Why do people think it's cool to abuse alcohol?

[TimePhantom]

I've never been a big drinker, but I know plenty of people that are. It seems like it has become the "cool" thing to do nowadays, people are starting to drink at a younger age and are drinking more often. Why do you want to get hammered everyday? I don't think people are thinking of the health or other risks involved with drinking that much. I understand having drinks with friends, or having fun at a party. But why do people push themselves past their limits to the point of puking, or passing out, or not remembering?

Updates

+1 y

But why do people go beyond their limit, I understand that it's fun and normal. But you get to a point when you think I'm pretty drunk I should probably stop drinking now, but some people continue even when they know it will end bad.

Updates

+1 y

I think that there is this mindset that people think it's cool. And it concerns me when 15 year olds are getting drunk because they are trying to be cool

[ArtistBboy]

I can speak freely on this one because I was already charged with the damn ticket, went through the medical recovery, watched my family baby me for the last 7 months, and then after all that- I've opened my eyes even farther but I still have fun.

Drinking isn't about an "in fad" like a pair of sneakers, or your next "cool sweater"... no... it's bigger than that to these people. Drinking comes from an ability to have fun with their friends where nothing matters. There's tons of people, ton's of things to do, tons of... tons of... tons of...

- To these kids, it's not the ONLY thing they do. I lost a best friend to drunk driving almost 2 years ago. I was almost there myself 7 months ago. Yeah, I was stupid, just like everyone else. If you say "i will never drink and drive". You're absolutely ignorant. You will, just wait.

Yeah- it's not the classiest of all things to do, but when you live in a small town with nothing to do than the bowling alley, the skate park, and the tanning salon- trust me. You find things to do to entertain yourself. Personally, I'm not a billionaire- if you wanna pay my way to go snowboarding, hell ya... I'll show you up. But! If you wanna lecture me about "theres other things to do"... Move to MY hometown and then tell me there are things to do. =/ There aint.

So back to your original question. There's multiple reasons why they drink, none of them are "to be cool". The answer lies within yourself. It could be:

- Nothing to do

- No one to hang out with / no hang out spots

- Bad past / wanting to forget a hurtful memory

etc

Great topic, but I won't change your mind. I've watched some "4.0 student christian-praise-all-students" go out and slam more alcohol than myself. I've watched some of the nerdy-geeky-kids do the same; and even those athletes that praise their body.

To each their own, if they aren't bothering you then why bother them? ;D

~ArtistBBoy

[Nocturne]

Entire fail.

[stevo]

Because when the chips are down, it leads people to do things they normally wouldn't do. Alcohol seems to make all the pain, agony, suffering or whatever people are going through, just go away. But only for a short time. They become so dependant on it, that it gradually becomes more than a habit, which in turn leads them to do it everyday. It has become so far addictive to so many people that it has been called a 'disease'. And I can't present any proof to you, but I can tell you that because it is so wide-spread, it is. My grandfather died of a heart-attack when I was just six weeks old brought on by alcoholism. My other grandfather, hell all of my grandparents would drink, or at least were suspected of it. My sister has done it. I've done it on ocassion, but I didn't dare walk down that path, because I know that it's something that I'd never be able to walk away from easily. But to better answer your question, a lot of people, no, don't seem to think that any harm will come to them from drinking. Gee, one wasn't bad, I think I'll have another. And then there's a third. And a fourth. I can go on. And in some cases, well, I guess you can say it's sheer stupidity. I'm not knocking anyone who does drink, but it's beyond, BEYOND pointless. And it isn't worth it. Period. I rest my case.

[ArtistBboy]

Great point. +1

[Nocturne]

Look at it this way, people that are online more than 8 hours a day or playing video games or watching TV are no different. It isn't what it does to you, it is your associated dependance on that particular thing that generates an addiction. Alchohol (along with partying/clubbing, etc.) produces a shortwhile, relative euphoria experience (ultimately it is a depressant). People gain a dependence and association on that with having "fun". Therefore whenever they want the "good" feelings, they drink. Because it is associated with clubbing and having fun.

Much like playing video games. Someone keeps playing (even when depressed) because it is associated with fun. Even if their grades slip, love life fails, and stuff spirals downward.

We percieve all this to be fun because everyone we see in front of us is fun. Its an illusion. Dangerous illusion that becomes part of life.

[ArtistBboy]

First sentence- fail.

How does being on a tv or the internet for 8 hours+ constitute the fact that you are drunk?

[Nocturne]

Because alchoholism is an addiction. Believe it or not, if you are on here 8 hours a day, you are defined by psychology as having an addiction problem. If your need is to come on here every day, you may have a serious more addiction problem. Even though our culture and society is making an artificial dependency for things we don't really need, just because everyone does it doesn't mean its healthy. Alchohol, again, being one of them.

Read the rest of what I wrote.

[ArtistBboy]

Lol, pathetic. Grow up kid.

[Nocturne]

You must be quite the expert with your boyfriends huh?