<p>I don't get it. K I did have like 1.5 jugs before and that was only because my uncle also did. But that's not a good reason to just because my uncle did. K explain thx.</p>
<p>Drinking alcohol isn't bad. Making a habit of it is pathetic. Those that do are immature people that I have no respect for.</p>
<p>Drinking is fun. That is why (most) college students drink.</p>
<p>so that they can do heinous things without knowing it and remembering it but later see them on facebook</p>
<p>I am curious about this as a parent. Yes, I was young once and can remember drinking occasionally, but not the way kids do today. We didn't start in high school, either.</p>
<p>Isn't life enough fun as it is without having to drink every weekend? I'm not saying ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL, but it seems as though college life revolves around it. </p>
<p>Inform me, please.</p>
<p>I see the pro drinking contingent (other than myself) is still asleep from last night.</p>
<p>Anyway, I don't advocate getting drunk for getting drunk sake, drinking alone, drinking above your limit (more than once,) etc. But I do like to drink at parties. It loosens everyone up, that's why it's called a social lubricant. I also love drinking games, especially pong and quarters.</p>
<p>Alcohol is a key part of social life in college. 80% of the kids can't live without it. Starting Wednesday nights, most discussion revolves around what type of beer/liquor/vodka to drink at parties for that weekend/weekday night. Lots of students drink loads before finals week as well as during the week. As sad as it sounds, people can't live or have fun without drinking. It's even worse for non-drinkers since the party types often think that if you don't drink you're anti-social. Bascially, if you don't drink you're a social outcast (at most schools).</p>
<p>I personally hate alcohol because of the horrible taste. Even if someone paid me a $100 to drink every weekend, I wouldn't. However, I'm</p>
<p>^^^ That's just a BIT of an exaggeration. Or Michigan is way worse than VT. Most of us could live without it, and we don't start talking about it wednesday night. Some people drink on Thursday night, but other than that drinking on weeknights isn't that popular. Drinking before finals week? How easy are your classes? And again, we could live without it.</p>
<p>Don't forget that having a drink or two on occasion while remaining (mostly) in control =/= getting, like, sooooo wasted every weekend. Not everyone who drinks throws up, blacks out, or does ridiculous things they can't remember the next morning.</p>
<p>A couple of people in my family drink, and I have never tasted the stuff, except when I was little and would steal my moms wine coolers from the fridge because they tasted soooo good. And I stole a beer once. NASTIEST **** EVER.</p>
<p>Other than that I never got the point of drinking either. I don't see what the benefits of it are(unless it tastes good, but beer tastes like *<strong><em>, so taste seems to have nothing to do with why people drink), unless your are lonely and what to fit in and feel part of a group. Either way I can do that without drinking. I hate the feeling of not being in full control of my movements, thoughts, and actions, and thus getting drunk which takes away all of those to some degree has never been appealing. It is especially unappealing when I see smart people do the dumbest *</em></strong> ever. You would think that if there was a substance that could turn a genius into a raging numbskull in a matter of hours people would avoid it like the plague, but thats obviously not the case.</p>
<p>The after effects of drinking are not that appealing to me either as I hate physical discomfort in any form.</p>
<p>95% of the people that drink started it to fit in with their friends. Everyone else was doing it, so why shouldn't they. I have never met anyone in my life that started drinking at 21 because they felt they were an adult and it was something they wanted to try.</p>
<p>All of my friends drink and I have asked them why they drink, but not once have they gave me a viable answer to my question. Their answer is usually "because its fun". Dumbest answer ever. I usually then proceed to watch the very entertaining but sad act of them making a fool of themselves the whole night, while my sober self has fun doing other things like talking to people or feel up some hot girl in the club while dancing, which they can't do because they are too drunk too dance. Their are a ton of other things I can do that are fun that have no ill side effects. </p>
<p>My mom wouldn't care if I drank, and even offered to buy me my first drink when I turn 21, but there are no upsides to it that you can't get from somewhere else in an less destructive way, so I don't see the point. </p>
<p>Unless your drinking wine for health benefits alcohol is good, but an extremely small amount of the population only drinks for that sole reason.</p>
<p>I'm not talking about Michigan. I haven't been there yet. I was talking about Penn State.</p>
<p>^ Btw, good post Ken.</p>
<p>There are many ways to have fun... many people who drink just see that hobby as another way to have fun with their friends, many are aware of the consequences of drinking.. but most think that they can avoid them and just have fun at college (as stupid as that may sound.. but it is the truth).</p>
<p>"Isn't life enough fun as it is without having to drink every weekend?"</p>
<p>Arguable.</p>
<p>"I'm not saying ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL, but it seems as though college life revolves around it."</p>
<p>At some colleges, yes. Others, not so much.</p>
<p>"Inform me, please."</p>
<p>About what? What do you think happens when thousands of 18+ year olds leave the house for the first time?</p>
<p>That loosening up thing sounds fun. But I don't think I loosened up after 1.5 jugs. And there was this one time my mom's bathroom I found wine, mixed .5-1 ounces with a 8oz Capri Sun, didn't loosen up either. All I ever remember is after 1.5 jugs, I was red. </p>
<p>Yeah, umm, is it that hard to make an ass of yourself or have a blast without getting drunk?</p>
<p>Ok firewalker. </p>
<p>If life isn't enough fun in college without having to drink every weekend, then you are in for a rude awakening when you get into the "real world." </p>
<p>I realize there will always be pockets of kids who don't drink, but from everything I've read on here and from other sources, drinking is pretty much the norm every weekend (at least).</p>
<p>Inform me, please. Yes, tell me why you feel the need to drink on a regular basis. I had lots of fun with my friends when I was 18-22 and most of them did not involve alcohol.</p>
<p>worriedmom,</p>
<p>The reason kids drink so much is because alcohol is a social lubricant. It's definitely possible to have fun without it, but it is definitely harder. Alcohol gives people the courage to do what they have always wanted to do, but would never do while sober. And sometimes, it just makes doing these things more fun because of the reduced inhibitions you feel.</p>
<p>I am personally not a fan of getting drunk more than once a week, but many people are.</p>
<p>Drinking goes on every night, not just on weekends. I know people who go out 6 days out of the week to drink and have a good time.</p>
<p>Drinking leads to good times, good stories, and good friends. Not to mention that I absolutely love beer. A good, quality beer has a taste like nothing else and is absolutely delicious. I could drink it forever. Besides, what else are you going to do? It's also a great way to bond with people. But above everything else, I love beer. I can see why people who completely hate the taste of alcohol and/or beer would not want to drink.</p>
<p>sure drinking tastes bad but u get used to it. People dont drink at parties for the taste. Alcohol is a drug that makes u happy. I agree, hanging around drunk people while sober is really annoying but once ur drunk u dont really give a damn that your being retarded. Your just sorta in a happy place and your inhibitions are gone. It serves a social purpose and of course there are ways to have fun without alcohol, but the thing is once you start and realize that its fun, your gona come back to it. And as for hangovers, well thats tomorrows problem. </p>
<p>Like I could give you a lot more reasons but if you really want to understand why people drink, you gota try it out for yourself.</p>
<p>Hotpiece, I understand what you're saying, but I don't understand it.</p>
<p>I know there were people in my time who drank frequently. I guess my concern is that there are so many MORE kids today who are doing that. What is different today that so many more people feel they need a social lubricant?</p>
<p>No, I am not using studies to support this. My observations are anecdotal in nature. But I've heard and read plenty to make me think this is true. </p>
<p>Gator, I was trying to be conservative in my statements. I know my daughter's ex-boyfriend drank 5 out of 7 days a week during his freshman year--and he wasn't drinking alone. </p>
<p>I am not a wet blanket by any means. I especially think the college years should be a time for having fun (after studies are done, of course), but I am worried about what students need to do to feel like they're having fun.</p>