Starboy, it's an admirable decision.  I don't think you're missing out, it's not a necessity of life.  Honestly most of the time we drink just to feel like we fit in and help us feel more comfortable in social situations.  Not the right reasons anyway!  

Does it need to be a life-time decision?  Will you beat yourself up with guilt down the road if you decide to have a drink?  That's not worth it either.  I would accept that it's your decision for now and if you change your mind down the road, and have a few drinks socially that's ok too.

The bigger thing for me is if at your age you can think this through and make this kind of decision yourself, then you're setting the foundation to make other responsible decisions in adulthood.  Resisting peer pressure is hard, and it sounds like you have the self confidence to say "NO" when everyone else is saying "Sure, ok".

 thanks for the insightful input! 

i agree that to "beat yourself up with guilt down the road if you decide to have a drink" is not a good idea, and definitely the foundation thing, thanks.

Props for you! Alcohol is one of the worst things humans ever created. Now, if we used marijuana instead of alcohol to socialize and relaxe the world would be so much better. But that's a different topic... KenzieDark pretty much said all there is to say.

I don't drink for some of the same reason's as you - don't like the taste and hate the feeling of not being in control.  But to make a pledge is worthless in my opinion. If you don't want to drink - don't  - but you never know what tomorrow will bring.It kinda reminds me of the chastisy/ no sex that some teens pledge. believe me you don't know what is coming around the bend and guilt of breaking pledges is a heavy burden.

 I like the taste of a good wine or cold Corona with lime but getting drunk has never had an appeal to me.  I have done it, and paid the price the next day and I don't like that feeling of loss of control either. Not being able to speak properly etc. 

If you eventually learn to enjoy a fine wine or something like that there is nothing wrong with that. Heck it even has health benefits. But hard liquor to me is not good for anything BUT getting drunk.

To the not drinking ever and can you do it, I'm sure you could if you wanted to, I know my brother has never had a drink (ok he's only 22 but that's longer than most). If that's what you want to do then there's nothing forcing you to drink.

I think you'll be able to avoid the things you don't like about drinking (other than the taste) by drinking responsibly if you do eventually decide to drink. I've never had to worry about me or any of my friends drinking and driving because we all know it's just not going to happen. We always have a planned DD before we go out or we plan to leave in time for the last bus, or we all have at least one taxi # in our cell phones. If for some reason none of these things are possible we just don't go out.

To the getting drunk bit, I don't know about anyone else but I can feel when I'm getting drunk. I know my limit and I know when to stop (unless I want to get drunk but I'm not a huge fan of the feeling so that's not often) if you set your limit and stick to it then you should be fine.

 I guess what I was trying to say is that there is no evil in having A DRINK.  There is a difference between having a drink (or two) and getting drunk.  In the bible, Jesus' first miracle in his ministry was to turn water into wine at a wedding.  (hmmm why do I keep going back to wine? )

So if you find yourself savoring something particulary fine in the future don't beat yourself up over it.

I think that alcohol can be a huge problem for many but can also be not a problem.

Certainly "tea totalers" the old fashioned name for those who never drink , have shorter lilfe spans than those who take an occasional glass of wine.  Besides the recognised beneficial effects of wine, you have the social issues.

If you don't want to drink,   dont.  If you are a teen it is a wise decision.  Alot of grief, heart ache, mistakes and deaths can be linked to teens overdrinking.  Whether it leads to drinving accidents, alcohol poisoning, pregnancy, fights, or just doing some absolutely stupid thing that you will regret forever, teens and alcohol can be a very bad mix.

Culturally it is hard not to drink.  Many people do though for many different reasons.

But I agree with Trish, there is no evil in alcohol.  the evil is in over indulgence

Hi Star boy, Good for you on that decision. I agree alcohol is yukky. Even when I drank I never liked the taste. I don't drink now. I quit at 18. I started at 15. As you can imagine I overindulged. I wanted to be bad, I wanted to explore what this thing called drunk was, and I liked it! Being drunk, not the drinking. As a shy person, I liked the eased self-conciousness and uninhibitedness, the loss of physical pain, the skipping time (one moment your standing up, the next your on the ground laughing). So I drank the hardest stuff available so as to get drunk fastest with the least gulping involved. No, not a healthy thing to do. So I decided one day when I was 18, that that was that. Alcohol was poisoning me, and I cared more about myself than all that, and I'd never drink again. Since then I loosened up a bit, and have from time to time tried a sip of this or that, just because I don't want to be ridgid and inflexible, and I want to see if my revultion is still there, and it is. My body rejects it, I have a convulsive, nausious shiver. I have what's called an alcohol intollerance. I don't even like hairspray for that reason. Just the smell makes me feel woozy. I feel that I am missing out though, cause most adults enjoy a drink with friends now and again, and I sometimes worry that people will ask why I don't drink when I say no thank you to the wine. But so far they haven't. It's personal and people respect that. Besides some adults just don't like booze.

So I say, you will miss out on some fun. Being drunk is fun. And some insight, knowing what drunkeness is all about, as it is a big past of our culture, and some adults may think you naive if you've never been drunk even once. And also that you don't have to decide now for forever. Give your older self the chance to decide for himself, and just decide for now.

Like you, I have chosen not to drink -- I have never had any alcohol and will be turning 26 soon -- so I'm in a time of life when lots of people are drinking.  I don't feel I'm missing much.  I know a couple guys who will drink because it's what's expected of them in that situation, and not because they actually want a drink.  That, I think, is sad.

However, I do agree with the above comments that it shouldn't necessarily be a "committment" but rather a "decision for now" since you don't know what the future will bring.

And my no-alcohol decision has been fairly odd since when I went to the UK, I toured four whisky distilleries and the Guinness factory (and they all include free alcohol at the end).  And then when I was in Slovenia, a few restaurants gave us a free drink to end off the meal.  In all those situations, I just left the drink where it was.

There seems to be a disconnect between responsible drinking and drinking to excess. Starboy, if I recall, you mentioned your age once, and you are rather young. Like most things--sex, work, food, exercise, etc. -- alcohol is fine in moderation. There is a whole world of alcoholic beverages out there that you may enjoy. Wine for instance is an ancient, traditional drink that should you never come to appreciate as you grow older - in my opinion - would be unfortunate. We're talking countless generations of tradition that have been "poured" into wines - refining them to bring out flavours in foods - enhancing them - enriching them. There is a feeing when the right wine hits your cheeks that I've yet to experience with any other beverage.

It's entirely a matter of perspective.

Also - are you aware that in many cultures around the world having a "shot" or an alcoholic beverage together is seen as a sign of respect? Refusing the drink is seen as an insult.

Remember that in all things, moderation and perspective are critical. You've likely only been exposed to the negative messages and images of young teens and "binge" drinking - which never appealed to me either. Rememebr also to keep an open mind - as your body, mind and "tastes" are constantly changing and maturing - opening up new culinary adventures to explore.

Cheers!

 I enjoy a good wine paired with the right food. They compliment each other so nicely. And a cold beer with Hot Wings. Again, not to get drunk but from a gourmet point of view.

When I lived in Quebec, I would often have wine with a meal especially with friends.  Over the past thirty plus years, I have dropped any kind of alcoholic beverages for health reasons.  You can do anything you set your mind to provided you don't have a dependency problem at present.  If anyone hassles you about not drinking, tell them to take a long walk off a short dock.  Stick to your convictions.  Your liver will thank you for it.

Starboy, I admire your commitment to clearly identifying you don't drink.  There is nothing wrong with choosing not to drink and if that is your conviction for however long then kudos to you.  However, there is also nothing wrong with enjoying the odd alcholic beverage (as long as you're not an alcoholic). Ultimately, I agree with the sentiment that changing your mind someday down the road Ipreferably when you are over 19!) could be okay and not something to beat yourself up about. 

I enjoy the odd glass of wine immensely.  I agree that I do not like drinking to excess and I particularly do not like the loss of control.  I had a friend killed by a drunk driver and I have zero tolerance for driving under the influence. 

In many ways I sincerely hope that my sons choose the same convictions until they are old enough to have a more mature relationship with alcohol.  Drinking seems to be such a "macho" thing to do among male teens and as the mother of three boys I worry about that influence.

oops double post again....grrrr

geez, specialmom... whats with all the double posts lately??  you think i'm deaf or something?!?!?  LOL!!

anyways, i think that its very admirable to say that you aren't going to consume alcohol, and then do it.  i know many people who have, and one of my favorite literary characters at this moment is a recovering alcoholic and doesn't drink any alcohol whatsoever. 

personally, i really enjoy smirnoff vodka coolers, and vodka cosmopolitans.  for me, it is a special treat, though, and i don't have to have one every day... in fact, i think the last time i had one was 2 weeks ago when i was out for a special night with some friends.  and even then, i only had 2.

what i'm trying to say is that i hope that you don't look at people like me, who consume alcohol occasionally, as weak or wrong.  i fully understand the gravity of the decision to consume, and only do so when i have taken precautions to ensure that everyone is safe. 

does that make any sense??

Hi Starboy,

That would be up to you wouldn't it?  I mean what are the odds of anyone actually tying you down and forcing alcohol down your throat?

As far as the goodness of the decision goes that is entirely up to you to decide.  Your opinions may change.  If they do then they do and you can make a new decision then and work on it.  I myself do not drink and that is directly related to the history of alcohol abuse in my family and I would rather do without than learn the hard way that I take to alcohol like a fish takes to water.

I have had a sip of champagne which I found to be exceedingly disgusting as far as taste goes and once in an Anglican worship service I let curiousity get the better of me and not having my communion wafer to dip in the wine it was just the priest and I to finish off what had been poured.

My United Church Welches experience did not prepare me for a full chalice of wine which the priest generously poured down my throat.  I have no idea if it was good wine or not, it certainly spread a warmth through me and I wrestled with whether or not I could get drunk that fast and would I be able to make it back to my pew.

On the plus side if the priest was driving that morning I helped keep his blood alcohol down.

So that was twice since I was 19 and I'll be 44 on my next birthday.

I never said I would never drink alcohol.  I simply stay away from it because I have seen and felt what its abuse can do to families and I love mine too much to take that chance.

Definitely not too young.  You seem to have had some experience and you seem to have thought about the matter so if you are comfortable with your decision I don't know why anyone else would not be.

It matters to you so yes, it matters.

Well, I can think of no worthwhile learning I gained from my two drinks.  I know that champagne must be an acquired taste and I have no interest in acquiring it.  I can eat lilypad root if I want to taste something disgusting (and I have eaten it so I know what I am talking about).

Missing out on what?

Drinking alcohol?  If you aren't eating lilypad root would you be worried about missing out on that?  If you do let me know I can set you up with some.  There is nothing more hilarious than watching someone try lilypad root for the first time.

I've been trying to get my son to try some so far he is too chicken.

Drinking or not drinking is your decision to make.  If it feels like a good decision to you then stick with it untilyou are given a reason to think otherwise.  Not drinking is not going to harm you.

Grace and peace to you.

John

[/quote]

 wow thanks for the amazing replies everyone.. this has really helped, more than i ever expected. 

 wow thanks for the amazing replies everyone.. this has really helped, more than i ever expected. 

imo, drinking is not a bad thing as long as you are responsible about it. I drink every once in a while with my friends and I have never had a problem. I chase every drink with water, whether it's a straight shot or a mixed drink or a glass of wine (I don't drink beer). I stop once I get a decent buzz and I have never been more drink than that. At that point, it's hard to keep balance and I had very drunken mannerisms but it's still possible to do things if you concentrate. I found no difference in how my senses worked and I felt I had the same rational faculty I have when I'm sober. I was able to have intelligent conversations, including a discussion about a chemistry assignment and the history of Christianity (on two seperate occasions). Emotionally, I recognized my mood was different, I was a little happier, but that is something that is different for each person.

If you don't want to drink, that's totally cool because it's your life, but I will give you some drinking advice, just in case you change your mind. A good personal rule to have in case you do decide that you want to drink is never to buy your own booze, because that way you will only be able to drink if someone else is willing to give you something, and that will also remove any temptation you will have to overdrink because the booze is not yours. Also, I have a friend who drinks a lot and he has told me to never drink alone because it's depressing, so make sure you always drink with good friends who you can trust. If they are seasoned drinkers, tell them that you do not want to have too much and they will probably (if they are good friends) help you to get to where you want to be and stop you when you make it there.

PS, and for the record, I had the same attitude about drinking that you have now up until I went to university. Two of my room mates in rez are seasoned drinkers. They are good friends and generally responsible and I was fortunate to have been in their company the first time I drank. Thanks to them, I was able to have a safe and positive first experience. If you do decide to drink, make sure you do it in the right company.

You will be missing out on something, in the same way a vegetarian misses out on meat.  Some vegetarians miss the aesthetic value of roasted animal flesh.  Others think it tastes disgusting and will never miss it.  Similarly, you are choosing to avoid a class of food products for personal reasons.  Up until now, you have found alcoholic beverages less than mouthwatering.  It may be that these products don't agree with your palate; it may also be that you've only been exposed to bottom-of-the-barrel wine and bland, mass-produced beer.  As someone who is extremely enthusiastic about beer, I am biased toward the opinion that you are missing out on a fantastic sensory experience.  You can, however, make it through life no worse for wear (and certainly better off than some) through teetotalism.

Starboy,

You've had some very good comments. Decide to do what you want. Maybe someday your decision will change. It's yours (the decision) and you can do what you want with it. I don't drink. I never really made a decision or pledge about it. I just wasn't really interested. It's never been a problem not to drink. And I'm in my 40's so if you end up really deciding you don't want to drink ever, it's certainly possible. On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with an occassional drink and most of the people I know enjoy a glass of wine or beer now and then. Make the decision that's right for YOU.

 Sure you can do it, but what do you think of us drinkers? I know you find alcohol repulsive...so can that extend to the people who drink? Or maybe the "effects" it has when they are drinking?

of course i don't find people who drink repulsive.. maybe alcoholics, i don't have a high regard for people who brag about how they got wasted or "totally tripped out last night" or people who drink and drive.

my own parents drink alcohol, so does my brother, and in moderation, that's fine.

but i just don't think it's something for me.

[/quote]

of course i don't find people who drink repulsive.. maybe alcoholics, i don't have a high regard for people who brag about how they got wasted or "totally tripped out last night" or people who drink and drive.

my own parents drink alcohol, so does my brother, and in moderation, that's fine.

but i just don't think it's something for me.

[/quote]

According to AA, Im an alcoholic,  a functioning one. I dont buy into the AA test, but I have made the choice that I can have a few drinks in my life once in a while. At the same time Im a scholarship student at University in a mathematics program, moving into my second career. I wont brag to people about how I got pie-eyed the other night, and if you asked, many people wouldnt know I ever drank a drop. Is it repulsive? debatable. But its my life, and it works for me. 

What you are doing is okay. Not ever wishing to have a drink is fine, but, denying yourself something so simple and human as alcohol is like missing out on an experience in life that you may want to experiment with safely and properly.

I knew a girl once who rejected weed-she would never smoke it, it was the most complete rejection of dope I've ever heard! That was fifteen years ago. Now, her brain is so cooked and fried because of all the drugs she has done.  I dont know exactly how it happened, maybe her rejection made it taboo, and once she tried it, she kept wanting more - i think it had alot to do with her closed mindedness to the drug to begin with - she would never never touch it.

So ya, do drink, do not drink, really the choice is yours, but i think its good to have an open mind about alcohol, knowing that you can handle a drink or two once a year at christmas or new years - never say never, never! 

Good luck

I like a wine. I didn't have my first drink until I was 21. I can't remember whether I liked or disliked it.

For years, I drank - sometimes too much but very, very rarely so much that it make me silly.

Then, living alone, I got into the habit of drinking hard liquor in the evening. I got used to it, so I could manage half a bottle in an evening. In fact, I needed half a bottle. And there were times when i was very obviously drunk though, luckily, these were rarely in public.

At the same time, I became a three pack a day smoker. And that became as vital as the half bottle of scotch.Then I married, had children, but the habit and the dependence remained.

Then, one day, as I was talking to my three year old sons, I couldn't speak, just grunt guttural sounds. And the side of my face collapsed.

The hospital diagnosed an "incident", similar to a stroke but far less severe. The doctor didn't have to tell me t he role of tobacco and alcohol.

That was ten years ago. But an "incident" is a wonderfully sobering experience. I have not smoked since, and not even been tempted to. I still occasionally enjoy a glass of wine - maybe even two - but it happens on average less than once a week. I suppose I might enjoy a scotch - but I feel no great desire for one, so I haven't had one in over a year.

So - if you don't much want to drink, you would be a fool to expose yourself to such risks by starting - for any reason. You can have no idea whether you would develop a habit and a dependency - so why take the risk?

If you do decide you want to drink, then keep control. Set a limit - and if you find yourself going over the limit, face up to it and deal with it.

Don't wait until your face collapse. It is a sure cure -but you may not be lucky enough to survive to complete the cure.

greame

My advice is always, no matter the situation,  "never say never". 

Both my parents smoked and we all vowed we wouldn't. My sister and brother still smoke and I did for decades, finally quitting almost 5 years ago.

My stepdad, who was an influence on all of us, is an alcoholic. All of us kids made big old vows about not drinking or not drinking to excess...

I skipped drinking and smoking pot in my early teens and felt pretty smug. Then, after some life trauma I chose one night to get high on cocaine. I desperately wanted to escape and you cannot escape life while breathing and it offered all I could hope for at the time, an altered reality if you will.That first time resulted in two trips to rehab within a year.

My brother is a functioning alcoholic. My sister is a tweaker (a full blown meth head) complete with trips to jail and giving away her body for her next rush.

Me, well, I choose not to do ilegal drugs and have for about twenty years. I drink maybe a six pack of beer a year. I will have a glass of wine with holiday dinners. I just choose everyday to make the best or the better choices for me.

No more vows. I never say never.

Do what is best for you, what feels right... but my advice is still "never say never"

Peace,

StevieG

Starboy,

I enjoy dry red wine with food, same for white now and then, and cold beer on a hot day and warm beer on a cold day is fine too...but I think

You miss nothing important if you decide not to drink anything that contains alcohol.

I read and read, and thought you got many excellent answers, i certainly cannot improve. I will rather deal with relevant  facts that have not come up yet: (i think)

Alcohol  is a poison which adult livers can tolerate up to some limit which depends on health, weight, race and other factors. The health benefits of drinking (astringent and acidic) red wine can be replicated by eating dark coloured fruit and vegetables, dark chocolate and drinking coffee in moderation, tea as well, in moderation.

It has been found that mild drinkers live a year or two longer...than non drinkers, but I am sure healthy food and a healthy life style can do the same.

Some will argue that pot is better, but I will argue that better is not best!,  and i think it is fairly easy to proof that alcohol has done much more harm to society and native peoples  everywhere in the world than... a lot of other things.... Pot smoking still harms the lungs and some of the effects to certain brain and other hormonal issues and functions scares me. Pot is not the topic of your post. Let me not digress!

You can pledge, but you should not, i think...do not lay the table for disappointment later...moderation is a good idea, but some habits are good habits not to have...so if you sacrifice alcohol , for your own sake, and others, you will never be sorry.

Bless you, noble specimen

I'm a social drinker, which tends to mean 2-3 times a year right now. I like wine and some beers (had some nice local stuff in New Orleans recently) but mostly avoid the hard stuff except for the odd glass of single malt scotch. In between social occasions, I'm pretty much a teetotaller, partially by choice and partially because my wife had to avoid alcohol for a time due to medication and has stayed away from it since. I think making the choice to not drink is a personal one and, like any such choice, needs to be reviewed periodically to make sure it still fits your current values. That said, if you think it's a choice that you can stick to, go for it and good luck!

Greetings!

Like most things in life, drinking alcohol is a choice.  And for the most part neither one not good or bad, right or wrong.  It is a personal choice and one we make based on our own lives and personality.  For some, like myself the choice to abstain from alcohol is a good one.  In my early 30's I made a decision to not drink alcohol, not that I felt I had an addiction, but rather that alcohol and I did not get along well together, for a lot of reasons.  For me and my life this has been the best decision and my life is far more richer without it.  I shudder when I think of what my life might be like today if I had not made this decision.  But what has been right for me might not have been right for another.  I do not have any issue with those who drink alcohol, but for me my life is far better without it.

Hope, peace, joy, love ...

It takes a lot of courage to make a decision like this. Personally, I've made the same decision. I've decided that I'm going, "straight edge", or in plainer english, I'm choosing to abstain from drinking, drugs, smoking, and all that jazz. I won't pretend like it's an easy choice. I've received a lot of harsh comments about this decision.

As for whether it matters, if it matters to you, then yes. It absolutely does matter. Isn't it nice that you won't have to worry about waking up and not remembering the night before? And even if one day you choose that you do want to drink, then it's your choice, and you need to do what's best for you. It's your choice. :]

Hi Starboy,

Not drinking because you just don't want to is easy; not drinking because you think you shouldn't will be hard from time to time.  I think it's important to seperate those 2.  You say you don't want to drink mostly because of the taste.  No problem!  Let your taste buds be your guide (much less fickle than a consience).  I have devoted myself to a life without pickles (and don't get me started on radishes in potatoe salad). 

Above all, I echo what many have already said; it's your choice.  Feel free to change your mind; or not. 

If you can't differentiate drinking alcoholic beverages from drunkenness, it's not surprising that you get some harsh comments.  Many people intake alcohol in moderation, enjoying its aesthetic appeal over its intoxicating powers.

Who wants to go for a beer?

On second thought....let's all go for a soda.

 Ur actually quite adorable

But when real life hits you're gonna need something to dull the pain either alcohol or drugs, alcohol is better

Down the road we all give in to temptation don't let anyone fool you into thinking that they don't.

Why does it have to be drugs or alcohol? Why can't it be support from friends or family or church? Loads of people experience "real life" everyday without resorting to drinking or doing drugs.

Kuddos to you dude.  Join the (non)alcoholic party!  You really aren't missing out on anything, except flush cheeks and flushing the toilet mulitple times.

Enjoy your life drug free.  You don't need booze, or weed, or any drugs.  You really can have a good life without them (perish the thought!).

:)

As-Salaamu Alaikum

-Omni

Tell that to the 1.3 billion Muslims in the world that don't drink alcohol, myself included.

As-Salaamu Alaikum

-Omni

Gosh Omni you are 17 ? you know nothing about life, you have zero understanding so you really don't know what you are talking about, and I won't even waste my time trying to explain it seriously 17 ? you can make cute quotations and read with the best of them but experience teaches ....you can't find that in any book sorry but it's just drivel.

Understand that I'm not talking about excess but a drink here and there and a toke here and there is not going to send you to hell.

Friends ? Family ? Church what if that is what leads people to do these things in the first place not everyone has a lovely dovey relationship with family .... their friends may be in the same boat and Church well what a joke ?

I'm 36.  I drink on occasion, but never to excess, and never when I have to drive later that day.

That approach is easy when you have a wife, a kid, and have completely lost track of most of your friends because they have jobs and kids too.  It's harder when you're younger, in (say) university, and have friends who drink.

In school, my friends were a diverse lot.  A good number of them were very religious, and complete teetotalers.  Others were...not.  I was somewhere in the middle on the drinking scale, and as anti-theistic as I am today.

I believe there is something to be said in favour of the occasional alcohol-based celebration.  Not to the point of passing out or alcohol poisoning, of course.  Though I never completely took part in one, I wish I had.

The main reason I never really got sloshed, is that alcohol puts me to sleep.  It certainly lowers inhibitions in everyone, but I always doze off before I'm overcome by the urge to sing karaoke.  It's for the best.

As for the taste, I still don't like beer.  I like wine more and more as I get older.  I've always enjoyed a rum and coke and some other mixed drinks.  I might have one or two tonight, but that's about it, and I probably won't have another all week.

There are some good reasons to stay away from booze.  If you know (or strongly suspect) you have a tendency toward addiction, never even touching the stuff is a commendable idea.

As you are a teenager, you'll undoubtably have many opportunities to reevaluate your position on alcohol.  I expect you'll try it again at some point, and I don't think you should be ashamed in any way if you do.  The trick is to be responsible, even when you're being irresponsible.  Easier said than done for some, but the vast majority of people are responsible and plan ahead.

WOW. What a source of inspiration you are. You must be all the rage at parties.

(WOW. What a source of inspiration you are. You must be all the rage at parties.)

That's it ? Cmon you can do better than that surely

I never said I was a source of inspiration

Why is everyone so afraid to lose control once in a while ?

Answer me that not that I expect you can

Because of what can happen when one does lose control. There, I answered. Your expectation was wrong.

I do enjoy red wine but as others point out, there is a difference between drunkeness and simply enjoying a quality beverage.  We make lots of decisions throughout life and we need to feel free to amend those decisions as necessary.  I think that for now, it's not a bad decision for you...cms

I was born in Bulgaria, and for me, alcohol has always been a natural part of family gatherings and social occasions.  I was raised with a very practical attitude towards it.  It was not something that I needed to be kept away from.  Instead, I learned how to drink in moderation and now, my dad regularly buys me booze whenever he visits me in university. 

I don't understand why parents think it's wise to treat drinking like a taboo (unless they have religious objections, in which case it's different).  It's a part of life in Canada, and it's something their kids will eventually encounter.  Why not teach them to drink responsibly? 

"so if you sacrifice alcohol , for your own sake, and others, you will never be sorry."

You can only take this attitude so far though.  Sacrifice all vice, and life becomes dystopic. 

Or better yet, why not teach that we all have choices? You can either drink repsonsibly, not at all or get smashed and suffer any consequences that may result from your actions while under the influence. People do not need alcohol to have a good time.

Jesouhaite. It's not the losing control that bothered me. It was the broken bones, deteriorating health and sanity, and the knowledge that I drove drunk again.

For someone I have seen who is so well humoured I did not expect such a venomous reply.  I'm shocked.

If you think I know nothing about life, perhaps you should try being 17 again (pun intended).  Every generation gets more experience compressed into a shorter time period.

I have to say the biggest shocker is your complete disregard for knowlege in various facets.  Does one have to experience war to know it's not pleasant?  Must one be the victim of abuse to know it sucks?

Experience teaches, yes, but unlike some people, i'm able to learn from the experiences of others.  Not every generation is doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past.  Some of us pay attention and avoid some of the pitfalls the befell those before us.

I know your not talking about excess.  And I agree, a drink here and there or a toke here and there will not send you to hell.  But I choose not to.  The thing I find most abhorant is that i'm being rediculed for making what many would consider a smart choice.  So much for good ol' canadian tolerance and that hinted at acceptance.

I think I understand what your saying here, although you could probably have been a little more clear.  So your saying that family and friends might be contributing factors in a person's choice to partake of alcohol and the likes?  I agree.  Peer pressure and the likes.  Drinking in the family.  I haven't had the most lovey-dovey relationship with my family, but you don't see me drawing some corrolation between a bad family relationship and having to partake.

What does church have to do with any of this?

As-Salaamu Alaikum

-Omni

Omni - the drug that many are telling you is harmless unless consumed to excess is also the greatest cause of death for kids your age in Canada.

Is it worth the risk? Will you really miss anything if you don't drink?