Many Teens Getting Free Alcohol From Adults

[MTK]

Where was all this free booze when I was a kid?

link: washingtonpost.com

[mooby]

My parents would never buy me alcohol, even my older sister wouldn't. I have friends a couple years older than me who get me alcohol. I'm not a huge drinker though, I've only drank like 3 times in the past six months (20th b-day last friday, one weekend in April, and New Years Day).

Then again I'm not like a lot of people I know that drink, most of them being underage. They drink like every Friday or Saturday night, sometimes both. And they don't do it casually either, their goal is to get hammered and have a good time.

[redsk1]

Just to put a date on it, i'm 34. We used to get alcohol from:

Someone's older brother, a friend that was 21+, or just someone that happened to look like they might be going in to the grocery store to buy some beer. For some reason saying "hey could you buy us some beer" would usually work.

Buying it ourselves w/ either a hideous looking fake id or buying it w/out being carded at the convenience store outside of the burbs, in the not so nice part of town. For some reason no one cared there.

Lastly, occasionally parents would buy some for their kids and close friends of the kids. My mother would probably still flip out if she knew this, but it did happen...often enough.

[BDBohnzie]

I didn't really start "drinking" until I got to college. Before then, I'd sneak a shot or so of Jim Beam into a Coke when no one was looking, but nothing more than that.

The guy across the hall freshman year...his girlfriend was 21, so every Friday afternoon, we'd throw some cash in an envelope with our order and slip it under his door, then by 7pm that evening, we could pick it up. Came in very handy...until you ran out of beer Saturday night and had to bum off friends.

After that, I was always friends with someone older, and got to know the guys at the local beer store, so every once in a while when I knew their bosses weren't in, or the cops weren't around, they'd sell to me. In the 2+ years of college before turning 21, I never went without.

Once I turned 21, I'd return the favor from time to time...probably took advantage of the younger guys sometimes (keeping change, buying extra off their money, etc.), but nothing that didn't happen to me. Plus being in a Fraternity, I made plenty of beer runs during parties (I volunteered to stay sober, and drive people to and from if need be). I know I made a run or 2 for AMD...

[mredskins]

Growing up we drank in my buddies basement. Maybe like twice a month. the beer fridge was always full and we took advantge. His parents turned a blind eye to it.

Honestly though at that age I had no stress and enjoyed hanging with my friends. I would rather on a summer's night in High School gone swimmimg, played b-ball, video games, or talk to girls then drink myself stupid.

Now with a job, mortgage, a HOA, a kid and a wife bring the beer on it is my only escape! =)

[cpayne5]

Originally Posted by mredskins

Growing up we drank in my buddies basement. Maybe like twice a month. the beer fridge was always full and we took advantge. His parents turned a blind eye to it.

Honestly though at that age I had no stress and enjoyed hanging with my friends. I would rather on a summer's night in High School gone swimmimg, played b-ball, video games, or talk to girls then drink myself stupid.

Now with a job, mortgage, a HOA, a kid and a wife bring the beer on it is my only escape! =)

I laughed.

[DynamiteRave]

I had my first drink when I was 13.. In 8th grade.. At a party.. That was supervised by adults who had no idea that the alcohol was there. At least not for the first hour. After that, the parents of the chick who was throwing the party found it and sent us all home.

Apparently all you have to do is find the right adult, give them the money (and maybe a little tip) and they'll do it for you. Usually it'd be one of my jailbait looking friends would hook a 21-22 year old guy and get them to buy it.

Also once we got into high school, it was easy to find liquor stores downtown (One of them was in Foggy Bottom) that will give you alcohol and won't even card you. Either that or my friends would slip them an extra $20 or $30 and they wouldn't card.

[That Guy]

my parents never cared if i drank, even when i was like 12 (military in germany for a bit on both), but as a result i never cared either and never picked it up.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by cpayne5

I laughed.

Good eyes! I didn't think anyone would get it.

[BleedBurgundy]

In other news, water's wet and hell is hot. I mean really, does this surprise anyone???

[jsarno]

This is a funny thread...I was just asked friday night by one of my employees to buy him beer. He's only 19.
I would have NEVER asked my boss for that when I was younger.

[saden1]

The age limit at 21 is kinda retarded. Seriously, all you need is an older brother, a cousin, a friend's brother, a loser that hangs out with teens, your parent's liquor stash, or your friendly 7-11 patron. If you're absolutely desperate a homeless guy will do.

First time I drank beer was when I was 10. I was at an aunt's house and I thought it was new flavor of Coke. Needless to say my parents saw me strutting about with the "coke" and that was the last time we ever went to my aunt's house.

[jsarno]

sorry saden, 21 is a good age, cause teenagers don't know how to be responsible with drinking. I don't think for one minute that if the age was dropped, they wouldn't need to "sneak" it, therefore they would miraculously become responsible.

[saden1]

Does the limit deter teens from drinking? Isn't it the parent's responsibility to teach their kids to drink responsibly?

When you hit 18 you're considered an adult. You are expected to exercise sound judgment and you're held accountable as an adult for your actions. If you can't at 18 I don't know how much difference an additional 3 years make.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by saden1

Does the limit deter teens from drinking?

It makes it much harder, which in turn does deter teens from drinking. (albeit slightly) Especially with all the laws about selling to underage teens.

Isn't it the parent's responsibility to teach their kids to drink responsibly?

Absolutely, but be careful with this one, parental skills have gone south, so unless you feel 100% OK with parents teaching EVERYTHING the way they should, this argument is about as valid as michael jackson's children's museum pass.

When you hit 18 you're considered an adult. You are expected to exercise sound judgment and you're held accountable as an adult for your actions. If you can't at 18 I don't know how much difference an additional 3 years make.

I understand your argument, especially considering an 18 year old can go into the military, (although one of the main reasons that is true is because it's harder to recruit after kids choose a college / career path, so out of HS is the best way to get them...right or wrong, that's one of the reasons why 18 year olds are allowed in the military) but if 18 year olds showed sound judgement, then they would be able to drink at 18. While there are plenty of responsible 18 year olds out there, the majority are not.
You might be right about the difference between a 21 year old and an 18 year old, but if that argument holds any water, then what's the difference between an 18 year old and a 15 year old? To me there is a world of difference.