Cheap drinking on the rocks
Saturday, 23 January 2010 03:09
What do you think of binge drinking?
Maybe you do it, maybe it's only a bit of bant for the weekend - 'doesn't hurt anyone'. Maybe you feel 'more like yourself' when you drink, perhaps you feel pressure to drink from your mates or maybe you like the taste... whatever the reason, binge drinking is seen as a bad thing...
Did you know, it costs Britain £1.7bn a year to cover the costs associated with booze? Thats all the stomach pumping, plasters to heal cuts from fights, and help given to victims of crime. That doesn't even begin to cover the cost to the police or the council when they have to clean up the sick off the streets in the morning...
Maybe it's no wonder why the government is targetting young people when they talk about binge drinking. UK young people are apparently the 3rd worst binge drinkers in the EU, with over 50% of 15 - 16 year olds saying they have done it. Maybe you are one of them - but even if your not, I am sure you know someone who is!
Binge drinking is an acceptable past time now, just like riding a bike, or kicking a ball round against a wall once seemed to be. But there is a difference - binge drinking damages your body, your mind and your reputation!
When your smashed you are not in full control - you either say things you don't mean, do things you wouldn't usually do, or fail to control yourself in situations you'd normally not even think about. Don't get me wrong - I am not saying NEVER DRINK. I am realistic to know that you will make your own mind up on that one, but think about the consequences and how, if you drink, the night may not go the way you want it to.
There are a million and one reasons why underage drinking is dodgy - mainly because of the damage alcohol can do to a young liver, but also because it's a boundary set in law which you are ignoring when you drink. Waiting till your 18 isn't some useless rule designed to spoil your fun, it's there to protect you.
'Protect me? From what??' I hear you ask - well protect you from yourself mainly - the end of the night usually ends up with some drama or some regret, and the common denominator in ensuring it doesn't happen is you - and your decision making through the night. Take a look at the clip to see what I mean...
The other reason you need pretected is because there are people who will take advantage of you when you are too blocked to do anything about it, or to remember it in the morning. You don't need me to explain what I mean - but you do know what I'm on about - and I'm sure you agree staying sober, and staying in control is definitely a good call when you think of it like that!
Ok if I'm still not making much sense think of it like this - look back at how you acted last year, do you cringe? Do you think you knew it all back then? Do you think you were right in every decision you made? No? Well that's hardly surprising. So think about yourself this time next year - you don't want to look back on what you think about drinking now and regret not staying away from alcohol.
If you're a Christian then Jesus tells us to obey the law of the land - that's because we are not meant to live a life of double standards - if we can't obey the law, then how can we obey Jesus? If we engage in the things everyone else does, then what sets us apart as Christians?
Even if your not a Christian, consider the wider implications of boozing underage. It opens you up to loads of things outside your control, it damages your body, and it can ruin your reputation if you end up being embarrassed or worse!
If you think drinking helps to relax you, or brings you out of yourself - your probably not wrong. There is a reason why people drink. It's got to have some attractive qualities for so many people to do it - but that's not the point here. Drinking often starts off as something done to impress mates, or done to prove something to someone, or out of a sense of boredom! If you can't say no at this point to engaging in something that's illegal (and can be punishable by a fine or a night in the cells.) Then when can you say no? Train yourself early to be able to reject these things, and I guarantee your mates will respect you more for it.
I do drink - but I am 30 years old and never drink irresponsibly, but I know plenty of people who don't drink, and so long as they're not judgemental towards those who do - they are well respected for it by their mates. Would you rather be laughing at the end of the night, or sick as a dog, puking up and worrying about how you'll sneek in without your mum seeing you?
The cost of £1.7bn probably doesn't mean much to you - but think of the personal cost to you when you look back and think 'I wish I'd listened' because getting drunk ended up with you regretting your actions because of what you said to someone, or because you lost your wallet, or because you got in a fight and lost?
Remember this is about respect. Not respect for the law, or for the NHS or the police - but respect for yourself. If you respect yourself then you won't abuse your bodies - and you won't put yourselves in situations where you could come out looking and feeling like a div!
Martin Montgomery is the Youth Pastor in Seapatrick Parish Church and he wrote this article.
**The views expressed in this article may not represent the official stance of DDYC.**
