I'm sorry but....

[ShortBlackChick]

I dont get it. I dont understand the social pressure placed upon young people to drink. I recently turned 18 and some guy at a party asked me, 'did you get smashed?' And before my 18th one of my friends said to me 'I want to get you drunk.' I told my buddy that I wasnt sure if I was going to have alcohol at my party. I didnt end up having alcohol, even though I made the event BYO. Truth is, even if I had alcohol, I wouldnt have had any.

Why is it that somehow simultaneous with becoming 18 is the notion that you have to be off your face? I would have thought that with becoming 18 the idea of freedom would be more important. Why didnt anyone ask me, how has freedom been for you, instead of 'did you get smashed?' Whats with this social expectation? Is it just indicative of the materialistic nature of our generation?

For me, the idea of freedom is way more important then the ability to drink alcohol. I'm not in any way against alcohol. I just value the ability to do pretty much all I want, rather then the ability to do all I want while being shit faced. My main reason for not drinking is pretty much that I cant drive if I drink. So maybe its just me, and my definition of being 'free' which equates to getting your P's and being able to drive around, while for others 'freedom' equates to being the ability to be drunk.

Maybe I'm just a non-drinker because I'm pretty crazy as it is. I'm not sure if people would want to put up with a crazy AND drunk kazdawg. But I dont doubt that after I get my full licence I will drink, its just now that I wont. But I just dont understand the pressure placed on youth. Maybe kids just want to get smashed so that they can get away from their abysmal lives driven by materialistic things? I dont know about others, but if my life was boring and shallow (which it probably is) I would want to get away from it by making sane and rational choices rather than getting smashed. Maybe it is the need to be seen as 'cool' and to be accepted. I've seen people walk around at parties going 'OMG I'm so drunk.' Yeah honey, you're just the shit now arent you?

Maybe I'm just too judgemental?

Maybe a lot of people would look at this post and say tl;dr because its pretty long!

[dc302]

It's pretty standard and completely non-personal, so don't let it get to you. Other common things are 'got your P's yet?' and going clubbing, since these are the things, along with drinking, that you are now legally able to do. It's kind of like a celebratory thing (is that even a word?) It's fine if you don't drink. And you should be fine with people telling you to drink (your close friends of course, other people won't do this, they may ask you about drinking but they would and should not try to make you drink). This is just a social thing. Some groups drink more than others. Your group of friends sound pretty normal and I wouldn't call it real pressure. At this stage, getting smashed is usually just cause it's 'cool' and 'fun', hardly for other reasons. I personally don't like it when people get smashed. Getting drunk is ok, because it makes everything more relaxed and easy going. But when you have people chucking up all over you, that's a different story.

Long story short, I wouldn't worry too much or take it personally. If you don't drink then don't drink, it's fine!

[Russ]

Australia is a country built pretty heavily around the consumption of alcohol, it's got nothing to do with the current generation being more materialistic. You'll see it years later, people will still be getting heavily drunk even though they're no longer just turning 18.

And hey, personal freedoms and all, just leave them alone and don't drink yourself

[ninwa]

It's to look cool maybe? You always look more "refined" if you're in photos holding a champagne glass of something. Possibly with a bit of duckface/head tilted/hand on hips/that weird bent at the knees position most girls seem to enjoy taking

On that note I've never understood people who go "HAD THE BEST NIGHT LAST NIGHT... CAN'T REMEMBER A THING" yeah that sounds like fun you douche.

[ShortBlackChick]

Yeah I dont think I'll ever be pressured into drinking, I just dont understand the culture. Whats so great about alcohol that makes people look like fucktarts because of it and why is it expected that the first thing to you after turning 18 is getting smashed?

Yeah, I'm the one that asks 'have you got your P's yet' or 'have you hit the clubs yet' because thats what being 18 represents for me. Maybe I'm just as presumptous as everyone who asks me 'have you gotten smashed yet?' LOL!

And beer tastes like shit.

[kensan]

I don't really see the point of getting smashed to the point of vomiting, but usually people drink because it makes them more confident. I'm not 18 yet but kids are still drinking heaps at parties LOL   Does it happen in other countries too or is it just Australia?

[abd123]

And beer tastes like shit.

Couldn't agree anymore its yucky, i just don't know why people drown themselves with disgusting (not yummy) alcohol, i'd rather drown myself with bubble cup, ice tea or chocolate milk lol.

[JellyDonut]

Maybe kids just want to get smashed so that they can get away from their abysmal lives driven by materialistic things?

Or maybe it's just fun. Live and let live

And beer tastes like shit.

Nigga please

[Ravit]

With respect to drinking, i find it weird why people want to spend money on something that is inevitably going to harm themselves. Does socialising and interacting with others have to involve some sort of substance mixed with random chemicals and what so ever to make life enjoyable? Surely not.

[ShortBlackChick]

Maybe kids just want to get smashed so that they can get away from their abysmal lives driven by materialistic things?

Or maybe it's just fun. Live and let live

And why do I need to be drunk to have fun? Why cant I be myself and have fun?

Nigga please

Awkward moment when you're black and someone calls you black. Should I be offended? :S

[dc302]

Yeah I dont think I'll ever be pressured into drinking, I just dont understand the culture. Whats so great about alcohol that makes people look like fucktarts because of it and why is it expected that the first thing to you after turning 18 is getting smashed?

Yeah, I'm the one that asks 'have you got your P's yet' or 'have you hit the clubs yet' because thats what being 18 represents for me. Maybe I'm just as presumptous as everyone who asks me 'have you gotten smashed yet?' LOL!

And beer tastes like shit.

Dunno what shit tastes like, but beer certainly tastes bad to me.

[dc302]

Maybe kids just want to get smashed so that they can get away from their abysmal lives driven by materialistic things?

Or maybe it's just fun. Live and let live

And why do I need to be drunk to have fun? Why cant I be myself and have fun?

Nigga please

Awkward moment when you're black and someone calls you black. Should I be offended? :S

People generally become more social because alcohol tends to remove your personal restraints you place on yourself. That's why people find it fun, cause they get to do things they normally would be too scared/intimated to do.

[happycat]

And beer tastes like shit.

Couldn't agree anymore its yucky, i just don't know why people drown themselves with disgusting (not yummy) alcohol, i'd rather drown myself with bubble cup, ice tea or chocolate milk lol.

When I drink alcohol I avoid beer and go for things like cruisers, smirnoffs and bourbons etc. This makes me feel like a really sissy but I HATE beer.

[EvangelionZeta]

Going to be the first person here to say that I enjoy drinking alcohol because I like the taste...(yay beer?)?  It's gotten to the point where I'd rather a beer than something like bubble cup (although I still adore tea and smoothies <3).  The social lubricant effect is fun as well, although personally I don't usually enjoy being more than just a bit tipsy.

[kensan]

Going to be the first person here to say that I enjoy drinking alcohol because I like the taste...(yay beer?)?  It's gotten to the point where I'd rather a beer than something like bubble cup (although I still adore tea and smoothies <3).  The social lubricant effect is fun as well, although personally I don't usually enjoy being more than just a bit tipsy.

I like beer, except the dry types.. hurt my throat so badly haha.
 But pre-mixed are good, like johnny walker cola.
But yeah, I see no problem with having a few drinks and enjoying your time.