Hazing in my fraternity!!

[themadchemist]

I'm not suggesting that binge drinking is "A OK" but there's a good deal worse that goes on without anyone getting too worked up about it. Yes it can kill you but so can a great many other things and, whilst the dangers of chronic alcohol abuse are well proven, this kind of experience is not going to leave these guys as alcoholic bums with cirrhotic livers in ten years time.

Sure, but my point is that dispensing with the concern lightly, as you did in your previous post, encourages the kind of culture where drinking a lot isn't seen as a big deal and can become more habitual.

In this instance this might be the only time in the year that these two get this drunk, who knows. They may be under-21 but they are at least 18 and adult enough to vote, fight wars and marry so I wouldn't worry too much about them.

And I agree that the drinking age should likely be lowered in the United States, but for now, it is profoundly idiotic for university-sanctioned organizations to make underaged kids drink until they are sick.

The level of coercion involved in this case has not been established, the original poster never stated to what extent these two were forced to do it. If they undertook this experience voluntarily, albeit with a motivation to become part of a group, that really is their business as adults.

While it is their decision and they can always say no, I think it is fair to criticize a system that rewards poor decision-making with the promise of social acceptance.

I'm not saying it's right, but I am saying it happens and that perhaps a sense of proportion is required.

Of course, but my contention was only that the sense of proportion that you offered was also out of whack. The dangers of walking into the street are not equivalent to the dangers of drinking to excess.

 

[tkepongo]

I talked to the freshmen yesterday, and it was actually a fifth each within 10 minutes. I'm pretty sure they weren't "forced" to drink it but it was our Initiation Week so they probably felt obligated to drink it to continue their initiation.

Alot of older members have talked about this since, and we're going to discuss it during our chapter meeting on. Most likely, the president will be placed under social probation and forced to prepare a presentation on alcohol abuse.

 

[themadchemist]

I talked to the freshmen yesterday, and it was actually a fifth each within 10 minutes. I'm pretty sure they weren't "forced" to drink it but it was our Initiation Week so they probably felt obligated to drink it to continue their initiation.

Alot of older members have talked about this since, and we're going to discuss it during our chapter meeting on. Most likely, the president will be placed under social probation and forced to prepare a presentation on alcohol abuse.

Yeah, that's quite a bit of booze in quite a short amount of time.