[lily.]

Alcohol.

Do you think it's good or bad?

Do you have any experience of alcoholism in your family or amongst your friends?

Do you think underage drinking is on the rise?

Do you think the pubs have a duty to stop the alcohol abuse in this country?

... discuss ...

[bonnie43uk]

i enjoy a chilled can of Fosters every evening!

That's enough for me!

[BigSister]

i dont bother if people want to drink or not but i personaly dont drink because i dont like the taste and i can have a coke or a J20 and be happy with it. I think it runs in the family though because my mum isnt a big drinker either. I do feel however that underage drinking is on the rise actually they were talking about this today on loose women and they were saying children as young as 5 were drinking wine in europe and they were also saying that half of it is telling children they cant drink so they will do it with their friends secretely if they say you can have it then usually they wont have it

[lily.]

I know some people who think it's funny to give their dog beer, or to give their child a sip of alcohol.

I personally do not find that funny at all and I wouldn't do it.

I enjoy a beer from time to time, but I'm such a lightweight that it literally is a beer. If I dare to open a second, I just fall asleep.

Many of my friends and family enjoy a social drink but know when to stop. I probably drank more when I was under 16, mostly just to be rebellious. There wasn't the choice there is now though. The alcopops ets. We had to make do with a bottle of Thunderbird cider between 5 of us!

[easypeasy]

Do you think it's good or bad?
good as long as the drinker knows their limit

Do you have any experience of alcoholism in your family or amongst your friends?
yes, not nice.

Do you think underage drinking is on the rise?
for sure,kids are growing way too fast.

Do you think the pubs have a duty to stop the alcohol abuse in this country?
i think off-licenses are the problem.

[Lauren]

I think it's bad in large amounts, but to say it is "bad" in general I think is a misinformed opinion. Alcohol in small amounts can be helpful to the human body and can prevent things such as heart failure and reduce the risk of cancer.
HOWEVER - Many people do use this fact as an excuse to drink alcohol and deny alcoholism.

Personally, I drink alcohol, at the most once a week and this is usually when I am out with friends. Other times I may just have one drink during a pub lunch or something. When I am out with friends I drink alcohol (I've only been REALLY drunk once or twice), and I am well aware of the health risks of this, yet I will argue that it's my free choice and although not many people will agree with this - I'm not hurting anybody else.

I don't have much experience of alcoholism at all, but it's fair to say since I am a teenager I know a lot of people who binge drink most nights - but this is mainly for social reasons as opposed to an addiction.

Underage drinking is on the increase. It has always been around but I believe it keeps heightening in danger, and then lowering again. I didn't drink alcohol until I was 15/16 and although this is against the law - I know there's cases where children as young as 12 are drinking alcohol. ID restrictions are once again becoming an issue, and in recent times I think the media have kept an eye on binge drinking issues and so I believe the issue will continue being raised.

I don't think pubs have a duty to keep alcohol abuse under control. In the end, it's a pubs job to serve punters and if the customer is able to order their drinks fine, without causing a nuisance to others then I don't see why it should be a pubs responsibility to intervene with this.

[lily.]

I think that the underage drinking problem is something that needs addressed by the parents. I did it. I wasn't an angel, but I didn't have unlimited funds, so I couldn't do that much damage.

However, there were, and still are, kids who get handed money and told to p!ss off for a few hours, and the parents don't really care where they go or what they do. That's where the real problem is. I'm not saying my kids will be perfect, but I know that I have a responsibility to at least try to keep them on the straight and narrow. Unfortunately too many parents just don't care.

And, I agree with you Lauren. The pubs can't take the blame for people making bad choices.

Also, I do have experience with alcoholism and it's honestly the worst thing I have ever had to deal with in my close family/friends group.

[easypeasy]

the thing is alcahol is a deppressent not a stimulent, if somebody has a depressive personality they can do some very stupid things, ive seen that up close when i was a kid and it has left a mark on me.

[Lauren]

Originally posted by easypeasy
the thing is alcahol is a deppressent not a stimulent, if somebody has a depressive personality they can do some very stupid things, ive seen that up close when i was a kid and it has left a mark on me.

It can also interfere with perceptions of activities, and if people do not know their limits then once again this can lead to very dangerous situations where they cannot distinguish between right and wrong.

Although none of my family and friends have been affected by alcoholism my neighbour from my old house was an alcoholic and the things that happened in that house were terrible because when he has been drinking he wasn't aware when he was doing something wrong.

[andybigbro]

Alchohol

Alchohol is a a mixture of good or bad

Good if you can handle it and can have fun and enjoy yourself

Bad if yuo way too young cannot handle it and are addicted

[lily.]

Experts reckon some people have addictive personalities. So if they become alcoholics and recover from that, they will turn to another substance to feed their addiction. I'm not sure I'm wearing that to be honest.

Some people think that if a person gets hammered every night of the week, they are an alcoholic. Not the case. If the person can't get by without the drink, they are an alcoholic. If the person needs the drink to feel "normal", they are an alcoholic. I had to learn a lot about this condition a few years ago, and I sympathise with anyone with an alcoholic in their life.

However, I think that might be why I'm so anti-alcohol. Although I do take a drink now and again.. I do consider it to be "evil", and am always wary when I'm around drunk people.

[andybigbro]

Yeah it also always scary to be around drunk people lol

[The_Hitman]

Drinks ok but in moderation. Then you get the addicts who should stay away for their own good.

[lily.]

I agree hitman... unfortunately those kind of people seem to be unable to recognise that it's for "their own good", and continue to spiral into self-destruction.

[Princess]

Drink is fine as long as its in moderation. Same as everything really. All of friends drink and I only just had my first drink back in September. People start way too young these days though and drink just to get drunk which I find really silly.

[SiMoN!]

i think people should no there limet
i hardly drink unless at a party - if i am at home i just have coke

as for underage drinking - i dont think it should be 18
the message i get it - whne your 16 you can have a baby but you cant drink

[lily.]

I've always said that the age limits on stuff is pretty screwed up though. I mean, you can have a baby and get married at 16, but can't vote or drink til you're 18.

You are right simon.. it makes no sense.

[SiMoN!]

i am right lol

it is stupid really - also is annoying when your at college and you not legal to drink

[Sunny_01]

Alcohol - hmm I personally love it and know my own limits and when to say enough. BUT not everyone does. Many people just have addictive personalities and end up alcoholics. It is a much harder addiction to get rid of than Heroin! you can stop Heroin and go cold turkey, yes it wouldnt be pretty but wouldnt kill you. However if you want to stop drinking it is very dangerous to try to just STOP! serious medical intervention is needed and someone has to be truly ready to go through that.

As for underage drinking, hell yes it is on the rise, I saw a young lambrini queen the other night lugging around a huge bottle of the stuff and she looked no more than 13 possibly even 12. My own teenage daughter has came in drunk once (dont they all) but explained to me the next day that she had really not liked the feeling of being out of control (like her mammy really a control freak!) I came down pretty hard on her in terms of a punishment but that bit she hated most was that I was disappointed in her.

I dont think there are any really easy answers but I certainly think that more information should be given at school about the risks of drinking. I think kids should be made aware of just how vulnerable they are when they are drunk!

As for pubs being held responsible, well I think that they should have a duty of care to stop serving people who are bladdered! but they wont or rarely will as it is how they make their money.

[andybigbro]

Yeah its a fun thing if you know your own limits

[Sophii3x]

Iv'e got pissed a few times because it's fun
Your only teenagers once

[Legend]

I only ever drink to get drunk, i never drink if i know i'm only staying out for an hour or so because i don't see the point. For me personally, i drink it everytime to get drunk. No matter how drunk i get, i'm always in control of myself and i am able to handle it.

I don't drink on street corners or anything like that, i hate walking past seeing them with there bottles of cider because they look like absolute tramps. I only drink at parties or when on a night out. Or in the house with family, again all to get drunk.

I personally enjoy being drunk and i love other people drunk because it makes people relax more.

On the other hand, people who can't handle their drink and are horrible with it are not good. On Friday night for example when i was in town, there must have been a man about 30ish and he was one of those 'nasty drunks' who walk around thinking the ale has turned them into Rocky Balboa (sp) over night and it scares some people seeing people like that. If everyone was in control of themselves with alcohol then it would be great but a lot aren't which spoil a lot of other peoples nights when they have to deal with them.

In the right hands, alcohol is GREAT. Wrong hands and it's not so great.

[Feral]

Do you think it's good or bad?

It's a drug like all the others - pros and cons to it all.

Do you have any experience of alcoholism in your family or amongst your friends?

Mother was an alkie (I'm over it!!!!)
Not a nice thing to have to see in your childhood, but has taught me alot of things, like not to use alcohol to hide behind your problems - should face up to them and deal with it in more constructive ways.

Do you think underage drinking is on the rise?

Yes!!!! But youngsters seem to have more money and less self esteem, and for some reason have sooo many problems (for a minority I know not all are like this)

Do you think the pubs have a duty to stop the alcohol abuse in this country?

Not the pubs responsibility, it's the individuals to know when to stop. I liked a drink when I was 18 - 20 , prob could call it binge drinking but got fed up with drinking till sick and feeling crap next day!!! Grew out of it.

I think it's more the behaviour of drinkers today. Me and my mates went down t' pub, drank staggered home.
Now it seems go to offie, buy loads of cheap booze, drink - wreck town, shout abuse at strangers, throw up, pee everywhere, get in fight, get arrested, stroll home cold at 4am.

Edit -- For a small minority.

[Lauren]

Originally posted by Feral_One
Now it seems go to offie, buy loads of cheap booze, drink - wreck town, shout abuse at strangers, throw up, pee everywhere, get in fight, get arrested, stroll home cold at 4am.

I disagree. I do not know any young people that do that.

I do, however - see many middle aged people doing this more often than not.

There's a stereotypical view of teenagers and usually they're not true. I go to college and no-one I know goes to the offie to get cheap booze. We go to pubs & clubs. None of us get arrested, pee everywhere, fight.
So either you're in keeping with the judgmental view of teenagers that society/media has constructed - or you just live in the wrong area.

[Captain.Remy]

I think there is a good thing in England with Alcohol: you can't buy it before 18. In france, we can, I'm 17 and I can buy some alcohol in the supermarket or buy cigarets without the ID. I can go in nightclubs without my ID and drink alcohol as much as I want.
But in England, people drink more into their family. I've seen it with my english exchange, and with other families. I know the entire english people are not like that, but it's...strange lol.
It's not a question if alcohol is bad or not, the answer is different with the culture. European and Asian countries haven't the same opinion on the subject.