Underage Drinking

[JulielovesDisney]

My grandmom and I were talking about this the other day.

I've noticed that, atleast in my town, teens are starting to drink at such young ages! Like I've heard of 8th graders going to parties and getting drunk! When I was that age, which wasn't THAT long ago, NOBODY in my class drank. We hung out at the malls or movies or something. But never went to parties with college-aged students to drink.

I think it's just crazy. So what are your thoughts? Are teens starting to drink younger now? What about the drinking age? Higher? Lower?

 

[m!ssemmx0]

Kids my age (we're HS juniors in September) drink "just to get drunk". Honestly, I don't see the point at all.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

Kids my age (we're HS juniors in September) drink "just to get drunk". Honestly, I don't see the point at all.

Honestly, it isn't that great. I'll admit that I do drink, but I've only actually gotten drunk very few times. It was such a horrible experience. I felt so gross and I was so sick, it just wasn't fun. I don't understand how people can do that on a regular basis. After, like, 3 times of being truly drunk, I will never get that bad again. It's just not fun.

 

[MickeyisBeast]

I'm in 9th grade now... around here, we don't have a big drinking issue. I'd say teens start drinking here in Junior year, I dunno.
And, I'm fine with the legal drinking age. I think it's good, and I would in no way lower it

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I'm in 9th grade now... around here, we don't have a big drinking issue. I'd say teens start drinking here in Junior year, I dunno.
And, I'm fine with the legal drinking age. I think it's good, and I would in no way lower it

That's the way my graduating class was.

I think the legal age is fine too. Looking back, I don't think I would be responsible enough to buy/drink alcohol at 18, which is what everyone wants it to be lowered to.

 

[KidGoofy]

I know people who started drinking in 8th grade...but my friends didnt. Our first party was in 9th.

And I dont believe times have changed...because ive heard of older people getting drunk or high in 6th grade.

In my opinion I believe it should be 18...if we can fight for our country you should be able to drink. And the whole your brain hasnt developed thing is stupid since your brain is always growing.

 

[LittleMissMusical]

my town is mixed. there are the 'cool' kids. the girls and boys in hollister with no have no hobbies other than partying. they are mean to yuo if u don't have pin straight hair, wear hollister jeans, and don't drink or smoke. in seventh grade a few of them brought alchohol in water bottles to school. that next year bottled water was BANNED from school. BOTTLED WATER! then there are us 'dorks' who still wear good brands like juicy couture and missmejeans, are active in school activites and clubs. our parties consist of blasting music, and playing wario ware on the wii till we double over in laughter from watching everyone. we rehash inside jokes and mix flaming hot cheatos in with the regualr and watch people react when they get the hot one. the sad thing is that some 'dorks' still just want to be accepted buy the 'cool' crowd. but whatever... sorry for my rant!!!!!

 

[Babyjustrun]

I don't participate due to being friends with the wrong people. I'm not saying I want to be friends with people who are drunks, but tbh, I'm not in that crowd. I'm not even cool enough to be invited to those parties to have that experience.

Anyways, I'm totally terrified of puke & the act of puking, so the idea of me getting drunk or being surrounded by drunk people sounds HORRIBLE. I'd run away crying. I think if I did go to parties, I would only have a drink or two.

Drinking is such a big thing here. There is at least one party every weekend here that everyone goes to (as in those who drink, and the spectrum is from the poor drugged up kids, to the rich girls who love their coolers) and gets completely sloshed. During long weekends, they have rounds. On Thanksgiving weekend some kids were getting drunk four nights in a row. In the summer it's usually only weekends due to jobs, unless a parent is out of town. Beach parties are usually every Saturday...
The people are the party are all ages, usually from Freshman to Sophomore in uni. They drink, they smoke pot and they chew tobacco. Underage drinking is just the norm here I guess.
On the bright side, most of the kids in my neighbourhood understand the consequences of drinking and driving. They do not condone it, and either walk or get their parents to drive.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

At my college, drinking is so common that people will bring in gatorade mixed with vodka (or their drink of choice) to classes. But by the time you are in college, you're so close to the drinking age, the line kinda gets blurry. I mean, the average student can go up to another, legal, student and ask them to drive around the corner to buy them a handle of something. No questions asked.

That stuff doesn't bother me. Even high school sophomores drinking doesn't phase me. It's the HS freshmen and under that surprises the heck outta me. I just remember being at that age and alcohol didn't even cross my mind once. I guess times are changing, and it's just weird to me. It makes me feel so old...haha

 

[::Snow_White::]

Drinking is big here. I hear stories all the time. There are parties 24/7 for no reason, just to drink.
I don't really have an opinion on the drinking age, no matter what I think people will do it.
I actually went to a party a few weeks ago and I found out just yesterday they had alcohol there. I had no idea, I'm glad I didn't drink anything...

I don't drink, never have, and don't plan on it.
It smells disgusting and I don't see any positive aspects of it.

 

[princesskelz]

My first "party" wasn't until this year but i hear its bad. One my ex-bestfriends drinks a lot. I dont see the point of getting "wasted" or totally "trashed" you can do really stupid things...

 

[Babyjustrun]

Oh and on the drinking age?
I think 21 is too high. It's almost encouraging kids to drink.
It's 19 here, which is such a weird age. I like 18 the best tbh. At 18 you're an adult.

What I think a problem is here, is that we're not allowed to have a single person in the car have any alcohol in their blood until you're 21. Which is ridiculous! If you're refusing to drive your drunk friend home, they might drive themselves! It lessens the chances of there be a DD at all!

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

I don't participate due to being friends with the wrong people. I'm not saying I want to be friends with people who are drunks, but tbh, I'm not in that crowd. I'm not even cool enough to be invited to those parties to have that experience.

.

That's exactly where I'm at.
Most of the "cool" kids in my middle school started getting drunk/high in 6th grade.

 

[chesterpdt186]

honeslty age matters nothing to the age at which someone consumes alchol. Plenty of 30 somethings that get wasted and cause all sorts of issues.
TBH I have been drinking in one form or another since I was tall enought to reach the counter of the bar.(8yrs old I think)
I really have no issues giving alchol to someone that I know as long as it is myself watching them and the amount that receive.

For all those that think drinking is cool, you are mistaken. It is a enjoyable activity in moderation, and within your limitation. Drinking to the point of drunkeness is usally far beyond your actual capabilty. The ones having fun at that point is everyone else as they laugh at your stupidity.

I know age means nothing, if you can obtain it you will drink it. Please keep some cardnal rules.
1. drink only what you actually enjoy, if you dont like it usally means you are going to get sick, or at least a bad hangover. (tested many times why i stoped drinking most beers)
2. Never sit your drink down out of your hand. Their are 2 many asses in this world that still like to put junk in drinks.
3. Never drink and drive. So many factors can go into this other then the obvious.

Please be responsible. if you go to those drunk fest, dont feel you have to drink, watch the idiots but be prepared to help.

 

[tinkerbelle22]

Drinking is HUGE here. I just graduated from high school, so obviously it's not going to wind down. Drinking and smoking pot and all that have been big since middle school, but literally like, the second we became seniors this past year, everyone started to drink. And I mean everyone. People who you never thought would do "that stuff" do, and there's a party going on what seems like every night. There are 185 people in my grade, I'd say about 10 don't like to drink and 5 just never have. I'm in that group of 5, but for a reason that isn't because it's illegal. I think the drinking age should be lowered to 18, but it doesn't affect me, so whatever. I'm on a certain medication that I've been on since I was little where even less than half a beer can get me drunk and then extremely sick. I won't be on it for too much longer, but even when I do drink eventually, I won't do it only to get smashed and all that. That's what my friends do though, which has caused a bit of a division between us. My good friend and I were talking at our friend's family graduation party the other day, and she said in the past month, she's shown up to her job 3 out of 5 days hungover. And she and two other friends came to this family graduation party at noon, still drunk from the night before. It's insane. It's no longer, "do you drink?" it's "how much can you drink?" I've been to those parties and it seems to me that it's way more fun when you can actually remember what happened there the next day.

 

[KidGoofy]

I dont understand why people think partying is all about getting wasted...its all about hanging out with friends. Not every party will there be a completely wasted person puking everywhere. If you know how much you can handle then you are fine.

 

[KidGoofy]

honeslty age matters nothing to the age at which someone consumes alchol. Plenty of 30 somethings that get wasted and cause all sorts of issues.
TBH I have been drinking in one form or another since I was tall enought to reach the counter of the bar.(8yrs old I think)
I really have no issues giving alchol to someone that I know as long as it is myself watching them and the amount that receive.

For all those that think drinking is cool, you are mistaken. It is a enjoyable activity in moderation, and within your limitation. Drinking to the point of drunkeness is usally far beyond your actual capabilty. The ones having fun at that point is everyone else as they laugh at your stupidity.

I know age means nothing, if you can obtain it you will drink it. Please keep some cardnal rules.
1. drink only what you actually enjoy, if you dont like it usally means you are going to get sick, or at least a bad hangover. (tested many times why i stoped drinking most beers)
2. Never sit your drink down out of your hand. Their are 2 many asses in this world that still like to put junk in drinks.
3. Never drink and drive. So many factors can go into this other then the obvious.

Please be responsible. if you go to those drunk fest, dont feel you have to drink, watch the idiots but be prepared to help.

Thank you sir...you are completely correct

 

[DramaQueen]

it's pretty much the norm around here to start drinking around 17. i know people who had drank in grade 8 and stuff, but those aren't the majority. i don't know, i know it's illegal, but i never thought it was a big deal...as long as you're responsible about it -- have a blast. and if you get piss drunk and puke everywhere...you will have to suffer the consequences (i learned that one the hard way )

none of my friends drink & drive, when we were underaged we'd just stay in whatever house we partying in. i know sometimes stuff happens when people drink, but that can be at any age really!

i think the drinking age being 21 in the US is kinda crazy! when i was in WDW in april and i was still only 20 i couldn't have a margarita or anything and it was so weird!! lol

anyways, as long as people are "responsible" (as responsible as you can be when you're breaking the law i suppose...) about it, it just really doesn't bother me. probably just because it's so normal around here though .

 

[JulielovesDisney]

honeslty age matters nothing to the age at which someone consumes alchol. Plenty of 30 somethings that get wasted and cause all sorts of issues.
TBH I have been drinking in one form or another since I was tall enought to reach the counter of the bar.(8yrs old I think)
I really have no issues giving alchol to someone that I know as long as it is myself watching them and the amount that receive.

For all those that think drinking is cool, you are mistaken. It is a enjoyable activity in moderation, and within your limitation. Drinking to the point of drunkeness is usally far beyond your actual capabilty. The ones having fun at that point is everyone else as they laugh at your stupidity.

I know age means nothing, if you can obtain it you will drink it. Please keep some cardnal rules.
1. drink only what you actually enjoy, if you dont like it usally means you are going to get sick, or at least a bad hangover. (tested many times why i stoped drinking most beers)
2. Never sit your drink down out of your hand. Their are 2 many asses in this world that still like to put junk in drinks.
3. Never drink and drive. So many factors can go into this other then the obvious.

Please be responsible. if you go to those drunk fest, dont feel you have to drink, watch the idiots but be prepared to help.

I couldn't agree more. As long as the person is smart enough and responsible enough, I think they can consume alcohol. That's the way I was raised. I was allowed to have a beer or mixed drink at dinner (at my house, not at a restaurant or anything) but my parents taught me how to be smart with it.

I dont understand why people think partying is all about getting wasted...its all about hanging out with friends. Not every party will there be a completely wasted person puking everywhere. If you know how much you can handle then you are fine.

SERIOUSLY!! Although I do LOVE laughing at the people who don't know their limits and are gone. You can really mess with them! Hahaha

But I can count on my hands how many nights I drank too much (or mixed drinks) and I can't remember my whole night. It's one. I will never, ever, EVERRRRR do that again. I don't understand how people love to get that wasted and forget what happened that night. Like you said, parties are for hanging out with your friends, why would people want to forget those nights?

 

[DramaQueen]

SERIOUSLY!! Although I do LOVE laughing at the people who don't know their limits and are gone. You can really mess with them! Hahaha

But I can count on my hands how many nights I drank too much (or mixed drinks) and I can't remember my whole night. It's one. I will never, ever, EVERRRRR do that again. I don't understand how people love to get that wasted and forget what happened that night. Like you said, parties are for hanging out with your friends, why would people want to forget those nights?

hahahahaha i love it when i'm the DD and everyone else is drunk...it's hilarious!!! ...but then sometimes i'm the person on the other end making a fool of myself haha

and i am so with you on the whole blackout drunk situation....happened to me as well and i neveeeerrr want to do that again!!! that was ages ago though and now i know how to moderate myself lol...i think most people have to have to one awful horrible gut wrenching drunken night in order to realize how to regulate themselves tho.