Did you binge drink (or drink more heavily) BEFORE you turned 21 or AFTER you turned 21?

Question

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/08/18/college.drinking.age.ap/index.html

Part of the current debate about lowering the drinking age to 18 focuses on the opinion that keeping the age at 21 actually ENCOURAGES young adults to drink because they know they're not supposed to and it's a thrill to break the law.

And that makes some sense, I know I drank more heavily at 18-20 than I have since I turned 21.

But I also don't know to what degree that was influenced by the fact that it was illegal for me to do so. Or it could have been just the fact that I was 18-20, and who DIDN'T do stupid **** at that age?

So how has turning 21 affected your drinking behavior?

Answer 1

after 21

Answer 2

sorry , do not drink.

Answer 3

i used to drink more before i turned 18 (legal age here) now i only have a few drinks maybe once a month with pals

Answer 4

i definitely have started drinking more since i turned 21. alcohol is more available and if its there...why not?

Answer 5

I think I have always drank the same amount.  My parents introduced me to alcohol and assured me that if I ever needed to be picked up from a party or whatever just to call them with no consequences.  I think that taught me responsibility with drinking.  If I feel like getting slammed I do, but I don't drive.  Not having to sneak around when I was younger, I never really abused it.  

Answer 6

I binge drank much more often when I was 16-17 than I did since then. Despite what some of my friends may tell you, I can really learn from experience.

Answer 7

I drank WAY more at the age of 14-17 than I do now (i'm 20) I would go out and drink full bottles of 80 proof liquor at the age of 16, black out, puke up blood, and do the same thing again the next night. Now I enjoy greenery much much more than alcohol. I rarely get drunk anymore.

Answer 8

After 21.  Once I was able to get in the club I never looked back.

Answer 9

Salutations,

I turned 19 the year they raised the age to 21, so I was able to drink at 19. Between 19 & 23, I probably had less than 10 alcoholic drinks. I discovered I had an affinity for Dark Beer, Single-Malts and Brandy around 25 or so, and still do, but I mostly drink wine as that is what my girlfriend likes, and generally I only drink now mostly at meals we are enjoying with a bottle of wine. I have never Drank heavily. I also believe if they lower the drinking age, they better raise the driving age. You cannot have both, and not expect alot more accidents. My 2 cents. Cheers

Answer 10

I drank the most right around 21, a little before, and a little after.  Turning 21 didn't really change anything though, I still drank the same amount I did at 20 or 19.  Personally I was more or less partied out at 22 but this was following several years of drug use as well.  These days I'm rather content with being boring and rarely drinking to intoxication.

Answer 11

before 21 - sadly it's unfair to all the people who hit 18 and may not be able to legally drink, there are people in their 30's, 40's and older who should not be allowed to drink ever because of their violent drunken behaviour

I drink very rarely, last drink was half a bottle of wine November last year for my Birthday meal in Amsterdam.  Might have a drink on Friday night.

Answer 12

Before I turned 21, for a very simple reason.  Under 21 it was almost impossible for me to get alcohol.  So, when you did we acted like we were superman and we would drink as much as we could.

Once I turned 21, it was different becaue I could get it whenever I wanted.