Alcohol is an interesting and prohibited substance that I saw as being something out of my reach and forbidden as a kid. It was so... so tempting. When kids are told not to do something, it makes us want to do it that much more. The prominence of underage drinking is more than you think. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, underage drinking from "people aged 12 to 20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States." But drinking when you become legal has become a boring pastime that I rarely partake in anymore. Since turning 21 in May this year, I have only drank a bottle of Sake before I began my experience at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG).
1. Do not drink too much (if you do drink underage)
Amy Schumer on Comedy Central
Well, if I were to start at the beginning, I had my first drink when I was 6. My parents left a cup, of what I thought was orange juice, which used to be orange juice until they added Peach Schnapps, successfully making it a Fuzzy Navel in the fridge. I thought it was a sweeter type of OJ and I loved it!
Alcohol does damage to the brain when you are underage because your brain is still developing and I know this first-hand. I don't know if it is because I drank so young but my hands shake pastime. But because I was exposed to alcohol at a young age, I didn't build up a desire to drink and thus I haven't caused trouble as an adult... like other people.
2. Experiment with your parents, not "friends" or strangers.
Mean Girls
My parents labeled me a natural born drinker after that incident. The taste was one I never forgot so I waited until I became a teen and drank with my parents one day out of the year. That day being... Valentine's day (maybe it was my drunk escape from hardly ever getting to eat chocolate) so I settled for a Fuzzy Navel. It is the simplest mixture: 1 part OJ to 1 part Peach Schnapps. So easy, right?
My parents let me drink underage so that I wouldn't experiment outside: out of their reach. By drinking with your parents, you can also find out your limit (important information you need when you go out to drink (in case your a light weight))
3. I only drink liquor and spirits IN MODERATION!
When I turned 18, my parents didn't mind me drinking because I always drank with them anyway. But when I got my hands on that Grey Goose Vodka. Oh my gurd! My life changed from cloudy to clear in a heartbeat. I have tried so many brands (Svedka, Pearl, Skyy, etc.) and flavors (wedding cake, lemonade, strawberry, etc.) of vodka but straight Grey Goose is the best! Although it is a bit pricey, I recommend it for new Vodka drinkers (as I should talk. I'm 21). I took a shot of Vodka to relax for 2 years and finished the bottle (despite my parent's anger).
2 years ago, on New Years Day, my mother and I met up with her friends and had a little party with... you guessed it, alcohol. Now, I am not an alcoholic because I realize what knocks me down. It is Everclear Grain Alcohol. I added 2 parts OJ, 1 part Peach Schnapps and (accidentally) 2 parts Everclear.
Liquor and Spirits are meant to be savored, not abused. Most people abuse alcohol and I have found that the real problem is beer. People chug Beer like its water and get addicted to its effects.
4. After drinking for a few years, the excitement goes away.
Now... If you have ever been buzzed, you know it and deny it now. Well, this was the first time I ever actually got buzzed. When I got up to walk after my first glass of the Fuzzy Navel (can it still be called that with the Everclear? I don't know) I almost fell over and it hit me really weirdly. I was drunk. But I was one of the ones that wanted to really test it so I walked around and fell down immediately. It was like my feet could stay flat on the ground.
The effects that alcohol has makes me feel uncomfortable and I didn't enjoy it back then and the same is true now. The excitement of drinking is gone for me now.
5. Alcoholism is NOT a disease.
Sherlock
I drank ALOT under the age of 21 and I turned out pretty well but some are not so lucky. A lot of kids/teens that drink to cope with something bad or to get by end up addicted to the feeling of being out-of-touch with reality and the feeling of fuzziness. To me, the feeling was uncomfortable and scary. I couldn't control my equilibrium and my ability to make decisions was difficult to process.
I realized early on that you make the choice to drink so it's not a disease, it's an addiction (I absolutely hate when someone says that Alcoholism is a disease). Someone with Parkison's disease doesn't pastime to develop a movement disorder.
