Addiction in Society

As a young person, I can agree with the findings. In our society we are not introduced to drinking. Personally, I never saw the big draw into drinking in high school. I think because it was never a big deal to me. My parents always let me have a sip of their drinks as I was growing up (literally, a sip). I knew what it tasted like and that my family did it without getting drunk. It wasn't a forbidden fruit, so to say. Being that I'm 25 now, I can say that while I did have some 'wild' nights in college, I didn't have the same draw to go out just to get drunk. A few drinks is fine for me. I think that being introduced to alcohol under supervised circumstances would make a difference, although not be a solution.

I am curious if there have been studies done about drinking in countries where the drinking age is 18. I don't remember much binge drinking when I was studying in Manitoba, Canada. What about in Germany or France where beer and wine are introduced to children at a young age?

I think it starts at home with parents educating their children about healthy drinking patterns.

Teens, I believe will always test the limits a few times and this includes binge drinking but whether they continue with this behavior may very well be rooted in the way society views them. I don't believe I know a single person who hasn't had at least 1 or 2 incidents of getting rip roaring drunk, puking, and passing out. Almost all of us have at a young age crouched over the toilet and prayed that if we can just make it through this we'll never drink agian. We are sincere in our sickness but for the most part take away the nausea and there too goes the resolve to always drink responsibly. That resolve comes from someplace else.

I think, sensible drinking comes from stuff that parents and society do that make a kid feel worthy of a good life free from alcohol dependence, mainly the expecatation that it's possible and likely for them to learn moderation. It may therefore be the sense of maturity that comes from being allowed to drink that promotes better choices rather than exposure to the alcohol itself. If society tells me I can't handle my liquor than where's my motivation to incooperate alcohol in responsible ways? The self-fufilling prophecy piggybacks on teenage experiementation with sometimes deadly outcomes.

I feel that with an introduction to the college environment and the first time really being away from home students tend to go overboard. And also like Becky stated, youth love to test the limits. Unfortunately it seems to be the only way we as a youth can learn to drink sensibly. However, I feel that there is another way around the problem of binge drinking on college campuses.
The sad truth is “where there is a will there is a way.” Colleges and states can put up as many laws as they please, but the reality is that kids will find a way to get drunk. The study stated in this article found that most of the heavy drinking is done off campus at bars or house parties. The school may set their limits of drinks a student can have on campus, but they cannot do so off-campus. It is up to the police to be in charge here and if the individuals are not disturbing anyone then there isn’t much that can be done. The greatest and worse thing that the United States has may be the Bill of Rights. The laws protect the rights of citizens. It protects citizens from being illegally searched. Police must either smell or see something in order to act in most instances. Therefore, if students are smart about hiding their drinking and being quiet at parties, then they will be able to binge drink.
A way around the problem may be to lower the drinker age back to 18. If parents teach their kids the appropriate way to drink and how to do so in moderation it may not be as exciting when one hits college or drinking age. Many parents are so strict in high school that their children go crazy once they have the “freedom” of the college setting. Foreign students often look at the Americans as if they are crazy because in many European countries it is frowned upon to make a drunken fool of yourself. It is not as exciting to the residents of other countries because they have always had the ability to drink. To put it this way, when one hits an age or a time in their life when it is easy to drink, such as a college setting, they get so excited that they don’t know how to handle it; they go overboard. To make a comparison, when one gets their license, all they want to do is drive all the time. Well when one can drink more easily, they want to get it all in. If alcohol is introduced gradually throughout a childhood, then the person knows how to drink in moderation and may not be so excited about it. Kids love to test the unknown and find out their limits. They love taking risks and doing what they shouldn’t. It is part of growing up.
Other factors that contribute to binge drinking may be the status, the culture of alcohol on campus, peer pressure and stress from academics. Many students are pushed by their peers to drink for the sole purpose to get wasted. On the male side, it is frowned upon to be a “light weight.” The man who drinks 20 beers in a night instead of just 15 is respected more. This is the sad culture of a college campus. Take away the factors that contribute to drinking and perhaps the dangers of binge drinking will decrease.
Alcohol is often advertised so much to the young age group that it is almost impossible to turn it down. Like the article said, happy hours, cheap drinks, one price for a night of drinking, etc., all add to more and more drinking. Unfortunately the alcohol business is a big money business and they survive through the younger population’s stupidity of not knowing when to stop. I feel that if the drinking age is reduced and it is gradually introduced that binge drinking will be reduced on college campuses. Educating the younger population on the dangers of alcohol and eliminating the pressure put on students to drink more will help save lives. Stress management workshops may also help and alternate activities on campus could be another solution. Bottom line is kids will always drink, but it is important that they are taught to control it.

I feel that with an introduction to the college environment and the first time really being away from home students tend to go overboard. And also like Becky stated, youth love to test the limits.
Rocky
Drug Intervention

Drinking should be done along with responsibility. And it is very important to educate drinkers to become responsible and it start in our home or if not in school.Nice article.

Alcohol is often advertised so much to the young age group that it is almost impossible to turn it down. Like the article said, happy hours, cheap drinks, one price for a night of drinking, etc., all add to more and more drinking. That is why so hard to stop too much drinking.

This topic, binge drinking, has interested me for some time now and I think that I would love to do my honours thesis on it. It's unfortunate because so many parents are naive in believing that the law will protect their children from underage drinking, but the fact remains that a majority of children and teens will drink underage. A teen's first experience with alcohol is usually with their friends who are inexperienced with drinking. This creates the wrong mindset about the use of alcohol; teens think that they must drink to get drunk. Education is the key. We need to change teen's conception of drinking and teach them appropriate drinking habits.