Aussies: WHY do you drink to excess, if you do??

Question

This is to follow up on my previous question about binge drinking. I'd like people to reveal the values and attitudes behind their drinking. For instance, some frankly admit that they regularly consume a great deal of alcohol, but they don't see anything wrong with that.

I see a great deal of harm in my own family, and government statistics show the same in the wider community, across all age groups, NOT just youngsters. I think it's hypocritical to pick on the young when the older generations booze so much.

I'm NOT a wowser: I enjoy alcohol as much as anyone, but I think there is a lack of balance in Australian social attitudes to drinking.

Answer 1

I drink to forget my problem, which is that I drink too much.

Answer 2

each to there own mate. if u dont like it dont do it. if u have a REAL problem with it dont ever come here. aussies enjoy a beer after work and if your in your final year of school its legal here to drink after a hard days learning.i have grown up in a traditional aussie family with beer after work values and on weeknds its the way my family relaxes. we have been doing it for decades. theres four blokes in my family all between 18 and 60. we polish off 3 cases of beer during the working week. more on weekends. there isnt a lack of balance because a welll balanced bloke has a beer in BOTH hands. lol. no jokes but who are u comparing us to to say we have a lack of balance, i think ur a sphincter. not a wowser.

Answer 3

Its funny how drinking has become a part of the Aussie culture. Perhaps it stems from the convicts on the first fleet (don't know how much u know about australian history)...

As the earliest Australian settlers were basically lower class, uneducated, criminals they probably brought with them a culture that abuses alcohol and used it as an escape or to have a good time in the troubling early days.

Has this ever really changed? Sure most modern Australians are better educated as to the health/psychological/social implications of excessive drinking.. but we still drink to escape or drink to party.

Other reasons people drink may include:

- To look 'cool' as well as feel cool/s**y (eg: teen drinking... or even that friends of mine have begun drinking white wine as apposed to "lolly drinks" because wine is seen as mature and sophisticated, whereas pre-mixed "lolly drinks" are considered more childish/cheap.)

- To get a date - many would not have the confidence sober

- To unwind/relax after a hard days work

- To celebrate a special occasion or job well done

- To catch up with friends

Although many of the above points wont initially seem seem related to EXCESSIVE drinking, they are starting points for excessive consumption. It could start out as an innocent drink after work, and then end up excessive.

Answer 4

yeh you're right there is a problem

i know you said why pick on the youth, but there is a real problem in today's youth

i'm fourteen and the past 2 years i've seen so many of my friends pass out at parties

and there's nothing that i can do about it except be a good role model and not drink

there is really no positive to drinking to this excess

no wonder the australian government want to up the legal drinking age to 21

i think they should because the american's age is 21 and they have significantly less binge drinking youths than australia

Answer 5

I agree, I'm the same, I drink sometimes but when I don I don't have more than say 4 drinks and that would be maybe once every few months...

My ex used to go out almost every Saturday night till 3 or 4am, not always getting really drunk but there would be alcohol involved, even though he broke up with me it was because I got so upset that he did it and stillo have no idea why...

I don't get why people do it, maybe to feel accepted and 'cool'...

Answer 6

Purely for entertainment.

And if you think Aussie's abuse alcohol, you should see Americans - many don't think twice about getting blotto and then driving, sometimes even driving while taking swigs from the bottle!  Add to that the startling number of people that drink alone at home, and you start to see that Aussies really (in general - there's always exceptions) have a pretty good handle on their drinking.

Answer 7

You make us Aussies sound like a bunch of fly-swatting hobbos