<p>As for getting alcohol underage outside of frats/parties, most underage people I know have a friend that's 21+ that buys it for them.</p>
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janieblue, you don't have to dissect my words. I said that UNC has a party scene. That's it.
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<p>Well, ilovecapezios, what you actually said was -- "The funny thing is, UNC is known for its parties." (post #7)</p>
<p>So, you're right. I didn't need to dissect your words.</p>
<p>y7bbb6: I didn't realize asking about the prevalence of alcohol and parties was the equivalent of asking about religious communities on campus. Oops. Sorry. Silly me.</p>
<p>I did say UNC is known for its parties. You don't have to pull up Princeton Review stats to prove me wrong. So it's not in the Top 20 for party schools. That means UNC students do not drink now?</p>
<p>If you guys are worried about it - don't. I know people who went out every single night this week starting on Sunday. I didn't get here til Tuesday so I got a slower start...haha. Don't worry, this school is ridiculously fun. The only time it is quiet is during dry rush, which is a week, and during finals. In that case, find house parties, go to Duke, or even relax for a change.</p>
<p>UNC has a million things to do at all times. Drinking happens to be one of them, take that as you will.</p>
<p>If you want to drink but you don't want to spend money, the fraternities are where you want to go. For girls they're open at all times, for guys you have to know a brother after rush to get in. House parties usually have you pay but it's not too expensive. Dorm parties are always fun, too, but they also entail drinking. At any rate, coming by alcohol is never difficult here or really at any college that I've heard of.</p>
<p>My personal preferences - I don't really like frats for reasons I won't go into here, dorm and house parties are a lot of fun, and some of the clubs here are really fun, too.</p>
<p>The partying is pretty classy. You won't see people fighting and vomiting. That's not to say that it can't be wild - St. A's comes to mind. Last night they had a "write a word on your arm" party with a DJ. It was crazy and fun. And actually, they weren't serving any alcohol there, come to think of it. That's surprising. Were any of you there you'd know why.</p>
<p>It's okay for the OP to wonder about this stuff, the question just wasn't phrased in a way that was pleasing to some parents who may be scared about sending their kids off to the college environment. Both janieblue and the OP are coming from good places. The OP hasn't been to college and doesn't realize that alcohol and drugs aren't even worth worrying about in terms of quantity - they exist everywhere except maybe BYU. Janieblue also was probably taken aback by a kid on here being so forward about part of what he/she (I can't remember who the OP is, actually) plans to do at college. Both are understandable.</p>
<p>what about weed usage? how prevalent is that on campus?</p>
<p>No college student has ever smoked weed... Or listened to Dave Mathews... Or worn hemp necklaces... Or ridden longboard skateboards...</p>
<p>I'm an alumnus, lived in Chapel Hill for over twenty years, spouse worked in School of Pharmacy and in Neurosciences...went to campus frequently over all those years, both during the day and at night. The saddest day I ever had in Chapel Hill? A Sunday morning, Mother's Day, I think, Graduation Day, walking past a house on fraternity row--horribly disfigured by fire. Several students lost their lives. They had been drinking. A cigarette was left burning...</p>
<p>On a lighter note, I have pictures of Franklin Street after winning the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Now that is a party. </p>
<p>Carolina has parties. Irresponsibility has a price.</p>
<p>Weed isn't super prevalent, I have some friends who smoke and some who don't, but I'd say I know more people who don't smoke than do. That said it's not a big deal - if you want to smoke it's not really deviant but if you are completely opposed there are a lot of people to sympathize with you. I'd say weed is definitely less common than alcohol, but it's still there. Then the harder drugs exist but I've yet to actually see them - and I do go out. I hear that there are certain frats that are pretty heavy into cocaine, which probably bothers me as much as it would parents reading this. That kinda stuff just isn't what you play around in. I've known of one kid who does heroin but he's already been kicked out, after his first semester of his first year. Hope that gives you some perspective.</p>
<p>I am glad the question was asked and my D is wishing she had asked for the opposite reason. TOO much partying for her tastes in her dorm. EVERY day of the week. Alchy openly kept by underaged suitemates. After parties at 3 in tehe a.m. 5 a.m. Yelling and screaming at that hour just no respect for others. She actually was expecting some of this and although doesn't drink was ok with others doing it and tries to ignore it but it impedes her studies too much.....and she keeps hearing people say its part of the college experience....what about the other part.....school? </p>
<p>She can't seem to find people who just like to hang out with out the drinking at UNC.....Where are the R.A.'s, where is the dorm security when people are screaming their lungs out at 3 a.m. Other schools are arresting kids when they show up drunk back at the dorms and are underage. Some kids don't understand respect of others and certainly are not doing it in moderation.</p>
<p>Atlmom: There are students at UNC who are not interested in drinking and partying to all hours of the morning. This is the problem with all-night partying/drinking-- people can drink and party to their heart's content, right up until the time they flunk out-- but when that starts to infringe on quality of student life/college life for others, then it becomes everybody's problem. I would encourage her to go to either (or all) of these: RA; Housing; Dean and ask (demand nicely) to be moved. No reason she should have to put up with that for the rest of the semester. Plenty of students go on study abroad in the spring semesters, so they should be able to find her available space in a more quiet dorm, with less freshmen. (Typically, as students get older, they tend to cut back on the "harry high school" stuff.) I sent you a pm.</p>
<p>Janieblue, thanks for the reply, I know and you know there are groups there that don't drink and party all night but they are the harder ones to find, especially on south campus. I will give her the advice from all and let her try to handle it....she has tried to continue to have a good attitude but has resolved this is these girls M.O. and it is unlikely to change.</p>
<p>PM me groups that get together that she might enjoy. I am afraid she is giving up hope to find them and is resolved to have no social life at UNC.</p>
<p>just a quick and non-offensive question for janieblue or anyone for that matter. could you explain to me why the alcohol limit should be 21 instead of 18 or 16 like most countries. i know the facts and it's not the first time someone has asked this question but i just want to hear some peoples opinions... especially janieblue. thanks</p>
<p>Every college campus In the US has underage alcohol issues; some more than others. Most studies have found that freshman year, and particularly first semester freshman year is when the peak drinking and binge drinking occurs. As students mature and their newfound freedom becomes less of a novelty excess drinking on the whole tends to slow down. This does not mean that they don't continue to drink just that the frequency and intensity tends to wane. Most studies have found that on campuses that have highly restrictive and punitive drinking polices a more dangerous situation is created; that of closeted binge drinking. Pomona College for one has been struggling with trying to find an answer to their drinking problem. Four years ago they instituted a policy of an alcohol free first two weeks of school where alcohol was banned for everyone. The result: more students hospitalized for alcohol poisoning than in the three prior years combined as I recall.</p>
<p>While drinking at UNC is certainly a part of the social scene, unlike many other schools, the social scene at UNC is not driven by nor wholly dependent on drinking.</p>
<p>Groenveld9: The legal drinking age in the US used to be 18 (but individual to states, as I remember), before 1984 (when the Nat'l Minimum Drinking Age Act was passed), and the laws still vary somewhat--on certain levels, according to each state. </p>
<p>I'd have to do some research, but I'm almost positive that the minimum age was changed because of all the highway deaths involving teenagers and drunk driving. In my county alone, there are so many deaths from teenage drinking every year; almost like clockwork, they occur every May, near high school graduation/prom time. It's really very sad. I don't have data, though, on how the 1984 Act may have improved (or not) the statistics on highway deaths related to teens and alcohol. I do know that the reason states don't push to change the law, is because any state that lowered the age would lose ~10% of its federal highway funding, which, in dollar amount, would be in the multi-millions.</p>
<p>I agree with eadad about the studies and freshman year (hence, the "harry high school" behavior). And while I can believe that "restrictive and punitive drinking policies" create a more dangerous situation, I also suspect there's a fine line between restriction and easy facilitation. I'm not sure turning a blind eye works very well, either (as evidenced by the problems Atlmom's daughter is having). I mean, there is a reason we have laws about drugs and alcohol. If we made it all easily accessible, would it change anything in terms of deaths; addictions? I don't know, but I'm sure there are studies that have answered that question.</p>
<p>I do think this is (in part) culture-related, if that's what you're asking. I also suspect that individual families can have a positive impact, too. If, for example, kids growing up see their parents drink wine with a dinner, and simply view (and talk about) a good bottle of wine as part and parcel of a good dinner, then alcohol is viewed as just that-- an accompaniment to a meal. Once you take the stance of "locking up the liquor" and hiding it away, alcohol suddenly becomes this forbidden temptation. So these kids go away to college, away from the watchful eyes of their parents, and go wild with drinking. I'm sure that's a simplistic explanation, but from what I've read (and I may be incorrect), this drinking phenomenon (especially binge-drinking) on college campuses seems to be specific to U.S. campuses.</p>
<p>I have no problem with drinking at all, but doing so responsibly. To drink until you pass out just seems incredibly pointless, immature, and really stupid to me. I don't get the appeal. It's not a pretty sight, either. Again, it just seems really immature. </p>
<p>Then again, I don't get people still smoking, either. What's up with that? The connection to cancer and smoking is so crystal clear. Whenever I see someone smoking, most especially a young person, I automatically assume he or she must be really dumb (not to mention they constantly smell bad). My 2 cents.</p>
<p>"instead of asking about -- oh, I don't know-- the academics? The campus itself? Sports? Politics? Dorms? Diversity? "</p>
<p>Get over yourself. Like any well-qualified applicant, he probably already researched these things ahead of time. You think he applied to UNC without knowing how the academics were?</p>
<p>Groenveld9: I just did a quick Google search and found this link. Apparently, it was only between 1970 and 1975, that some states lowered the drinking age to either 18, 19, or 20:</p>
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After Prohibition, nearly all states restricting youth access to alcohol designated 21 as the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA). Between 1970 and 1975, however, 29 states lowered the MLDA to 18, 19, or 20. These changes occurred when the minimum age for other activities, such as voting, also were being lowered (Wechsler & Sands, 1980).
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<p>The rest of the link gives information on why the minimum drinking age continues to be 21. As I suspected, the higher age has been effective in preventing alcohol-related deaths among teenagers. When the age has been lowered, the deaths and injuries have increased.</p>
<p>Interestingly, this link also points out the differences between European teenagers and U.S. teenagers w/regard to drinking and driving:</p>
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Regarding Europeans and alcohol use among youth, research confirms that Europeans have rates of alcohol-related diseases (such as cirrhosis of the liver) similar to or higher than those in the U.S. population (Single, 1984). However, drinking and driving among youth may not be as great a problem in Europe as in the U.S. Compared to their American counterparts, European youth must be older to obtain their drivers' licenses, are less likely to have a car, and are more inclined to use public transportation (Wagenaar, 1993).
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<p>Here's the link:</p>
<p>Atlmom, if your daughter is trying to find a social life that doesn't include drinking it is not difficult. I have plenty of friends who do not drink and haven't seemed to have a problem in not doing so. There are so many clubs on campus, and all of them provide plenty of friend networks and opportunities to stay away from drinking. I honestly have no idea what it's like to live on south campus, and I would believe that it can get pretty loud there.</p>
<p>The animosity from this thread is immature. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that includes concern. Just as it's all right for this kid to ask somewhat flippantly where he or she can party, a parent can point out that asking the question in that way is a bit of a faux pas on a college help community.</p>
<p>thanks for the 2 cents janieblue!</p>
<p>janieblue-</p>
<p>Your assumptions are either incredibly naive or incredibly exaggerated for effect, a quite annoying one at that.</p>
<p>Those assumptions you make about smokers? I don't condone smoking, but do you honestly think that most young smokers are "dumb" and don't know the harm they're doing to themselves? Everyone makes different decisions, some feel that the pros of smoking, at least short-term, outweigh the cons. This isn't "stupidity," this is personal preference. I don't think you actually believe what you just said, but if you do, that's quite sad.</p>
<p>Let people live their own lives and make their own decisions. A little more open-mindedness and a little less judgment will go a long way, believe me. Drinking is no more "Harry high school" than sitting atop your pedestal and raining your criticism down upon us mere mortals.</p>