BBC2 - Am I drinking too much? WARNING especially for teenagers!

tomstickland

far2812 wrote: »

The message really was "IF YOUR CHILD COMES HOME DRUNK, THEY HAVE DEFINITELY DRANK MORE THAN YOU THINK THEY HAVE".

It's "drunk" not "drank". Innit.

I think this is possibly tosh anyway - most people I know could become drunk (drank?) on very little when they were teenagers.

zenmaster

far2812 wrote: »

It takes a lot more alcohol to effect teenagers than it does in adults (something to do with the body breaking it down).

I didn't see the programme but can confirm this finding.

After many years of selfless experimentation using myself as a guinea pig I can report that many years ago I could drink 3-4 pints of a lunchtime then return to work with no ill effect. These days, if I drink that amount on a Saturday night, I am well and truly sozzled.

The problem these days, as I see it, is attitude. Getting drunk was (still is) an unfortunate side effect of a good night out. Now, as I've observed from my own kids and other youngsters of my acquaintance, it's the main event.

As to Hooch; my favourite was the ginger beer which they only made for a short time. They did make a limited edition passion fruit flavour for Valentine's day on year which was absolutely gorgeous. I bought 2 cases :beer:

zenmaster

Jo_R wrote: »

I can't stand people being drunk - I find it hard to explain how I feel when I see people like that but it really drives me crazy when I hear people saying about how they can't imagine a night out without a drink and basically what the presenter was explaining in saying about the possibility of never having a drink again - ie he found the thought of that very difficult.

Two points there -

Firstly, I cannot stand loud, lary drunk people but there are also those who quietly drift into a mildly intoxicated state having partaken of that last beer which they neither really want or need. We refer to it as "the pint of no return".

Secondly, I too regard the thought of never being able to drink again with absolute horror. I have known several people in that position, either through alcoholism or other medical conditions, and regard it as a nightmare scenario - no more Saturday night social with my friends, glass of wine with my meal or my "special relationship" with my brother-in-law where we enjoy a stiff G & T of an evening when we holiday together.

Jo_R_2

zenmaster wrote: »

Two points there -

Firstly, I cannot stand loud, lary drunk people but there are also those who quietly drift into a mildly intoxicated state having partaken of that last beer which they neither really want or need. We refer to it as "the pint of no return".

Secondly, I too regard the thought of never being able to drink again with absolute horror. I have known several people in that position, either through alcoholism or other medical conditions, and regard it as a nightmare scenario - no more Saturday night social with my friends, glass of wine with my meal or my "special relationship" with my brother-in-law where we enjoy a stiff G & T of an evening when we holiday together.

Good post zenmaster. Of course you are absolutely right about the differing 'states' in your first point. If being honest I probably have a different level of tolerance towards each but I can say I don't like it in either case, I don't feel comfortable which can make social events a bit of a nightmare! I blatantly have negative assocations with alcohol which I think are too far ingrained now to ever think differently.

Secondly, I honestly (no offence intended) cannot stand people saying that they can't imagine not ever having another drink. It certainly isn't a rare thing, certainly amongst my friends! However again because of the negative associations I have with alcohol I see that mindset as a weakness. That's JMO btw, I'm not saying that is what it is, but that's how I feel iyswim.

sarymclary

Jo-R, I am also very intrigued by the attitude of someone who says they cannot imagine not having an alcoholic drink again. If I was told I couldn't eat cheesecake again, despite it being my favourite dessert, then I'd be a bit disappointed, but think OK, well I'll just have to have the pavlova instead. Why is it such a big deal to subsitute a beer for a fruit juice?

Actually, I quite like being the oddball at a party or in a bar, and always ask for a nice cup of tea. Now that really is a conversation starter! You'd be surprised though how that can then give the green light for other's to ask for the same. I end up as head tea girl at parties.

I do not like drunks, but then never have, as they make me feel uncomfortable, and you just can't have a decent conversation with one. I find a quick witted person so much more attractive. I don't like losing control, and see it as a weakness in others when they do. You seldom see the effects of alcohol bringing out the best in a person.

As with Jo_R, that's just my opinion!

Squirrelchops - as a teenager, my peers and I all drank cheap cider, which was about £1 a bottle, and we clubbed together to buy it, then shared it out. Even the smell of cider now, or apple juice can make me gag!

grastgirl

If you have had a negative history with alcohol I can see why you wouldn't want anything to do with it. I would consider myself to be someone who likes alcohol (more the taste than the effects), but in moderation (quite happy with one glass of wine with dinner), but I spend four months teetotal every summer because it stops my hayfever medication working, and I do miss it after a while. Pretty sure that doesn't make me an alcoholic though.

In terms of teenagers being able to drink more than adults, it's possible their livers are better able to clear the alcohol than and adults', but probably only once they're used to it.

Edit: Used to drink malibu and coke because it was cheaper than the premixed drinks, and was sweet. Only really sick as a teenager on some dodgy punch my family had made and let me drink (13). Also drank blue mondays (vodka, lemonade, blue curacao) when we went out clubbing underage (17).

ka7e

In terms of teenagers being able to drink more than adults, it's possible their livers are better able to clear the alcohol than and adults', but probably only once they're used to it.

My daughter recently told me that at 12-13 years of age, she would occasionally drink half a bottle of vodka when she was hanging out with friends. She never got drunk or acted differently when she came home! This changed dramatically at age 15 when one drink would make her violently sick and she remained teetotal until she was 18. Now 20 she drinks rarely and moderately.

On the other hand, my son, who has drunk a glass of wine or can of Guinness with his meal each evening since his mid-teens, now finds he cannot actually drink much more than that without suffering. He has recently been diagnosed as having Gilberts Syndrome and his liver enzymes cannot break down alcohol efficiently. He has been told that 5% of the population suffer from this condition, it affects mainly males and kicks in at about 24-30 years of age.