I am offered alcohol on several occasions and find it easy to say no thanks. The habitual boozers see a non drinker as an offence to them or to real men, so they go out of their way to belittle and embarrass. That is why so many young kids drink. Peer pressure, afraid to say no. Got to be one of the gang to impress. Girls are stupider, as it is the boys they are wanting to impress and to be in the clique you have to pander to the male ego which is where the brain is dead anyway after a few.

I'd be willing to bet that most New Zealanders have, or grew up with, at least one member of their extended family or group of friends whose drinking was a problem, from severe alcoholism on down to mildly worrying behaviour.
There is definitely a dark side to this social pastime, but how to solve it without penalising the responsible ones is the question.
As Belladonna points out, there is no social occasion these days that doesn't involve alcohol. Even at a play, you can now take a glass of wine to your seat with you, and order another one or two at intermission.
Recent news stories have suggested that a lot of New Zealanders lie about how much they really drink.
Kai, I was amazed at your story of the "6-pack of cleanskins" for $12!
It puts me in mind of the old boast of London gin palaces in the 19th century: "drunk for a penny, dead drunk for twopence!"

Kari you are absolutely right in what you say..

It has been ,,,,and will be an ongoing problem.
It really is a wonder many survived the so called "good old days" when it came to lots of practices.

Looking back the highlight for lots would be,,, a work place,,,Big organisations,,,, or working mens club picnics held every summer..

I can remember the big beer tents and the drinkers all there ,,,and the kids games organised by some of the???? I guess?? non drinking parents, with prizes galore and picnic type foods.

At the end of the day,, everyone piled in to the cars,, kids all squashed in the back and some in the front bench seats as well,,, and drove home with NO seatbelts and lots of drink inside the driver.....

Its I guess a trend there was then, and some break /broke the mould and some stayed there..

There really is lots of info now on drinking re unborn babies and sadly like all things some listen and some dont..

Please dont think this is an anti drink post ,,,cos do enjoy alcohol in small doses,,,,,even a thimble one time after a shaky incident ,,,,,and having seen both sides of the fence just wanted to comment on our experience....



Kai






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"That is why so many young kids drink. Peer pressure, afraid to say no. Got to be one of the gang to impress."


Yes Joybel it is a huge factor in the teenage years.


"There is definitely a dark side to this social pastime, but how to solve it without penalising the responsible ones is the question."

Exactly Kari. Most do drink responsibly & have no problem but those who overdo it & binge drink or who have a problem with alcohol are the ones who usually cause trouble,in one way or another. And I think you're right in that most of us will have experience of at least one person who is a problem drinker.

Post deleted at 20 May 2011 11:18am by Kai