Drinking

[Sean]

Would it be a bad thing if i had alcahol? I have friends who drink and i dont think it would hurt so i want to try some.

[Medical Kid]

I wouldnt really go there man, but I aint the boss of you, see when people are drunk, its like they are unconscious, but able to move and talk, you have to make sure IF YOU DO, which you shouldnt, that you dont totally intoxicate yourself, cuz alcohol lets off a peculiar scent so should your parents notice you could be in big trouble.

[Rutherford The Brave]

Well you are under age and like medical kid said it can be dangerous when your drunk. Just remember the consquences if you do drink.

[Sapphire]

As long as you are sensible with how much you drink, how quickly you drink and how much you eat over the day then there shouldn't be a problem. Getting so smashed that you throw up isn't fun or cool.

[theOperaGhost]

If you do, which you shouldn't, be very careful. You might think you are able to control it, but some people (at least my friends here) try to get other people as shit-faced as they possibly can. I'd at least stay away from the hard stuff for your first time.

[byee]

Hiya Sean! That's a cute avitar, I'm a sucker for that.

I think you're telling yourself something if you need to ask us, a bunch of strangers, what you should do about drinking. People who are comfortable with something usually don't need ressurance.

Alcohol is a part of our culture, so everyone has to address it at some point and come up with a set of values about it that are comfortable for them. There are a number of ways to do that, of course, ranging from acting on pure impulse to giving it some thought. Your friends might fall into the former category, if you're asking here, you might be in the latter category.

Since you're ambivalent about drinking, you might consider the values of your family and how they drink. It's easier to follow a model set for you by people you respect and trust (hopefully, your parents), rather than your friends, who's decisions in these matters might represent unknown judgements and influences.

[CaptainObvious]

Alcohol, while widely used and accepted in our culture, is a serious drug that can have serious consequences. I would not encourage you to try drinking at your age (though I and most of my friends did); if you definitely know you want to, try it first in a safe environment - I'd encourage asking your parents for a sip of things they drink (if they drink) to see what it's like, before you head out to do shots of gin with the bottle your friend stole from his parents, or whatever.

[LoneWanderer]

If you drink responsibly, obviosley not at 14 its ok. One time i was drunk (Aged 14) i was also suffering from depression, i tried to kill my self numerous times and broke my nose. Soo give a few years mate =] my advice. Ive been drunk since then but never that bad, in all honesty one beer wont do any harm.

ONE TIP : DO NOT MIX DRINKS

[Neverender]

as long as you don't go past your limits sure its ok. but we cant promote the usage of drugs and alcohal on this site.

[pontiacdriver]

Would it be a bad thing if i had alcahol? I have friends who drink and i dont think it would hurt so i want to try some.

My view is that if you are in puberty alcohol is the last thing you want to add to your body right now as alcohol negatively would impact your growth. Also, with your still being really young you are still not old enough to handle the effects of alcohol on your body and the consequences that result. While I am not saying that you will end up becoming an alcoholic the fact remains many alcohol abusers started young when they did not understand limits. The last thing you want to do is to get hooked on alcohol at your age. Wait until you are mostly done with puberty when you are physically and mentally grown so that alcohol won't mess up any of your development during this last growth phase of your life.

Don't think that you need to drink to fit in or to appear to be like an older kid. The fact remains that most states' drinking laws require folks to be 21, and there is no sense in getting in trouble with your parents for drinking. If you are honestly curious on how alcohol tastes, then ask your parents if you can have a sip the next time they are drinking. Drinking definitely falls into the optional category, and you don't need alcohol to have a good time.

[Antares]

I think it would be a horrible choice if you did. Well looking at the legal side of things it is illegal for you to drink alcohol and even worse because you're 14. Also, whoever gave you the alcohol, if they were caught they would do some time too. If you get it a party and the parents aren't home then the parents would be charged (in my state). So it is automatically a bad route for your parents, friends, and you.

Also, drinking often opens up a lot of issues for teenagers. I have talked to many poeple and they tell me that they regret starting. They have had to go to rehab and other trials because they basically are 'addicted' and they use drinking to "wash away" their problems. However, once you become sober your problems are still there. They don't go away by drinking any amount of alcohol. So when my friends brother got him into drinking he went through a lot of crap and he says it wasn't worth it. So yeah, if you are using for a quick fix it is not the answer.

Last, kids usually want to be rebellious or just try it. I think it is fine in moderation and to be 'socialable' but it still is not okay if you are under 21...unless you go to a European country but you still have to follow US laws I believe.

Either way I think you just need to swallow your pride and wait. :D

[checker]

My view is that if you are in puberty alcohol is the last thing you want to add to your body right now as alcohol negatively would impact your growth. Also, with your still being really young you are still not old enough to handle the effects of alcohol on your body and the consequences that result. While I am not saying that you will end up becoming an alcoholic the fact remains many alcohol abusers started young when they did not understand limits. The last thing you want to do is to get hooked on alcohol at your age. Wait until you are mostly done with puberty when you are physically and mentally grown so that alcohol won't mess up any of your development during this last growth phase of your life.

Just wanted to add to your opinion. Drinking when young doesn't necessarily cause bad effects on your growth. Most kinds in France drink from a young age and to my knowledge they don't experience any kind of growth problems. Also, different people can handle drink differently, so some people might be fine and some might not.

But I completely agree with what you say about alcoholics starting drinking when they're young, I think it's something people need to be really careful about. And obviously agree as well with the fact that you don't need to drink to look cool or to fit in, and as you said the best way for Sean to try alcohol would probs be at home with his parents.

On a separate note though, I do feel there is a really bad image attached to drinking in countries such as the UK / US, I think this is mainly down to the fact that our drinking ages are comparatively with countries such as France / Greece / Italy. I think because people can't drink until an older age in the UK / US, it is almost seen as a taboo, something which shouldn't be done. But of course, most young people, including myself, like to break rules. Therefore if people do drink at a young age, other people seem to be shocked by that, and younger kids seem to binge on drink and I think this is down to them not being introduced responsibly to drink at a younger age.

So basically, I personally have no problem with young people drinking and getting drunk, but as long as people know your limits. I enjoy drinking but I learnt ageeesss back that going over your limits can be a bad thing. So if you are gonna drink, be responsible and learn your limits first.

[Antares]

I think that because the age is so high that kids jsut cant wait. I mean, in Germany, France, etc. they don't have nearly as much problems as we do and theyre drinking age is super young. Maybe lowering the age will be for the best because after a few years people will realize its not that exciting...

[Hyper]

I think that because the age is so high that kids jsut cant wait. I mean, in Germany, France, etc. they don't have nearly as much problems as we do and theyre drinking age is super young. Maybe lowering the age will be for the best because after a few years people will realize its not that exciting...

Their drinking age should be 18

And what problems are only universal to people outside of Europe?

[LoneWanderer]

Their drinking age should be 18

And what problems are only universal to people outside of Europe?

But that makes it worse, in England our drinkign age is 18 and we have the worse underage drinking problem in Europe, i think we're worse than the US too. But its jsut the thrill really, getting the alchohol, hinding it, not getting caught, etc. and i know its wrong but part of the fun is going past your own limits.

[southcarolina]

not a bad thing. it's legal if you do it in your own house, just try some from your fridge

[The Batman]

Um it's illegal to drink underage no matter where you do it.

[Maverick]

Um it's illegal to drink underage no matter where you do it.
Not true. The Federal drinking age act only applies to buying and possessing alcohol. Underage consumption varies by state. Like in my state a underage can drink under these circumstances.
1) medical reason
2) religious purposes
3) in your parent's house within their presence and with your parent permission

[The Batman]

Wow you learn something new everyday.

edit: But under the question of the OP it is illegal to drink the way he wants to. But the way that the other poster made is illegal because his parents aren't giving him permission and he's pretty much stealing it.

[Cap'nCrunch]

I personally don't drink and for my age (18) it's somewhat strange.

I don't enjoy it at all. I've drank a lot, but there's better ways to screw with yourself than alcohol.

[Removed]

Hi last friday me and my friends were on a birthday party the songs were great and we kinda got carried away and drinked a little bit too much we couldn't stand so from now on i'm quitting the alcohol i'm talking from experience trust me it aint prettu my advice don't even try it plz if you wanna enjoy the night :D

[Cindex]

It's sometimes difficult to stay away from.

Personally, alcohol made a lot of problems. So many that I ended up drinking to try to "help" myself. It's not worth trying.

If you really can't avoid the temptation, be EXTREMELY careful. Drink only beer/wine/etc and nothing hard or mixed drinks. You really need to watch yourself.

[Synthslave]

here it's only illegal to sell it to the undeaged people.though no one respects that law.anyway.we buy ourselves a bottle or two of wine each weekend.it's like a tradition.noone's got some serious problems with it.yet.

[Cindex]

Maybe not serious, but just drinking on weekends can turn bad. After one of my ex's and I broke up she drank just about every weekend. It's pretty bad now. She didn't even drink that much. She has a horrible tolerance.