Underage drinking

[sheeplady]

We have a massive problem with drinking in the UK and a lot of it is due to very cheap, very strong booze sold in supermarkets. People drink at home, in parks, wherever, and drink far too much. It's cheap and available. When I was a teenager, like twotypes, I drank lager mostly, and I drank in pubs where a) it was more expensive = I drank less, and b) it was about being sociable, not getting legless.

Now traditional pubs are closing and we are left with open all night 'all you can drink' bars where you can drink yourself to death for a tenner.
If I thought it would do any good I'd advocate 21 as the minimum drinking limit here. Unfortunately 21 year old here as just as bloody immature as 14 year olds.

I guess I'm just nostalgic for a (slightly) more innocent time when it was about the dressing up and socialising and not all about drinking something more akin to meths with a gang of scruffy spotty oiks in the park.

It's interesting that you share this experience. Much common wisdom in the U.S. says that our underage binge drinking problem is due to the age being high- and therefore kids and young adults drink to excess because it's forbidden. Most people point to other countries with a lower drinking age and how they have less binge problems. Which means either these people are wrong, something is changing in England, or maybe the problem in the U.S. is just of greater magnitude.

Was alcohol always sold in supermarkets in the UK?

Here in the U.S. how alcohol is sold is determined by the state. Some states sell everything in the grocery store, some states only sell beer in the grocery (you go to a special store to get wine and liquor), some states sell beer and wine in the grocery (but no liquor), some states sell no alcohol in the grocery (and you go to a distribution center or liquor store). I live in a state that sells beer in the grocery, but wine and liquor you go to a special store (they are trying to allow wine to be sold in the grocery, because that is a major industry in my state.)

ETA: and some counties (levels below a state) are dry and sell nothing at all.

 

[Canadian]

I've heard of some stupid hospitalizations when people pour beer or liquor up one's rear. I've also heard of the vodka tampons, but they were administered suppository style.

I was a fraternity man. Generally we all respected each other that, at a house party or formal, nobody got wasted beyond control. The guests of people (especially when a guy shows up at a house party claiming to know Bro. X) tend to be wilder. I recall one time when I asked a friend if he was ready to go. We got out of the house, and a very intoxicated "guest" followed us. As we walked for my car (I drank Red Bull alone that night) he started chasing us. We barely got to our car, when he shouted he was "Ready to party" and "down with what we were going to do.". He thought we were going to another party, or at least back to our homes where there was probably more liquor.

We barely outran him and drove off.

My buddy was 18, I 20. This guy might have been 25. Stupid stuff, because he was so far gone.

Tom

 

[scotrace]

My grandfather (1898-1993) allowed me to have a small glass of whatever he had after a day's yard work. A beer (Stroh's) or cider. If he had a manhattan before dinner, I'd get a sip. Booze was always no big deal. I didn't try to drink until I was of age. Responsible behavior was demonstrated. And there were the stories of family members who couldn't hold their hooch and drank too much. Mom told the story of her grandfather who got tanked up and peed on her brand new coat.
My kids, now 15 and 19, have been allowed a small glass of wine (cordial glass) whenever it was served. Again, no big deal. And they have a forever standing deal with me: if you feel in danger or think you have had too much, of booze or anything else, call me, and I'll come get you without a single question asked. They are not to get into a car with someone who has been drinking. Ever. As long as I'm alive and can drive.
I like my manhattan/martini/bloody Mary before dinner. And more in good company. But I don't like to be beyond pleasantly warmed. I have the familial large capacity, but have never been inclined to abuse it.

I think the more you make something taboo, the more you infuse it with glamor and mystery. And then kids are going to seek it out, without responsible supervision. Disaster.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Wow, alcohol must be pricey in Canada! I buy a 30 pack of Old Milwaukee for about 12 bucks. I drink a couple after work, and almost never any on the weekends. I figure it's not much different than drinking soda pop.

Smokes are pricey, too, and just going up. Trying to kick the cigarette habit and stick to cigars and pipes.

You'd be surprised how much money you have when you're not having a beer or two every day. 7 days with 2 beer in the evening =14 drinks. At 3 dollars a bottle (liquor mart prices) that's 42 dollars. In a month (4 weeks) that's 168 dollars.

I always heard it likened to smoking. What would you rather do with that money. And if you're underage, how do you manage to get 168 bucks a month without being questioned?

I read about that, absolutely bizarre behavior.

There is a news story at the moment about a girl who has had her stomach removed after drinking some sort of cocktail with liquid nitrogen in it.

People do crazy things.

 

[Auld Edwardian]

Over a year ago, I made the decision not to drink. I simply had my share and it wasn't reasonable to carry on. I'm 28, and to me, drinking is something which causes me to behave irrationally. The strongest thing I drink now is sparkling apple juice at family functions, or Coca Cola.

I remember going to political conferences where there are hospitality suites. Last time, all I had was a grape soda, but because I was good at handling booze, I ended up bartending. I actually got to meet the Premier, and I was sober enough to remember it.

Good for you! You are a very wise individual if you recognize that it might cause you trouble in your life. I like a nice glass of wine with a meal, but would not care to drink to excess. Unfortunately we all know people that do much to there own detriment. You are a circumspect person to deduce this while you are still on the young side of life.

 

[Big Bertie]

...where is the pleasure in getting blind stinking drunk, stumbling around like an idiot, and finally passing out in your own puke? Seriously, why is this considered *fun*?

Perhaps not fun, but they are learning - the hard way - the virtues of moderation.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

In Hong Kong, I was buying 24-packs of PBR for HK$28. That's $3.60 in your US$. No import duties, and no sales taxes. It was unbelievably cheap to drink there. However, a pint of PBR or any other beer in the pub was about HK$60 (US$7.70). The prohibition really is on drinking in public, because Chines people drink A LOT. You just never see them doing it. Weird place …

Wow, alcohol must be pricey in Canada! I buy a 30 pack of Old Milwaukee for about 12 bucks. I drink a couple after work, and almost never any on the weekends. I figure it's not much different than drinking soda pop.

Smokes are pricey, too, and just going up. Trying to kick the cigarette habit and stick to cigars and pipes.

Smoking was also very cheap, especially Cuban cigars, where there was also no import duty or sales or "moral" tax. I would advise a long period (a year at least) of cold turkey to get over the fags, though, then return to occasional pipe and cigars.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Wow! That is cheap! I keep PBR stocked regularly, as a bit of a 'treat' for myself, as it's a bit pricier, at around $18.99 a 30 pack, here.

In Hong Kong, I was buying 24-packs of PBR for HK$28. That's $3.60 in your US$. No import duties, and no sales taxes. It was unbelievably cheap to drink there. However, a pint of PBR or any other beer in the pub was about HK$60 (US$7.70). The prohibition really is on drinking in public, because Chines people drink A LOT. You just never see them doing it. Weird place …



Smoking was also very cheap, especially Cuban cigars, where there was also no import duty or sales or "moral" tax. I would advise a long period (a year at least) of cold turkey to get over the fags, though, then return to occasional pipe and cigars.

I keep trying the cold turkey thing, but it's sure tough when everyone in your life smokes!

 

[Noirblack]

Wow, alcohol must be pricey in Canada! I buy a 30 pack of Old Milwaukee for about 12 bucks. I drink a couple after work, and almost never any on the weekends. I figure it's not much different than drinking soda pop.

The beer and liquor up here have lots of taxes on it compared to the USA. I don't buy it to have around the house any more. I will only consume it out at bars while socializing. I checked online and the price in Ontario for Labatt's Blue (a mass market beer) is $30 for 24 bottles. That price includes a ten cent per bottle deposit, so you get $2.40 back when you return the empties. But 24 cans are actually $40. I can't figure out the price difference because the cans are just a tiny bit bigger than the bottles.

Some of the craft beers are $38 for 24 bottles and $50 for 24 cans. The prices are ridiculous.

I don't know for sure how much cigarettes cost up here, but I think it starts at about $10 per pack. One again, most of that is taxes.

 

[fortworthgal]

I enjoy social drinking, and I've been "drunk" a few times, I'm not gonna lie. I know my limits and I stop well before the "getting sick" or "hangover" stages. I never drank before I turned 21, I just didn't have any interest in it. I didn't grow up around anyone who drank. I did grow up around smokers, though, but I never picked up that habit.

The vodka tampon story has been exposed as an urban legend. The actual mechanics of it wouldn't work well. And also, even if it did, the only way you're hiding alcohol consumption is not having it directly on your breath (you will still fail a breathalyzer and still reek of alcohol at a high enough amount) and you can't hide being intoxicated off your bum.

I won't go into detail here in mixed company (or a public internet forum), but I can say with absolute certainty that the "vodka tampon" thing is a crock. Alcohol & the nether regions don't mix unless you enjoy excruciating pain & extreme burning. Let's just say I once had a very unfortunate accident. :laugh:

Wow! That is cheap! I keep PBR stocked regularly, as a bit of a 'treat' for myself, as it's a bit pricier, at around $18.99 a 30 pack, here.

Sigh. We pay around $13 for a 12-pack here! Dang hipsters driving the price up.

 

[ButteMT61]

I put the "blame" on youngsters drinking so much on being bored. I know we were, and we drank excessively in high school, and college. Our kids, by comparison, have so many things to do, that they don't party nearly as much. Living in a place like LA ironically gives kids a choice on that - more so than a small town. In the end, it's the community and family and individual that makes the choices. While I wouldn't trade my past off for the perfect one of dreams and cloudy memories, I do wish I had more to do and spent less time acquiring and consuming alcohol at a young age. I woke up more than once in Mexico after a night of partying in Manhattan Beach lol

 

[m0nk]

Wow! That is cheap! I keep PBR stocked regularly, as a bit of a 'treat' for myself, as it's a bit pricier, at around $18.99 a 30 pack, here.



I keep trying the cold turkey thing, but it's sure tough when everyone in your life smokes!

Not sure I completely understand keeping PBR around as a treat...

 

[Undertow]

The beer and liquor up here have lots of taxes on it compared to the USA. I don't buy it to have around the house any more. I will only consume it out at bars while socializing. I checked online and the price in Ontario for Labatt's Blue (a mass market beer) is $30 for 24 bottles. That price includes a ten cent per bottle deposit, so you get $2.40 back when you return the empties. But 24 cans are actually $40. I can't figure out the price difference because the cans are just a tiny bit bigger than the bottles.

Some of the craft beers are $38 for 24 bottles and $50 for 24 cans. The prices are ridiculous.

I don't know for sure how much cigarettes cost up here, but I think it starts at about $10 per pack. One again, most of that is taxes.

Holy cats! That is crazy!

 

[Noirblack]

Holy cats! That is crazy!

It's nutty in my books. The actual cost to produce the beer is pretty low. The barley is pretty cheap after all. I haven't seen the actual breakdown in a while, but the vast majority of the price is made up by taxes. I have stopped paying this "voluntary" tax by not buying the stuff unless I am out at a bar. If you think about it, even a light drinker (such as a 12 pack per week) would be paying at least $500 per year in extra taxes.

I don't smoke, but of the $10 per pack, probably $8 is taxes. Imagine paying $8 per day in tax just because you are a smoker. We get lots of smuggled cigs that come up through the indian bands. These end up in variety stores and smokers in the know which stores have these available under the counter. I haven't seen it much lately, but in bars I have seen people offering smuggled cigarettes for sale.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Well, I may enjoy all the finer things of the Golden Era, but deep down I'm still a Wisconsin Boy with Wisconsin tastes in food and beverage. PBR is the Cadillac of Beers, in my opinion.

Not sure I completely understand keeping PBR around as a treat...

That's a shame, no hipsters to drive up the price, here. However, the 'redneck' crowd sure likes to guzzle it down. I give them credit for slowly moving away from that St. Louis swill called Bud Light.

Sigh. We pay around $13 for a 12-pack here! Dang hipsters driving the price up.

 

[Asienizen]

I live in Vietnam, and there is a lot of drinking by adults, but very little "underage" drinking. I put that word in quotes because there is NO age limit to purchase alcohol in this country. Never the less, whenever I have been in a group o young adults, the ones in their teens usually don't drink alcohol even if their older friends do.

Additionally, anyone can buy prescription drugs here with no prohibition - over the counter. Yet there are not that many people addicted to prescription drugs.

You see, when you have a functioning society, its social norms can be enforced without the iron fist of the state. I'd say the reason we don't get much teen drinking in Vietnam is because they can buy it whenever they want. We forget that these drinking and drug laws were actually a recent phenomena in the west - 20th century. Have all the blue laws stopped stupid people from being stupid?

 

[Big Bertie]

Ah - but what about the opium problem?

 

[gtdean48]

... PBR is the Cadillac of Beers, in my opinion.
...

Especially in long neck bottles....to me, taste so much better than the cans...but like Radar on MASH, my taste buds are tone deaf...

 

[fortworthgal]

Especially in long neck bottles....to me, taste so much better than the cans...but like Radar on MASH, my taste buds are tone deaf...

PBR? In long-necks? I've never even *seen* that here! :eeek:

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I love Blue Ribbon in bottles. It does taste better that way.

Especially in long neck bottles....to me, taste so much better than the cans...but like Radar on MASH, my taste buds are tone deaf...