What age (not legally) do people start drinking in America?

[kuebby]

I agree with previous posters, at least where I grew up (MD) here in the US we first get 'drunk' like Freshman or Sophomore year and it becomes more frequent/normal towards the end of Junior and Senior years.

Then of course in college it may as well be legal.

 

[paddy]

I've seen as young as 11 here in Ireland. Chavs again (yup, we've got 'em too ). Alcopops, vodka sachets, etc. are the order of the day among girls and the under 15's.

Guinness and Miller man meself! Get tipsy about once every 3/4 months maybe, compared with absolutely every weekend for a lot of my friends. And they get absolutely 'mooshed'.

But hey, a can of beer is cheaper in tesco than a 500ml coke last I heard.

 

[MonksMac]

As far as I know it is just about the time kids enter freshman/sophomore year of highschool. I actually don't drink , but then again I really haven't been in those situations like parties.

 

[MattInOz]

I guess 11 or 12 at home half a small glass of wine with dinner on special occasions with the fam.

About 14/15 with the Mates in the park and the bladder out of cask of cheap nasty wine. Very nasty I don't think any of us drank that much of it as it was pretty foul. Mostly just acted drunk and played Goonie Ball (football with cask bladder as ball(football as in rugby not soccer)).

Now 32, over a week might have a few drinks, few fews days drink free, nothing excessive. Last time I was really drunk was last year of university, wait the only time i was really drunk was last year of university.

So I guess the lessons here Parents start your kids young, start them on the good stuff, oh and don't for the love of god don't let them study Architecture.

 

[siim]

oh and don't for the love of god don't let them study Architecture.

I wouldn't advise sociology either.

Here in Estonia it's legal 18, really starts 14-16. The police is all over the youth parties though and many of underage drinkers get arrested and fined. I enjoy a few beers on almost every weekend, mostly just for the good taste.

 

[marbles]

I wouldn't advise sociology either.

Here in Estonia it's legal 18, really starts 14-16. The police is all over the youth parties though and many of underage drinkers get arrested and fined. I enjoy a few beers on almost every weekend, mostly just for the good taste.

...and under no circumstances ' art & design '

 

[DouglasP]

I was 15 when I started drinking heavily. I battled alchoholism for another 25 years before I beat it for good.

 

[maestro55]

I was probably 13 or 14 when I started to drink with my parents, usually just a half of a beer shared with my brother or one beer. Never was into the party scene. Got drunk the first time when I was 18. Have been drunk a few times since then. Drink almost daily but usually just a couple of beers (hell even a six pack doesn't make my drunk). I think the drinking age should be 18, but I have to admit that there could be some serious problems with that because there would be more drunk teenagers on the road if they thought they could get away with it. With the zero tolerance law in the state of Texas if I have any amount of alcohol in me while driving I will lose my license and probably go to jail with a hefty fine. So while I drink I do not get behind the wheel after drinking and I like to think that I would follow the same even when I am 21.

 

[taylorwilsdon]

13 outside the house. Probably 15 before you've really been trashed (kids like to pretend that they're drunk these days and nurse a keystone all night)

I've been to parties where there were freshmen (13 I guess) at.

 

[BigBalla]

I was probably 13 or 14 when I started to drink with my parents, usually just a half of a beer shared with my brother or one beer. Never was into the party scene. Got drunk the first time when I was 18. Have been drunk a few times since then. Drink almost daily but usually just a couple of beers (hell even a six pack doesn't make my drunk). I think the drinking age should be 18, but I have to admit that there could be some serious problems with that because there would be more drunk teenagers on the road if they thought they could get away with it. With the zero tolerance law in the state of Texas if I have any amount of alcohol in me while driving I will lose my license and probably go to jail with a hefty fine. So while I drink I do not get behind the wheel after drinking and I like to think that I would follow the same even when I am 21.

Sounds like you might have a problem

 

[Bow Rekk]

Sounds like you might have a problem

I doubt it.
Most of my friends (myself included) drink almost daily. No way do any of us have a problem. In fact I would go as far as to say most people at my uni drink at least every other day. Not many people get drunk more than twice a week though.

I've always thought the "binge" culture of britain was a made up or at the very least highly exaggerated notion but going from this thread it is not at all. I am shocked.

I started drinking when I was 14 with my mates which was pretty normal I thought. By the time I was 18 I was in the pub or drinking at a mates probably most nights. This is pretty much how it is with most people I know...

A lot of the guys in the sports clubs can be very militant drinkers so if you go out on a social with any of them you will inevitably get home having strawpedo'd a bottle of wine or two! Well, maybe not always but I can't remember a hockey social where I've felt like a spring chicken the next morning (or evening). Anyway, I wouldn't say any of these guys have a problem, they just like to play hard!

 

[marbles]

I doubt it.
Most of my friends (myself included) drink almost daily. No way do any of us have a problem.

almost every day and you don't think you have a problem !!

A lot of the guys in the sports clubs can be very militant drinkers so if you go out on a social with any of them you will inevitably get home having strawpedo'd a bottle of wine or two! Well, maybe not always but I can't remember a hockey social where I've felt like a spring chicken the next morning (or evening). Anyway, I wouldn't say any of these guys have a problem, they just like to play hard!

...hmmmm... just like to play hard OR can't 'play' any other way ...man if you need a beer to have a good time somethings wrong mate


no offense intended ,it just sounds like classic denial to me


heres a thought ~~try not drinking a drop for 2 months .... see how it go's then you'll know if you have a problem or not


good luck

 

[0098386]

Whoa yea, every day is a just a bit excessive! None of the guys at my uni drunk every day, not even the worst of them. They'd get wasted about 4 times a week though.

As Marbles said - try not drinking for a while. See if you really are addicted.

 

[Bow Rekk]

There is a big difference between having a drink and getting drunk. And since a lot of the people in my year will be in the college bar at some point during most evenings as it is the recognised meeting place, having a pint will happen most nights. No one gets drunk.

On the other hand, getting pissed every night is a completely different story.

 

[marbles]

There is a big difference between having a drink and getting drunk. .

very true .. but as alcohol is a drug with which we build up a resistance to very quickly , 1 or 2 pints quickly turns into 3, 4 ,5 , 6 or more , I know people who drink a large amount and do not 'feel drunk ' but that is not to say they are not addicted and certainly the amount they drink is without doubt affecting there bodys



sorry if I seem to be having a go ( I'm not ...I'm just concerned)
I know a few people who have had a very hard time with alcohol and started off just like you
peace

 

[Disclaimator]

I was one of the stupid kids and started drinking really early at 12. It didnt help my mom let me hang out with 16 year olds. Im 3 months away from being 21 legal in the US and now i know my limit and everything so i agree with the people who say start younger..like 15/16 though

 

[scotty96LSC]

Peer pressure and parties got me drinking when I was 15. Jock parties always seemed to have lots of alcohol (and other stuff) so I started indulging. Drinking age back then was 18 and you could easily buy alcohol without much hassle.
As far as throwing up, I never did nor did I ever have a hangover.

 

[Rhosfelt]

I started when I went to college (18) just because at my school, it really is the only way to be social. There really isn't that many clubs or anything here. However, I have only drank at my school twice.

I usually go to visit my friends at other schools to drink, and even then I only do so like 5 times a year at the most.

However this summer I went to Canada I did go to a pub to buy beer legally. It was fun.

 

[Miguey]

I never really started heavy drinking, just something here and there. I started around 15, haven't taken an interest until now though.

 

[leekohler]

I know I'm too drunk when I start to get really horny and really touchy-feely. I'm a silly, happy drunk, but that's when I know it's either time to go home or find someone to go home with. Always carry protection, kids.

 

[Kardashian]

I know in the UK it is just wild (huge generilisation but I know from experience).

Lovely.

As someone who' lived in both Australia and the UK, I believe the Aussie cousins don't turn down a beer or two.

BTW, this isn't me having a personal rant at you - I just think its lovely the way this country is portrayed to outsiders.

I'm guessing pregnant at 16, council estates and free welfare also come as part of the alcohol at an early age thing?

And I had my first drink quite late, most of my friends had been tipsy around 14, no younger. I had my first drink when I was 16 - and I drank a lot, stupidly - but I didn't do anything silly or get into fights or even throw up.

I now love drinking, and do it quite a lot socially. Mine is either a double vodka cran, a sea breeze or a double southern comfort, lime and lemonade.

Thanks

(I'm 19, 20 in Jan 09)

 

[ipodtouchy333]

Ok, I'm gonna be honest here. Right now I'm 16, almost 17 and drink with my friends almost every weekend. I had tried a few sips a couple years ago but didn't take interest. I rarely get wasted but I do get "tipsy." Almost every party or anything social for that matter includes alcohol, and I'm not talking beer, I'm talking Bacardi, vodka, and everclear. I think one of the things that makes it appealing is the fact that it is illegal. Some of my friends do get really drunk but I usually only take a few shots.... So that's my insight ....

 

[WillJS]

I don't drink (and won't much), but my I have friends that are 14-16 whose parents let them drink.

 

[crunkcrumpet]

Lived in the UK from birth til age 9. Lived in the US from 9-15 and never had a drink in that time. My parents really saw drinking as a big bad thing while we lived in the US (maybe because of the 21 drinking age? So I wasn't even allowed a taste.). Moved back to the UK when I was 15, and started drinking with family then (only alcopops and stuff). Then when I was around 16 I started going to parties and drinking beer and the like. I'm now 18 and don't drink as much as when I was 16/17, although I do enjoy a beer or cider when I come home from work sometimes .

 

[takao]

I'm guessing pregnant at 16, council estates and free welfare also come as part of the alcohol at an early age thing?

if that were true we would a high amount of teen pregnancy around here (legal drinking of wine and beer = 16 years) ...
fact is it's way higher in the US with stricter alcohol laws and later start-drinking-age

it's not unuasual to drink a beer or wine at a party with 14


nothing more entertaining to see US teenagers (16-18) going on summer school in innsbruck who always end up standing in line in front of me at the supermarket with a cheap bottle of wine while shaking their whole body because they are so nervous buying it