Alcohol Plan

[MrRubix]

Re: Alcohol Plan

I lost my dad to drinking (he drank too much one night and killed himself by accident by going over 120 MPH in his Corvette, and he flipped over a Jersey barrier that separates two highways of opposing traffic and completely totaled everything), so I really do hate alcohol abuse, as it's totally stupid.

However, I'm all for getting drunk and having fun responsibly -- that's fine as long as it doesn't become a chronic issue or a reliance problem. I personally enjoy it because I feel happy on the buzz, and it loosens me up quite a bit.

I've always hated that the US has such a high age cutoff when it comes to alcohol... it doesn't facilitate proper exposure and education to it at all. Instead it winds up becoming an age-old "forbidden fruit" issue. Don't people remember what happened with Prohibition?

In either case, parents do need to instill in their kids that drunk driving is absolutely retarded. We've already proven over and over again over time that abstinence education simply does not work, and in fact has negative consequences. From a behavioral standpoint, the best way to curb the issues of alcohol is to properly educate the end user, and that is best done through the parents, in my opinion.

[Ghakimx]

Re: Alcohol Plan

I once experienced a taste of vodka a few months ago. I really hated it.

So to me, having a taste of it at young can lead people to decide if they like it or not. My case is that I despised of it, so I would never take up alcohol, which is a good thing. Although in some possible other cases, they may just enjoy it and possibly want more, but thanks to the age limit, they probably won't, unless their parents have a storage of alcohol and what not. Though this still won't stop people from finding private storages of alcohol to drink out with their friends.

Still, due to religious reasons (mine being Islam), I wouldn't have alcohol either. We should have events that never do have alcohol. All Muslim events never do, so why not try that?

[stargroup]

Re: Alcohol Plan

I lost my dad to drinking (he drank too much one night and killed himself by accident by going over 120 MPH in his Corvette, and he flipped over a Jersey barrier that separates two highways of opposing traffic and completely totaled everything), so I really do hate alcohol abuse, as it's totally stupid.

However, I'm all for getting drunk and having fun responsibly -- that's fine as long as it doesn't become a chronic issue or a reliance problem. I personally enjoy it because I feel happy on the buzz, and it loosens me up quite a bit.

I've always hated that the US has such a high age cutoff when it comes to alcohol... it doesn't facilitate proper exposure and education to it at all. Instead it winds up becoming an age-old "forbidden fruit" issue. Don't people remember what happened with Prohibition?

In either case, parents do need to instill in their kids that drunk driving is absolutely retarded. We've already proven over and over again over time that abstinence education simply does not work, and in fact has negative consequences. From a behavioral standpoint, the best way to curb the issues of alcohol is to properly educate the end user, and that is best done through the parents, in my opinion.

Probably the best response in this entire thread so far. Rubix, I have applaud you on being mature enough to see the positive sides to alcohol and think so rationally even though you've lost one of your closest family members to it.

As for the rest of you, few of you understand both that our society needs alcohol, whether we like it or not, and that there is a problem with the "normal" attitude towards drinking. Just because you don't like drinking doesn't mean that you should impose that view and abolish drinking altogether. On the other hand, you can't completely disregard that attitude and say that drinking is fine because everyone does it all the time without any regard to responsible behavior.

Everything in life needs to be in moderation, and that is the key point of this plan: not to teach abstinence, not to teach freedom, but to teach moderation.

[Wineandbread]

Re: Alcohol Plan

This might be a good idea in theory, but I have serious doubts that it will be implemented anytime soon, if ever. You can't exactly force every parent to do it, and there will always be a few who don't.

Peer pressure is something that can not be denied. What parents tell us and what schools stress about alcohol is sometimes just not enough. Teens may lose sight of it all when they are unsupervised.

Teenagers will still be exposed to alcohol on TV shows, in movies, etc. Plenty of media has shown scenes of underage alcohol consumption.

[stargroup]

Re: Alcohol Plan

This might be a good idea in theory, but I have serious doubts that it will be implemented anytime soon, if ever. You can't exactly force every parent to do it, and there will always be a few who don't.

Peer pressure is something that can not be denied. What parents tell us and what schools stress about alcohol is sometimes just not enough. Teens may lose sight of it all when they are unsupervised.

Teenagers will still be exposed to alcohol on TV shows, in movies, etc. Plenty of media has shown scenes of underage alcohol consumption.

I have doubts of its implementation as well, but as long as the word is spread and more people are educated, there will be a higher chance of change. As always, there will be those who won't agree, but they will have to either find a way to deal with it or find an alternative.

Hopefully though, by implementing this plan, alcohol will no longer be a taboo, so peer pressure will not be as much of an issue anymore. In addition, by putting alcohol in a better light, it is hopeful that the media will change as well, as well as pop culture. This plan, if successful, will have long-reaching effects that will change America's attitude towards alcohol.

[Ghakimx]

Re: Alcohol Plan

What do you think is the best way to educate about alcohol? TV programs? School programs? Seminars?

[Mollocephalus]

Re: Alcohol Plan

why do you even mention tv programs dude

the problem with alchohol (and everything else) is most people's way of doing things under-the-table while trying to mantain the outward image of respectability, given that the standards for social acceptance are in these situations comparable to the ones intelligent people have left behind hundreds of years ago.