coke, heroine, x, etc etc.</p>

<p>"I think it's ridiculous to say I need to "feel good" because of alcohol. You know what makes me feel good? Watching my favorite movie, eating icecream, oil painting, singing, writing music. Especially singing, which gives me a natural high. I don't need to drink to have fun or loosen up."</p>

<p>Already addressed, but just for the sake of completeness here... </p>

<p>"I know later you said you don't need drinking to have fun, but above you made it sound like I was being closeminded because ti was fun and would feel good. "</p>

<p>I mean, I guess I think it's slightly closeminded, but not because some random person says it's fun and might feel good. What I think is closeminded is not considering that it might be possible to get drunk safely, and to judge others for doing so, thinking that you are better than them for not because you know how to stay safe and not them,</p>

<p>"I have zero desire to get drunk, which you mentioned later."</p>

<p>Everything goes back to that false assumption... </p>

<p>"I can broaded my horizons by going to a concert or trying something new that doesn't involve alcohol. I don't have to rely on substances to try something new or broaden my horizons."</p>

<p>As long as you fail to consider the activity, they could still be further broadened. </p>

<p>"Here's something I heard a week ago: "We never plan to make decisions we will regret, we just fail to plan NOT to make decisions we will regret." I hope you understand what I mean by that, for you drinking may be ok, but for me it's not. And I don't want that state or just drinking period to lead me to make decisions I'll regret, and I'd rather not play with fate."</p>

<p>Yeah, I understand. After all, even though I may just be a random drunk to you, I am a CC drunk and therefore somewhat smarter than retarded. But this, once again, involves the premise that one cannot think straight under the influence. A person might not be able to perform as well on a test or drive, but still, as long as everyone keeps themselves within their limits (which is the only way I am advertising, obv) those regrettable decisions won't be made.</p>

<p>So all that said, I'm sure you'd find it hard to believe that I'm not the kind of guy who just peer pressures everyone as hard as possible. But really, I think people are completely free to choose whatever. At the same time, if I have a conversation wit someone about it, I try to explain the same things that I am explaining here just because I think the reasons are kind of bad.</p>

<p>I don't really know where I am going with this, or why I am having the discussion with someone I've never met, but hey, I'm drunk right now, what can I do. An interesting discussion nonetheless I think. peace out</p>

130

<p>I gotta ask... why is the drinking age in the US 18? *** kind of logic dicates its ok for people to go fight in wars, drive cars, be executed, have sex and go to jail for life but not drink?</p>

131

<p>The drinking age in the US is 21..I think it should be 18 but states make money from the federal government by keeping it that way so it won't change.</p>

132

<p>Why is there such a correlation with those who oppose drinking and those who havn't ever regularly drank?</p>

133

<p>My guess is 9/10 people who oppose drinking never have been drunk, and the other tenth have had bad experiences. </p>

<p>Being drunk is so much fun. It's not like pot, which in my opinion has its time and place, but isn't as good. The thing about pot is it's really a "downer," so it doesn't necessarily make you feel good in the same way alcohol does. Alcohol, on the other hand, makes you feel very happy and energetic. You can argue "I'm happy without alcohol" all you want. So am I. But what's wrong with being even happier?</p>

<p>Drinking to the point of passing out or even blacking out is not a pleasurable experience. Once you experience it you'll be much more careful about doing it again, and you'll be a smarter person. </p>

<p>Those who say they don't like the taste of alcohol... you haven't had everything (most likely close to nothing). Even if you don't like beer (which, btw, is probably the best tasting beverage out there in my opinion), there is the marvelous world of mixed drinks. Hell, most Bicardi tastes like candy by itself. Try a white russian or an irish coffee and tell me you don't like it. </p>

<p>That being said, it definitely has a time and place. You have to be smart about drinking, for your own safety as well as staying out of trouble. In my opinion, the drinking age should be 15 years old for beer and 18 for spirits. I've come to this conclusion after talking with a German exchange student. In Germany the age for beer is 16. I feel that because kids start to drive at 16, they should be introduced to alcohol before that so the glamour of drinking wears off beforehand. 15-16 is the age kids want to start experimenting, as well as the age their bodies have developped enough to handle it. If kids are exposed to drinking at a younger age, there won't be a binge drinking problem. Just look at Germany! The German exchange student was mystified by the amount of alcohol abuse that goes on in US high schools. Keep in mind I'm 18 years old.. I'm not saying this because I want it to be legal to drink for me.. I fullheartedly believe this would end the drinking problems in high school and even college.</p>

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<p>I'm in one of the colleges known for partying and yet I don't drink. Beer tastes nasty to me, I don't hang out at frat parties because we all know the one thing they want, and I don't want to do anything that would put myself in a compromising situation. Also, I remember in another thread that was later deleted one guy was saying if he saw a girl drunk and he was drinking, he would pretty much have sex with her even if she didn't want to or didn't know what she was doing. Frankly, that scares the crap out of me and I don't think being drunk would be fun if this is what may happen.</p>

<p>Kudos to the high schoolers (and college kids) who don't feel that they have to drink because their friends do it.</p>

135

<p>I usually drink because I don't care for the taste of most alcohol, and I who wants to throw up/ wake up with a hang over? But I do drink sometimes, but only a little bit and mixed with a lot of something else lol. I have 5 brothers and sisters that are all in there 20's and I drink a little when we hang out. Most of my friends dont drink thank god.</p>

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<p>I hate to be the "old person interloper" in this thread, but I thought some adult perspective might be a good thing.</p>

<p>For one, drinking can be bad for you. That's been demonstrated millions of times the world over. However, drinking can also be good for you. And I'm not talking about the antioxidants or whatnot that you get from a glass of wine.</p>

<p>Drinking opens you up to a very large social world as an adult. Cocktail parties are called "cocktail parties" for a reason. </p>

<p>Some of my best nights out with friends have been at a classy bar sipping one drink and talking about whatever comes to mind. However, there is a caveat here-- I'm 23. I can go out whenever I like and drink "properly."</p>

<p>A lot high schoolers take drinking to mean "guzzle as much crappy bear as I can in 10 minutes and urinate all over myself as I pass out." Thankfully, the act of imbibing does change as you get older. Oh, and the drinks usually get better.</p>

<p>"Beer is gross." Sure, I used to think that in high school, too. Then I actually got to drink GOOD beer.</p>

<p>"Wine is gross." If it comes in a box and is served at a high school party, it probably is!</p>

<p>"I don't want to not be in control of myself." Who doesn't want sovereignty over their own body? One thing that I find that people learn as they age, however, is their own limits. I know exactly how much I can drink before it's "good night" for me. Younger people typically do not. And of course, this is the danger that high school binge parties pose. If you don't know your own limits, how can you stop when it's time to stop?</p>

<p>I suggest that a lot of you guys consider that maybe you're just a half decade (or decade!) too young to have really formed a proper opinion of alcohol, its effects, and what the drinking experience really is like. Everything gets better with age, they say...</p>

<p>...well, except for mornings. Mornings only get worse. And worse...and worse...</p>

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<p>I've only tried non-alcoholic beer. Never tried alcohol. and frankly, i don;t intend to. After drinking NA beer; I'd hate to think what real beer tastes like.
That stuff is vile! I nearly vommited on the guy in front of me when I took my first sip. Then I bought a galaxy chocolate bar to get rid of the horrible taste!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
After drinking NA beer; I'd hate to think what real beer tastes like.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>As an fairly avid beer drinker, I can assure you that NA beer is by no means representative of good beer. If you're ever in the area and of age, I'll show you around some microbreweries.</p>

<p>Guys, look at it this way: when you were really young, you probably didn't like coffee. A lot of children don't.</p>

<p>But I bet most of you now would drink a coffee. Think of alcohol as an acquired taste that comes even later. And for everyone's sake, wait! There's no need to show everyone how "grown-up" you are by drinking.</p>

<p>What's more "grown-up" than drinking is knowing when to drink or not drink!</p>

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<p>the coffee thing doesn't apply to all people. I drink coffee on a regular basis -and so do alot of my friends - but some of my friends think it tastes like cow urine.</p>

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<p>stuck-on-1700,</p>

<p>Of course it doesn't. That's why I said "most of you" and "a lot." There are a number of young people who do drink coffee. But most have to sorta "force it down" at first because it's bitter. I've always suspected that the first few times a child drinks coffee, he's doing so to emulate the adults.</p>