A 17 y.o. was drinking in a pub near to where I live about a year ago.
he wasnt quite as sensible and decided he could ride 1 mile home on his scooter.He hit a telegraph pole less than 100 yards from his house and was killed.
Exactly what I meant in my original post.
I think this hits the subject originally raised head on!

That is the result of senseless drinking for the sake of drinking, as a means to an end, on who can get totally spaced out first in a night.
Not wanting to sound 'older and sensible' (which I'm not!!

), but when I was 16 we drank to socialize, to enjoy ourselves with our friends, and yes to be "grown up", but we did not engage in drinking quickly to get smashed no matter what. Although by accident of course sometimes some of us did!

This is the current 'problem' of youth, including, frighteningly, all too many females as well as males; it is a drinking for the sake of it culture, probably to escape reality (??). I have witnessed this as many have on TV programmes, and more crucially 'live' when working alongside the police on night patrol. Young woman and men just want to get speedily plastered through irresponsible drinking, then end up causing all kinds of problems for the police and therefore society.

The message has got to be drinking itself is NOT a problem for youngsters, it is the potential lack of responsibility witnessed now with so many, who terribly will end up having their future lives blighted by alcohol; illness, alcoholism, personal injury / rape, criminal record, bankrupcy, unwanted children and possibly early death.
Re-educating the young in their drinking habits must be an aim of all of us,especially parents as I did with my three kids, and as Mike has obviously done, commendably, with his stepson who seems to know his responsibilities.
Too many others do not, and that is the problem. My personal opinion yes, but I cannot seem to arrive at any alternative conclusion with what I see around me.
