NationStates Jolt Archive

Being underage myself, Teen Drinking is a pretty important issue to me. I was downstairs watching some ad against teen drinking, and it made me think. What do you guys feel about teen drinking, or more specifically, the idea of a "keys party". A keys party is where there is plenty of alcohol available to underage drinkers, but to get into the party you must give the host you car keys. That way, no one can try to drive home drunk and most of the people end up staying the night at that persons house or going home with a designated driver. Do you think the "keys party" is a good idea, even though underage drinking is invovled?

I think it's a good idea:

1. It's a party with teens. Alcohol will be present. no matter what anyone tries.
2. Since there is going to be alcohol, this stops people driving home under the influence.

Underage drinking is going to happen no matter what, so I do support mechanisms of damage-control. That key party sounds a bit like one, but I'd hate to be the person/parent responisble for one, as you leave yourself open to all sorts of litigation...

its not a good idea in the united states because if the word gets out to the authorities the adults involved will end up in jail.

I think it's a good idea:

1. It's a party with teens. Alcohol will be present. no matter what anyone tries.
2. Since there is going to be alcohol, this stops people driving home under the influence.
That is my opinion. I really do not appreciate those "tee-totaler" anti-teen drinking advocates who oppose keys parties, because alcohol is going to be at any party teens go to.

Underage drinking is stupid, but my opinion isn't going to stop it. It's going to happen no matter what, and I'd rather know that I'm slightly less likely to get hit by a drunk driver than just ignore the problem totally. At most parties I've been to, not just teen parties, the keys are taken away and it's an accepted process.

Incidentally, where I live, the drunk driving rate is highest (by a lot) among middle aged people.

what I am more worried about is teen's driving car's :rolleyes:

I don't think you really understand drinking at all

I see where you are coming from, but can also see how a perfectly innocent party ends up with a bunch of drunken teens getting into fights, and then some adult has to kick them out on the street. Lost, drunken teens sounds like bad news to me.

"Keys parties" are a stupid idea. Who would come up with the crazy idea of making illegal underage drinking impossible? What's the point in keeping the youths away from alcohol when it's better for them to be used to it BEFORE they hit the streets with cars?

I see where you are coming from, but can also see how a perfectly innocent party ends up with a bunch of drunken teens getting into fights, and then some adult has to kick them out on the street. Lost, drunken teens sounds like bad news to me.
Very true, but I am of the opinion that minors will drink, no matter what people tell them, and that it is best to minimize the consequences of said drinking than just pretend it doesn't happen, or just sit and wish it didn't happen at all.

who goes to some strict party when you can get drunk outside?

what they should do is make marijuana more available and cheaper than alchohol that would certainly lower casualty rates on Saturday night

I love drinking :D

Start showing me teens can drink responsibly, and I'd be open to it.

Start showing me teens can drink responsibly, and I'd be open to it.How can they know how to stay in their limits if they haven't experienced them? You want to let them start drinking irresponsibly at age 21? Where's the difference?

No offense, but it's ridiculous that teenagers spends such amount of time intoxicate themselves woth a potentially harmful substance. Should spent their time actually contributing to society and their nation in a meaningful manner, such as learning and studying. The continuous intake of such substance is a wasteful expenditure of time that will only degrade the potential of our young generation in the future.

what they should do is make marijuana more available and cheaper than alchohol that would certainly lower casualty rates on Saturday night
I think they’ve proven that pot has some sort of negative effect on the adolescent brain. I might be wrong, though.

lol in Britain we purchase alcohol (legally) when were 16 :p

though a guardian can purchase alcohol for you when your 5 :D

Right. The keys party thing still doesn’t mean they aren’t going to get alcohol poisoning.

How can they know how to stay in their limits if they haven't experienced them? You want to let them start drinking irresponsibly at age 21? Where's the difference?

Well, for that matter I rarely see young adults behaving rationally when it comes to alcohol.

I don't see getting drunk once or twice being bad, I don't even see drinking to the point of tipsyness regularly as being bad either.

I DO have an issue with binge drinking every weekend, or planning trips for the express purpose of getting so drunk you can't stand (a regular pass time it would seem).

I would much rather see alchohol given to children to take away the thrill and to teach them not to get that drunk as they grow up. Don't ban it, but take away the fun of it. Make it as normal as soda, and about as exciting.

I think they’ve proven that pot has some sort of effect on the adolescent brain. I might be wrong, though.

in most cases it can be beneficial! and is still less harmful than alcohol

What we need is marijuana to help us concentrate in lessons

No offense, but it's ridiculous that teenagers spends such amount of time intoxicate themselves woth a potentially harmful substance. Should spent their time actually contributing to society and their nation in a meaningful manner, such as learning and studying. The continuous intake of such substance is a wasteful expenditure of time that will only degrade the potential of our young generation in the future.I can't tell whether you're being sarcastic or serious... and that scares me.

Being underage myself, Teen Drinking is a pretty important issue to me. I was downstairs watching some ad against teen drinking, and it made me think. What do you guys feel about teen drinking, or more specifically, the idea of a "keys party". A keys party is where there is plenty of alcohol available to underage drinkers, but to get into the party you must give the host you car keys. That way, no one can try to drive home drunk and most of the people end up staying the night at that persons house or going home with a designated driver. Do you think the "keys party" is a good idea, even though underage drinking is invovled?Keys Party is a good step.

but underage drinking... if it's against the law, it's against the law.

I would much rather see alchohol given to children to take away the thrill and to teach them not to get that drunk as they grow up. Don't ban it, but take away the fun of it. Make it as normal as soda, and about as exciting.Hm... we must have misunderstood eachother, because that's exactly what I think...
(But that's because me German heritage imbues a strong bias in me :D)

Underage drinking is okay with me.

Start showing me teens can drink responsibly, and I'd be open to it.

I can drink responsibly. I have a hip flask of whisky by my bed and I rarely feel the need to start drinking.

lol in Britain we purchase alcohol (legally) when were 16 :p

though a guardian can purchase alcohol for you when your 5 :D
Here in Texas, its legal for a minor to drink if their parents are with them. I think that’s a good policy.
I don’t like underage drinking at all, but if a parent wants to let their kids do it, who am I to stop them?

Hm... we must have misunderstood eachother, because that's exactly what I think...
(But that's because me German heritage imbues a strong bias in me :D)

*heh* Actually, Germany is what I was basing my idea off of.

I've just seen and helped too many people who were so shitefaced, they couldn't even stand, and blacked out soon afterwards. And then, the next day, went and did it again! :rolleyes:

I can drink responsibly. I have a hip flask of whisky by my bed and I rarely feel the need to start drinking.

I'm not saying ALL teens drink irresponsibly, not that all teens drink (I never did, and pretty much still don't); however, it is also correct to say that the rate of binge drinking is rising.

Social drinking is one thing, a beer with dinner, a glass or two of wine at a party, even a few more drinks is fine with me. It's the insane amounts of drinking that I take issue with. Mainly because it leads to too many tragic situations.

Who fuckin cares??? i am drunk as a shit but fuck!!!! just fuckin get it down ye and shut up!!! fuck yeahhh!!!!!!!

I'm not saying ALL teens drink irresponsibly, not that all teens drink (I never did, and pretty much still don't); however, it is also correct to say that the rate of binge drinking is rising.

Social drinking is one thing, a beer with dinner, a glass or two of wine at a party, even a few more drinks is fine with me. It's the insane amounts of drinking that I take issue with. Mainly because it leads to too many tragic situations.

You speak the truth.

IMO for the US, raise driving age and lower drinking age.

Ghost Stalker']IMO for the US, raise driving age and lower drinking age.Second!

Who fuckin cares??? i am drunk as a shit but fuck!!!! just fuckin get it down ye and shut up!!! fuck yeahhh!!!!!!!

Hmm...last time I checked, excrement (more commonly referred to as "shit") has no means of consuming alcohol in any way shape or form.

Therefor your similie "drunk as a shit" is inaccurate.

No offense, but it's ridiculous that teenagers spends such amount of time intoxicate themselves woth a potentially harmful substance. Should spent their time actually contributing to society and their nation in a meaningful manner, such as learning and studying. The continuous intake of such substance is a wasteful expenditure of time that will only degrade the potential of our young generation in the future.

Teenagers aren't the ones hanging out in bars until the early morning hours doing shots. With exception of those possessed of false identification, only adults twenty-one and over are capable of such acts. My question posed now is who are the ones spending the most time drinking partially toxic substances instead of making those contributions to the nation? The underage who can't impact society much, or those of drinking age who are capable of daily hangovers, and also happen to be the ones running things?

[....No offense, either. :)]

You speak the truth.

The problem with NOT drinking is that everyone assumes that you are doing so for a religious or moral reason and therefore are against any and all drinking, no matter if you're present or not. Having met a few folks like that, I can understand the type. ;)

I just don't drink, usually, because I really dislike the taste of alcohol, so I don't care if anyone else drinks.

It's just more anything to excess is bad, food, wine or women... will, maybe not women. ;)

Teenagers aren't the ones hanging out in bars until the early morning hours doing shots. With exception of those possessed of false identification, only adults twenty-one and over are capable of such acts. My question posed now is who are the ones spending the most time drinking partially toxic substances instead of making those contributions to the nation? The underage who can't impact society much, or those of drinking age who are capable of daily hangovers, and also happen to be the ones running things?

[....No offense, either. :)]
You are correct that teenagers are only part of the larger problem at hand, and that adults over the legal age is also part of the problem. However, one must remember that teenage drinking is something that will set a foundation for these teenagers to continue their unhealthy habit in the future - unless of course, they actually has the initative of undertaking the arduous challenge of quiting. Further, since many adults (no offense to anyone underage, and this does exclude another part of the adult population) /generally/ has a larger sense of responsibility, a matured knowledge of the separation between 'right' and 'wrong', and that their minds are not as 'malleable' as those of teenagers, teenage drinking among some can easily persuade other teenagers to do the same thing. This is not only counterproductive to society directly, but is also counterproductive to the education of other young minds as well, by bringing more and more of them under negative influence. Yes, there will always be young minds who has the will to resist (I for one, do not practice drinking), but in many cases that will not be the case.

The question lies in not numerical figures, but where it all starts.

The problem with NOT drinking is that everyone assumes that you are doing so for a religious or moral reason and therefore are against any and all drinking, no matter if you're present or not. Having met a few folks like that, I can understand the type. ;)

I just don't drink, usually, because I really dislike the taste of alcohol, so I don't care if anyone else drinks.

It's just more anything to excess is bad, food, wine or women... will, maybe not women. ;)

Me, I don't drink because if I'm thirsty, water is cheaper. And I rarely get into a social situation.

Me, I don't drink because if I'm thirsty, water is cheaper. And I rarely get into a social situation.I don't drink when I'm alone. That way, I'm less likely to become an alcoholic, since I usually alone when I'm depressed :D

I never understood the difference between teen drinking and adult drinking to begin with. There are plenty of people in both age groups that are responsible as well as plenty in both age groups who go off on some damned fool drinking craze and it's certainly not like when you become an adult you become immune to alcohol (as is proven quite frequently).
I've always taken the whole teen drinking issue to be another case of over-anxious soccer moms getting that much more paranoid about their little babies. I mean there are countries where there is no drinking age and they're still standing and the world keeps turning.
I took great joy before I turned 21 in jumping into bars and reassuring people that yes indeed the stars still stood in the sky despite someone under 21 being there before returning to my ussual hell-raising xp
I honestly see it as one of the few things I do believe society tries to brainwash people to think. Mostly because when I was growing up no one really explained what the hell it matters what your age is.

Anyway, as for the key parties, I've really only been to one party where alcohol was served outside of family gatherings so I don't really know the way things generally go, but I always assumed the concept of such parties would be common sense.

Although I never really drink to get drunk. What most people need to be drunk to do I can do when I'm quite sober and often times prove so, and I just don't see the purpose. To me drinking for pleasure is drinking something because it tastes really good. Although I'm also a really odd ball... anyone who knows me irl can vouch for that.

Is it just me, or is the only argument against the key party is that alcohol is still involved?

Being underage myself, Teen Drinking is a pretty important issue to me. I was downstairs watching some ad against teen drinking, and it made me think. What do you guys feel about teen drinking, or more specifically, the idea of a "keys party". A keys party is where there is plenty of alcohol available to underage drinkers, but to get into the party you must give the host you car keys. That way, no one can try to drive home drunk and most of the people end up staying the night at that persons house or going home with a designated driver. Do you think the "keys party" is a good idea, even though underage drinking is invovled?Bad idea--not because I oppose teens being able to drink though. I let my daughter drink when she's living with me, and she's not quite 15 yet.

It's the party atmosphere that's the problem. The party atmosphere encourages binge drinking, which is dangerous when your body is mature. When it's still growing, like teens' bodies are, it's doubly dangerous, and without close adult supervision, can wind up with tragic results, confiscated car keys or not.

I encourage parents to teach their kids how to drink responsibly by drinking with them--seriously. It removes the taboo and some of the excitement that comes along with the illegality of it, and nothing is a better teacher about the problems of overindulgence than having your dad hold your hair while you puke because you just had to have one last beer.

A keys party is where there is plenty of alcohol available to underage drinkers, but to get into the party you must give the host you car keys.
Aww... I remember when key parties were for swingers! XD

Who fuckin cares??? i am drunk as a shit but fuck!!!! just fuckin get it down ye and shut up!!! fuck yeahhh!!!!!!!

Being drunk doesn't give you immunity to the rules that every other member needs to abide by. You're spamming right now, with all of the posts that you've made tonight, so I suggest that you stop. Now.

What if someone has a spare set of keys?

okay people teen drinking has been going on ever since somebody put and age limit on it..im not 21 i drink not often but i know people who do, and i know people who turned 21 and quit drinking basically because they could do anytime they wanted, and yes im from the U.S and yes there are more bars in my county then there are churches and schools combined...so if yall ask me a simple ole redneck i say to hell key parties just lower the god forsaken drinking age to 18 and be done with it, if your old enough get killed over yonder in iraq or where ever else in the world we decide looks at us funny, you should be able to buy alcihol...and yes i delibertly spelled it that way....

I think the reason that alcohol has the lure it does over teenagers is that is a beacon of rebellion. The fact that it has such a label of negativity in the US appeals to young and impressionable teenagers who are trying to find a sense of identity by trying new slightly "dangerous" things.

If we took away the reputation of alcohol it would probably decrease the lure that it has over many teenagers. Legalizing teenage drinking can take away that reputation.

However, from the medical perspective, underage drinking can be very damaging. Teenagers and children lack the enzyeme that is needed to break down alcohol; hence the mass alcohol poisioning in teenagers. So, I guess the issue lies in which is the worse of two evils, right?

And "key parties," yes, I think that if teenagers are going to drink, they should be kept off the road. Although, I am also sure, that one serious accident while intoxicated will teach them a more important lesson then simply taking away their keys. Again, just another thought.

I think it is a good idea. It will keep ppl off the road-but then is key prerson responsible enough not to give the keys back when they are drunk?

I believe it's pretty unnneccessary, here in the UK anyway. You can get served pretty much from when you're fifteen in certain off-licences. Also, there's only a year between being able to obtain your driving license and being able to drink legally, so there's not much point organising this sort of thing, besides alightly lowering insurance premiums for teens.

Over in this state of Australia, you have to be 18 to drive...which also happens to be the drinking age. So it wouldn't make sense :p

I endorse teen stupidity. That includes underage drinking. But not drinking and driving. The keys party is a good idea. I've done something similar.

Being underage myself, Teen Drinking is a pretty important issue to me. I was downstairs watching some ad against teen drinking, and it made me think. What do you guys feel about teen drinking, or more specifically, the idea of a "keys party". A keys party is where there is plenty of alcohol available to underage drinkers, but to get into the party you must give the host you car keys. That way, no one can try to drive home drunk and most of the people end up staying the night at that persons house or going home with a designated driver. Do you think the "keys party" is a good idea, even though underage drinking is invovled?


FREE BEER FOR THE PUNKS!!!!

In Portugal the legal drinking age is 16 and the driving age is 18.

We receive lots of young tourists from other countries whose only purpose is to get drunk because they are away from their restrictive laws and after behave in an awful way. They are damaging the image of their country as they travel so I think that lowering the drink age doesnt really create a problem. But ppl should be thaught to drink responsibly.

The problem is not being drunk, the problem is driving when you're drunk.
The problem is not being drunk, the problem is disturbing other ppl when you are.
The problem is not being drunk, the problem is waking up with someone you dont know by your side in bed.

Give responsabilty to ppl who drink and you can lower the drinking age.
Dont give responsabilty to ppl who drink and you should forbid it completely.

BTW the ability of the human body to process alcohol begins when you are 14 and when you are 16 it works at almost full capacity which is reached when you are 18.

When I was growing up, I often had a sherry with my parents at christmas, anniversaries etc, and would have shandies at BBQs. For those not in the know, a shandy is beer diluted with lemonade, often quite heavily. For instance, as a five year old, I would be given a big cup with 100ml of beer to 500ml of lemonade, and that would last me for ages. AS I grew older, the beer fraction grew to be larger, and so about the age of 12-13 I started being allowed to have a beer or two at barbies, as I had proven I could hold that small amount of liquor.

As the years went on, sure I went to some drunken high-school parties; growing up in the hills east of Perth, WA, that was sort of de rigeur. Occasionally had to stop fights, stay up all night feeding water to the dehydrated and confiscate keys from mates who thought they drove better when tanked. Sure, I drank more than I should have at those events, basically because I was a young idiot who thought he was invincible and could hold legendary quantities of grog and still be together enough to look after his mates.

Fast Forward to now, and I am in my second last year of Australia's most academically challenging university course, being Aerospace engineering and advanced science at Sydney Uni. So, life wrecked due to ingestion of large quatities of a toxic solvent over large periods of time, or example of the natural resilience of the human frame?

By the By, Keys parties are a great idea. As we had drummed into us in high school health ed classes, "Crash in bed instead," "Respect Yourself" and "Think before you drink." Our helath department realised that blanket statements would be counterproductive in teens, and educated us instead.

Over in this state of Australia, you have to be 18 to drive...which also happens to be the drinking age. So it wouldn't make sense :p

It's 18 down there? (driving age)

I think it's 16 up here (mind, that's for Ls).

It's 18 down there? (driving age)

I think it's 16 up here (mind, that's for Ls).

Yeah, 16 for L's here, but driving to a party is impossible unless you have your P's, no? :)

I did voet good idea to the poll, although really it wouldnt make a huge difference. At the my and my friends partys we just would not let someone drive if they had been drinking (bar the odd can or 2 a couple of hours before) It's just that in many societys it's seen as 'cool' to drive drunk. Kinda retarded IMO, although we've been having partys and basically getting merrily drunk to put it one way, since we've been 14-15, and as the driving age is 17 i nthe UK, there's only a few of us that have passed, or even have cars, so theres no real threat

It's been a long time since I was underage enough to worry about this sort of thing really. In the UK it is legal to drink at 18, which seems a sensible age to me. I started drinking when I was around 16, in the house with my parents. Please note, in the UK, this is not illegal. So I would have a couple of glasses of wine, I would sometimes go to the pub with my dad and he would buy me a pint of cider or something, and if I was going to a party (although I was about 17 when I really started going to parties) he would give me a bottle of cider to take. I don't think there is anything wrong with this and I think it was helped to give me a sensible attitude to drinking. I don't drink all that often these days, and I don't feel the need to go out and get mashed all the time.
I think that we all know prohibition doesn't work and telling teenagers they aren't allowed to drink just increases the mistique calue and is likely to make them do stupid things.

Blessings
Cyber