• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Teenage drinking

Stubb

Stubb

Jun 4, 2001
4,416
4,956
39
Holland, MI
#1
What does everyone think about it?

I live in an upper-middle class area. Every Monday when I walk into any class, I hear stories of, "So, oh my God, I was so wasted Friday, right?" It's mostly from the people that are in the AP and honors courses, which is what most of my classes are.

Sometimes, from what I understand, the drinking is done at parties when people's parents aren't home. Some of the time, though, the drinking is done when the parents are there, the parents' reasoning being, "They're going to do it anyway, so they might as well do it someplace safe." My thought is- if they're going to do it at all (underage, anyway), haven't you failed as a parent? Some would respond saying, "Well, we all did it in high school," as if that makes it okay! I've always held to the belief that my dad instilled in me, saying, "If you can't raise a kid who is better than you in every way, you're not worth a damn."

I know it doesn't affect me directly, but when this becomes the social norm- and more, the social ideal- I am worried. My friends (namely my girlfriend) fall into this trap. What am I to say to them? I've asked them not to drink, but I can't force them to do anything. The only thing I can do is choose not to be around when it happens, which is what I do. It baffles me why people would volunteer to temporarily knock out their judgement and thinking capabilities.

I got a little personal, but my point is still there. Thoughts, from teens, parents, and anyone who did or did not drink in high school would be welcome!

PS- I don't mean to come off as a high and mighty person. I have drank before, about half a dozen times. I fail to see what is so great about it.
 
#5
I'm 17 and I hear it all the time in my school. I get reasonings from things such as "It brings out your real personality." to , "It's fun !"

I myself have never drank to get drunk. Have I had a beer before ? Yes, but when I'm having pizza or a meal and never have I had more then one. Half of the time it's a non-alcoholic drink. The only time I had actual liquer was my sisters 22nd birthday (mother was home also) and I had punch that already had rum in it and not noing this I had the rummed punch with half coconut rum in it. That must have been the most I ever had and I wasn't even fazed.

I agree with you. I look down upon those who drink just as much as those who smoke (it disgusts me). Talk to your girlfriend and tell her how much you feel and that it sometimes hurts. Caring is not a crime all the time :)

As for the parents I rather them be there if thier child is drinking because they can prevent other things from happening. Even though "they will drink anyway", why not just prevent it in the first place. Either way your child is underage so... heh.

The MAJOR other reason I don't drink to get drunk is my fathers dad was a drunk as well my mother's father. They were both abusive (verbal) and mean. One time my mother told me the story about the only one time my father got drunk and he was obnoxious. It runs in the family and I'm going to be the one to stop it.

My .02
 
#6
Many teenagers drink/get drunk to fit in and they think it makes them officially "cool." I was a reasonably popular guy in high school and I never got drunk (and I had lots of fun). It's a big lie.

brad cook
 
#7
For a long time I was very "I'm never gonna drink, I don't need to." And then I started drinking with my friends. Know what the lie is? Binge drinking. Drinking to get messed up as humanly possible. That's the bunch of crap people don't need. Just drinking, however, is just fine.

When I drink it's usually a 5th between 3-4 friends, and we drink it over the course of the night at someone's house, and then stay up all night hanging out watching movies, playing video games, and talking. Nobody drives, nobody goes anywhere untill sometime late the next afternoon, and fun is had by all.

Why do I drink? Because it's fun. No matter what you think you know, unless you've gone out and been drunk, you probably won't understand. I'm not talking blotto, I'm talking drunk, and there's a difference between being drunk and that jockular "I was sooo wasted."

Maybe that's more intellectual than those that drink until they pass out and puke all overthemselves (and others), but drinking is perfectly acceptable and a viable way to spend an evening/night.

Do you need alcohol to have fun? No. Is it fun? Yes. Should you need it to have fun? No.
 
#8
kind of pussies drink because it's forbidden.

" Man i'am a dangerous guy, I had a beer 15 minutes ago ! :spit: "

21 y.o. is overrated. I've always was permitted to drink by my parents one glass of beer when I wanted, or some booze for any reason. My gand father gimme brouwn beer with a spoon when I was a baby (I know now why i got a hard barb)

I had the worst alcohol time of my life at 17 with outgoing with friends.

I'm not an addict, since I had my driving license I' barely drinks, 1 glass per week is a maximum.

They're just try to be older.
 
#9
I first drank when I was 14 or 15 but not much, I didnt actually get drunk till I was 16, and I didnt go out drinking on a regular bassis till I was 17-18.

My perspective, is that too many do it because its cool, but there are also a lot that do it because they enjoy it. I only actually get drunk rarely, the rest I just get mildly buzzed and it helps me to relax.

In the past when I didnt have a girlfriend, I drank because it helped me to losen up around girls and its a social thing. It gives people somewhere to go and helps people meet other people; as long as you are careful and know your limits its all good.

Just know your limits, and dont forget the DD.

Whats the diference between 18 and 21?

Peace
Nick
 
#10
Well, here's my opinion on it.

I have noticed that all the "cool" kids do all the drinking, weed, ect...,ect..., anyways. I really, honestly think, that these morons do this for the soul purpose finding something to make a life out of. In my eyes, all these idiots with rich parents, and all this shiny expensive crpa that means nothing in the end, only do it so they can have a reason to exist.

I know it isn't the most popular of theories, but that's the way I see it. Because all the people you hear it from in school, want something to flaunt. Something to make them feel special and unique. And in my eyes, they are soulless scum suckers here to drag the human race down into stupid drug monkeys.

It makes me sick.

And another thing that is big here in NK. Drunk driving accident, and being drunk in public in stuff. They are making it harder for kids to come in drunk at dances and stuff, and they have the same attitude of "Well, if they're going to do it...." And I think that is the problem. Want to stop deaths because of alcohol? Stop the f****** ALCOHOL!!! :mad:

Makes me friggin sick :spit:


Kaz :spit: :smug:
 
#12
Nick man said:
Whats the diference between 18 and 21?
Click to expand...

A lot, in my opinion.

There are exceptions, of course.

Some 18 year olds are more mature than many of the 25 year olds I know. Some 25 year olds lack the maturity of my 12 year old cousin.

By and large, however, people who are 21 ARE more mature and DO make better decisions than those who are 18.
 
#13
It's fine to do it for fun, but however, when I'm at parties, there's always the people that just flaunt it all the time. I actually ran into one girl who was like "Guys-Don't tell my parent's i'm drunk right now ok?" and said it like 5 times. I know alot of people that do it, and don't always flaunt it. That's fine. It's just real annoying when everyone is like "DUDE I GOT SO WASTED" telling the whole world, like they care. I'll talk about it if someone asks, not trying to show off how "bad-ass" I was last weekend.
 
#14
Ty McNeely said:
A lot, in my opinion.

There are exceptions, of course.

Some 18 year olds are more mature than many of the 25 year olds I know. Some 25 year olds lack the maturity of my 12 year old cousin.

By and large, however, people who are 21 ARE more mature and DO make better decisions than those who are 18.
Click to expand...
Thats where the "Know your limits" thing comes into play.

I know a lot of 18 year olds that are more mature than a lot of 21 year olds.

Another thing is that a lot of the imature underage drinkers I know do it because its a cool rebelious thing to do. I doubt theyd find the hangovers and puking so rewarding if it wasnt cool and rebelious anymore.

Peace
Nick
 
#15
Brendan said:
For a long time I was very "I'm never gonna drink, I don't need to." And then I started drinking with my friends. Know what the lie is? Binge drinking. Drinking to get messed up as humanly possible. That's the bunch of crap people don't need. Just drinking, however, is just fine.
Click to expand...


Binge drinking is the only kind of drinking that the people I'm talking about do.
 
#17
I hear ya Eric, I often have problems with that stuff too, Even when people aren't out to 'get soooo wasted' whenever alcohol is involved, half the talk is always of their limited experience with various alcohols and how they feel they are a competent authority on what is good and what is not good.

I don't have a problem with light drinking, socially, etc. but the whole 'let's get sooo wasted" attitude is what bugs me, I think it's a by-product of the high drinking age, they feel like they are so cool for drinking underage :rolleyes:

I dunno, I have nothing against being social, but I don't like hanging out with people that only want to drink and/or talk about how much they want to drink, and unfortunately that's the vast majority of what I see.
 
#18
Davehenning said:
The US is strange with the 21 law. It does not make sense.

We have no problem letting 18, 19 and 20 year olds in the army handle M-16s, millions of dollars of equipment and the security of our country, but we won't let them have a drink after a hard day in Bagdad????

Total Hypocrisy
Click to expand...

The major problem (at least in my area many years ago) when the drinking age still was 18 was that people were going out to bars during lunch time and comming back to school drunk. This caused problems and other discrepencies, however this was many years ago.

I find todays teens to be more educated but like it or not people drink to get drunk. They want to be cool so they do it. It causes problems and ruins it for everyone. One spoiled potato can make a famine. I would like to have the age limit be 18 for drinking but it isn't going to happen. I would like to have an alcoholic beverage with a meal because sometimes it just fits. If anything they will boost the age up. People are iresponsible and it sin't a easy task to change them. I deal with the drinking age just like every other decent American.
 
#19
Wrong Robot said:
I hear ya Eric, I often have problems with that stuff too, Even when people aren't out to 'get soooo wasted' whenever alcohol is involved, half the talk is always of their limited experience with various alcohols and how they feel they are a competent authority on what is good and what is not good.

I don't have a problem with light drinking, socially, etc. but the whole 'let's get sooo wasted" attitude is what bugs me, I think it's a by-product of the high drinking age, they feel like they are so cool for drinking underage :rolleyes:

I dunno, I have nothing against being social, but I don't like hanging out with people that only want to drink and/or talk about how much they want to drink, and unfortunately that's the vast majority of what I see.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree with you any more.
 
#20
Nick man said:
Whats the diference between 18 and 21?

Peace
Nick
Click to expand...
From my understanding - the age you're allowed to be in high school vs. the age you get kicked out of high school. I think that has something to do with the reason why 21 is the drinking age, to try to keep liquor away from 14 year-olds. I'm not sure if 21 is the age you get ousted from high school nationally, or if it is just Washington State (and a few others, most likely.)

Ditto what Nick Gann stated. I don't have a problem with drinkers, but alcoholics can get on my nerves.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back