Is it normal for kids my age?

[mobile]

Well im 15, I have a great life I love it, I am doing fine at school and that but I drink at least 1 or 2 times a week as I find it good fun, I also smoke but am quitting at new years.

I am worried I am 'going off the rails' a bit and should I cut down? Do all teens my age do the same?

thanks
sorry if this is the wrong section

[Serenity]

Of course you should cut down. It's illegal for one, not that that really means much to our generation, and if you're worried that it's going to get out of hand that is a giant screaming red flag that you need to get it under control now.

Not all teens drink/smoke, but a whole lot do. It's not something I [or VT] condone because both can have negative results/impact on your life, such as getting caught and suffering the respective consequences.

[mobile]

Of course you should cut down. It's illegal for one, not that that really means much to our generation, and if you're worried that it's going to get out of hand that is a giant screaming red flag that you need to get it under control now.

Not all teens drink/smoke, but a whole lot do. It's not something I [or VT] condone because both can have negative results/impact on your life, such as getting caught and suffering the respective consequences.

If I cut down and drank only on sociall occassions so not regulary would that stll be a problem? I often feel remorseful the morning after I have gotten drunk too, does that mean anything?

[Serenity]

Your common sense is telling you that you know you shouldn't be doing it but you are anyway? Possibly due to the pressure of everyone around you doing it?

I'm not going to tell you that it's ok to just drink socially, because I think for teens it's a bad idea overall- we have so many better things to do with our time that don't potentially lead to our doing really stupid things without being able to remember them the next morning, or to addiction, or to getting arrested. If you feel bad for doing it, then obviously you don't really WANT to do it- you just get caught up in the moment and succumb to pressures/urges to drink.

[dushanbe4]

Seriously, you shouldn't drink or smoke at all, especially as a teen. You probably hear this a lot, but each beer that you drink is another brain cell getting shot in a drive-by by little alcohol mafia members.
That's what I think of whenever I might get influenced and it works for me!

[Break the Cage]

I often feel remorseful the morning after I have gotten drunk too, does that mean anything?

thats called a hangover. your body tends to hurt the day after you drink alot.

[Waiting]

mobile, you sound like every 15 year old from where i come from......but then again england is very different...

[Cap'nCrunch]

"Normal" is a relative term. I know from personal experience that kids start drinking around 14, so in comparison to your peers, you're not early.

However, I can't say it's healthy to drink twice a week either. If I were you, I would drink less and quit smoking. But... I'm not you and you have to make your own decisions. Just do your best to make them good.

[sufc_paul]

Im 15 and i drink every friday night i never get smashed off my head i only have like 6 cans of strongbow (enough to get me tipsy) and i dont usualy have a hangover . probly 99% of kids from england drink on the weekends.

[ktkurbst0mp]

Just because almost all the kids do it, doesn't make it right.

[Underground_Network]

In my town, a lot of high school kids drink.. most just on social occasions (though there is a group of freshmen and sophomores who meet outside after school and smoke/drink).. But I have to admit, what impresses me the most is the fact that you say you do well in school. Truth is, almost everyone I know that drinks/smokes thats around my age is either failing or just getting by in terms of grades. 95% of the people in my school that get mainly A's and B's are drug-free and never drink (some might on rare occasions). Anyway, I suggest not overdoing it, I mean when teens get drunk, they sometimes forget what happened that past night, and sometimes you do stupid things. Most of the time kids don't get in trouble just for drinking underage, they get in trouble b/c while under the influence they do something else stupid that attracts attention (whether it be legal or not) and that is what usually ends up getting them in trouble. It is nice to here you're going to attempt to stop smoking, but in my opinion, you sound like a good kid, and as long as you remain aware of your actions and you're consequences, life should be fine for you. There are a lot of people who do stupid stuff/don't value education/etc. then get drunk almost every night, smoke/do drugs every day, and then get their lives fucked up. It doesn't sound like you're one of those people. :D

Oh yeah, for those of you that don't know, I live on the east coast (U.S.).

[serial-thrilla]

yes, i think thats normal for kids your age to be curious about things like drugs and alcohol, and to experiment with them. The key thing to remember is to not over do it.

[WEO]

lol yeah Im 16..turning 17 next year. I do good in school! really good! I drink about twice a month and usually I ooooover do it at least once that i end up throwing up and sleeping where ever I am at that time lol :P. Like last month..me and some friends got sooo waisted in the middle of exams(well it was a friday..) I over did it and i woke up in my bathroom next my toilet with some vomit right next to me..what a night!

I also smoke(not cigs just hubbly/hookah/shisha) but not alot.

I do alot of stuff I shouldnt hehe but make SURE it doesnt effect my school etc so I have no problem with it.

[BornActor]

Well I'm 13 so i couldn't really say if all teens at the age of 15 smoke and drink.
I think its normal for people to try it once. Like I have tasted rum and i think its disgusting. But I dont know anyone between the ages of 12-14 who do.

[goin to work]

so do waht u think is best lik if u do drink don't get caught but no smokeing anay thing

[Activate]

I drink 1 or 2 shots a day, doing that for almost a year and it has never gotten out of hand.
I asked my health teacher and she said that its healthy for your body.
At parties and get togethers I would have a few more, but I never get completely wasted.
I am in the top class, probably an average student. Theres only one other person who drinks excessively.
It depends on how responsible you are to see your drinking get out of hand.

*Australian here fyi*

[byee]

I drink 1 or 2 shots a day, doing that for almost a year and it has never gotten out of hand.
I asked my health teacher and she said that its healthy for your body.
At parties and get togethers I would have a few more, but I never get completely wasted.
I am in the top class, probably an average student. Theres only one other person who drinks excessively.
It depends on how responsible you are to see your drinking get out of hand.

*Australian here fyi*

You drink one or two shots a day at fifteen and you don't think that's out of hand?! You'd have to explain that logic to me. Because you're not falling down drunk doesn't mean this behavior shows either good judgement or good control. There's only one reason to drink like that, and it's to change the way you feel. That's not a good reason to drink, especially if you need to do it daily.

Anyways, I think this is an interesting thread, not only because of the content, but because of it's length. Apparently, a lot of people look to the judgement of others in determining what's ok for them. Statistics can provide much info about something, but determining what you should or shouldn't do isn't one of them.

Alcohol is a part of the culture, and everyone has to adapt their behavior to it. I think that personal values, how the drink makes you feel and perform, your motivation in using, and what the consequences are, are all things that need to be taken into conideration when determining what type of drinking you do. However, this idea that because 'Everyone (or 'a lot') of people my age do it' is simply an excuse for not thinking for yourself.

[Five_by_five]

No, I don't think it's normal for fifteen-year-olds to be drinking a couple of times a week. It happens, but it is not healthy. I know they make it sound ridiculous in school, but your body really is still developing, and giving it too much of the wrong things now will affect the way your body (particularly your brain) works in the future, and for the rest of your life. 21 seems far away, but it really isn't, so limit your partying to once a month, not a week.