<p>yeah i know. I forced it down with a spoon the first time. But I still don't wanna drink. All that liver disease stuff is sort of an incentive to be alcohol free,</p>
<p>stuck-on-1700,</p>
<p>Moderate drinking is almost guaranteed to not lead to liver disease. You're probably more likely to get lung cancer from sitting in a car in traffic...</p>
<p>Or you could take up coffee and alcohol at the same time. According to several recent studies, coffee can offer significant protection from cirrhosis of the liver.</p>
<p>To the OP: Nothing wrong with college kids enjoying themselves. Most of us parents and non-drinking students are not moralizing-we are just afraid of our students being excluded from most social activities at some schools and inquiring about the social habits at schools for which we have insufficient knowledge.</p>
<p>Non-drinkers should probably avoid W&L since it is small,rural heavily drinking oriented social culture-but a great school. It is schools such as Penn State and Dartmouth which cause concern due to their heavy drinking reps-but non-drinkers want to know if they can fit in and thrive at these wonderful schools.</p>
<p>I'm not going to pretend that I've read this entire thread...or even the first 9 pages, but here is my 2 cents:</p>
<p>First of all, I agree with UCLAri..alcohol is an aquired taste. I have had my share of hard liquor/beer (not wine really) and it does get easier to guzzle down after you've been drinking for a while (it's even easier when you're already drunk). As high school students and college under-classmen, we have a tendency to buy cheap stuff (we're poor and not legal). I've tried some expensive beer with my folks and enjoyed it quite a bit...but I've also had my share of Heineken...which has led me to believe that NO ONE actually enjoys that crap. Corona's alright. </p>
<p>Younger people also have a much different reason for drinking. I personally don't like the taste much (except for the occasional mixed drink) but I drink it to get drunk. I know it's unhealthy and I know it's "unsafe" but I usually do it in a safe enviroment (a friend's house and then spend the night afterwards) or have a designated driver to take me home. I don't drink to the point where I'm wasted and on the ground (okay I admit that it's happened, but it's something that everyone has to go through...unfortunatley) but I do enjoy being a little more than buzzed. </p>
<p>Anyways...enough of my ramblings. The point I'm trying to get across is...alcohol is fun, being drunk is fun, be safe, understand the consequences, and PLEASE, if you intend on drinking in college, try it at home with good friends first. </p>
<p>Peace.</p>
<p>I don't drink because I have a family history of substance abuse. I am not interested in tangling with an issue like that, but I take no issue with people if they want to drink in moderation, no matter if they are under-21 or not.</p>
<p>The problem with the majority of teen social drinkers, though, is that they do not understand the meaning of "moderation." A sizable portion of underage drinkers use alcohol solely to get drunk and that creates dangerous situations: rape, unprotected sex, drunk driving, and reckless behavior. Getting wasted, passing out, binge drinking... these all undoubtedly have health effects. If you throw up while you're unconscious, if no one is sober enough to notice if you're hurt, if you end up having sex without a condom... I guess I just don't see how it's worth it. About half my friends drink and many of them have run into these problems, yet still claim that they are "responsible" drinkers. </p>
<p>Basically, I don't care what people do ONLY insofar as it doesn't hurt anyone else. And while I don't preach abstinence to my friends, if they're in danger, I will intervene.</p>
<p>
[quote]
A sizable portion of underage drinkers use alcohol solely to get drunk. About half my friends drink and many of them have run into these problems, yet still claim that they are "responsible" drinkers.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Haha. I sound like your friends. But really, I am "responsible".</p>
<p>IMHO, I think the reason why teenagers drink underage is because of the fact that it is "illegal". Once you're 21, getting drunk really isn't that big of a deal because you can drink whenever you want. And this is my opinion, but drinking to get drunk is really stupid, especially if you're underage. </p>
<p>I have no desire to drink and I don't have the desire to get drunk. I can have fun without passing out, having unprotected sex, etc. </p>
<p>I'm not preaching anything, but if you're under 21 and you want to drink that's your prerogative. I'm not going to feel sorry for you if you get pregnant, STD's, and MIP, etc because of it.</p>
<p>Also, if you have pictures of yourself drunk on myspace, facebook etc and you're underage, it's best to take it down. Employers see that and even if you delete them, someone may have that web page stored in their hard drive or even printed out for everyone to see.</p>
<p>
[quote]
IMHO, I think the reason why teenagers drink underage is because of the fact that it is "illegal"
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I have to disagree to some extent. Yes, drinking alcohol is a privledge that has been denied to us since birth and yes teenagers are a curious species but I don't believe the fact that it's illegal is the reason it is so tempting. </p>
<p>Personally, I was curious. What does it taste like? How will it feel? Now, it's more of an addiction. Wait, let me rephrase that, I'm definitely not addicted to alcohol because I rarely get drunk...but it is something that I thoroughly enjoy when the time is right. </p>
<p>
[quote]
Once you're 21, getting drunk really isn't that big of a deal because you can drink whenever you want.
[/quote]
I do sort of agree with this statement, although I believe that it is more of a "been there, done that" situation. </p>
<p>PS. "Passing out, having unprotected sex, etc" is not what drinking is all about. Oh, and have some empathy for those kids who make mistakes. S*** happens, you know?</p>
<p>I wouldn't know surfette, I don't drink and I don't have the desire to. It doesn't interest me, and I'll stick with my coffee addiction thank you. :) </p>
<p>Trust me, I've heard some of the stories from girls about what happened while they were drunk. I don't want to get into that stuff. </p>
<p>But whatever, it's your choice and you live with the consequences.</p>
<p>Yeah, well I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but those who do suffer the "unprotected sex, etc." thing are in the minority.</p>
<p>I'm not one to follow the "Live fast, die young" mantra, but I do believe in living life to the fullest and having the best possible time and it just so happens that I enjoy the occasional "forgotten nights".</p>
<p>I don't do that because if my parents found out about those "forgotten nights" I would feel a sense of shame and guilt knowing that I disappointed my parents. That's not how they raised me, and I hate disappointing them. </p>
<p>But to each his/her own.</p>
<p>surfette: </p>
<p>I'm not so sure that the kids who end up doing something they regret or, alternatively, something that puts them in danger are really in the minority of teen drinkers who drink to get drunk. I mean, the real horror stories (waking up pregnant, finding out you have herpes, driving a car into a lake whilst drunk) aren't that common, but the close calls certainly are. Of my friends and acquaintances who drink, I actually can't think of anyone who hasn't done something stupid, dangerous, or both. </p>
<p>Stuff like driving tipsy, having sexual encounters you wouldn't have when sober and with less protection, or passing out seem to be par for the course. And all of those very well could lead to those awful stories you read in the paper. Say you pass out and hit your head in a room where everyone else is intoxicated too: there's going to be trouble. Alcohol poisoning is not uncommon. Just a month or two ago, a kid at a neighboring school went unconscious after binge drinking, vomited in his mouth, and drowned while his friends partied. It's not a safe situation at all-- is that risk really worth it?</p>
<p>I guess I should reiterate that I'm not 100% against underage drinking. 21 is an arbitrary, unrealistic age limit and if you want to drink safely and sanely and socially, it's not my place to say that's wrong. But most of the people I know who claim to live life to the fullest through large quantities of alcohol have put themselves--and others-- into danger through their drinking.</p>
<p>Most "drinkers" know their limit, and how much of what will do them in. You are risking little if you know what you are doing. That's a big if though.</p>
<p>It's like not driving a car because of the severe accidents that happen. Sure bad things can happen b/c of many things, but it's how you handle yourself in the situation that makes the difference. Drinking is a personal choice, but just like the OP said I don't see why non-drinkers look down on drinkers.</p>
<p>Leshachickha</p>
<p>You make some very good points. I agree that people who are intoxicated have bad judgement. There are some things that I have done while drunk that I do regret....BUT those people whose choices had led to severe consequences are in the minority and that is why underage drinking is so common. In my own experiences, the positives outway the negatives when it comes to drinking becuase I have been responsible enough to avoid any severe encounters. I have made bad calls and there were a couple of incidents that could have easily led to something worse, but I think that anyone who ever drinks will encounter this, no matter what age you are. </p>
<p>smurfette
[quote]
I don't do that because if my parents found out about those "forgotten nights" I would feel a sense of shame and guilt knowing that I disappointed my parents. That's not how they raised me, and I hate disappointing them.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I started drinking a year ago (begining of second semester junior year). I loved it and started going to parties nearly every weekend. Once summer hit, I found myself drunk or stoned at the beach nearly everyday. I had a blast and the closest I ever came to getting in trouble was when my parents found out that I had attended a party where alcohol was present (they never knew I actually drank anything). Then, at the begining of my senior year, I had a more "severe" incident. It's a long story but my friend passed out at a concert, I was written up by the cops, and my parents almost found out all about my "party" side....and let me tell you, I am SOO glad that it happened. It was a huge wake up call. I stopped drinking for 6 months (just had my first drink about a month ago), but this time when I decided to drink, I was smarter about it. I only did it if I didn't have to drive and if it was at a close friends house; I stopped going to huge parties with random people. Unfortunatley, because I knew that I was going to be spending the night at my friends house, I decided to drink A LOT. This led to the worse hangover of my life (lets just say I woke up and I was still drunk). Since then, I have stayed off alcohol. I am now more aware of my limit and am more safety conscience. </p>
<p>I am so incredibly happy that I chose to first experiment in high school. I think I have gone over the major hump, although I'm sure there will be quite a few more hangovers in the future, but at least my first time getting drunk won't be at a strange frat party where I could be taken advantage of. I do not regret anything I've done, and although I'm not suggesting that teens should drink, I think it's important for people to realize that people will make stupid mistakes while drunk, whether they are 21 or not.</p>
<p>gstein, it seems that I've heard that before. Wait, I remember...
<p>lucifer, you are ignorant and dangerous. I encourage all parents to do whatever it takes to stop this underage drinking. Call the counselor, call other parents, call the police. Do what it takes.
As for lucifer, a frequent CC poster and Cornell student? He ended up dead.</p>
<p>larnax,</p>
<p>lucifer does not represent the vast majority of consumers of alcohol, though...</p>
<p>I didn't frequent the boards in 2006 as much, so, I didn't even know lucifer passed away until today. :( </p>
<p>He seemed like a bright kid with a good future ahead of him. May he rest in peace.</p>
<p>Alcohol is being treated like sex was in the 50s. Education is the key, not simply sticking your heads in the sand and crying that its not good.</p>