Should I start drinking at the age of 17?

Question

I just recently turned 17. All of my friends have been drinking about 2 years now. I'm not drawn to alcohole and don't want to be drunk. But I'm afraid that if I'm not drinking then as I get older I can't resist anymore and will become an alcoholic. So the question is: Would it be better to be drunk a few times now to 'get the taste' and increase my chances to become a non-alcoholic? How old did YOU start drinking?

Answer 1

im not going to lie, i started drinking young..

i was NEVER a heavy drinker, but my ex started drinking at age 14.. and when i was with him, i did whatever he thought was cool..

so yea at 14 i had a few wine coolers here and there, but never anything enough to get me drunk till a few years later..

when i was drinking those wine coolers though my mom always found out, and i was always in trouble for it.

once i was able to go out more with my friends.. i drank a little more and more.. it used to be something fun for me to do whenever i was with my friends.. im SO GLAD i never got addicted, bcuz a lot of my friends are alcoholics, and let me please let you know, im only 21 now.. and i havent drank since march.. it really doesn't phase me anymore.. i don't do it to be cool.. i don't do it because my friends do it..

im telling you.. if you don't have a taste for it, don't do it..

be yourself.. do what YOU want to do, not what others are doing.

it makes you different, and better for not getting urself mixed in with that sort of thing..

Answer 2

No, never........If you begin drinking....you'll never leave it

Answer 3

i started when i was 16. its all about control. don't drink to get drunk. thats my motto. *shrugs* if you get drunk its not the end of the world.

Answer 4

Yeah alcoholics are young but 17 isnt young.

I drink and I'm 16 I know kids who have drinkin since 13. At your age its not about being to young, your a responciable age so its about self control.

Answer 5

You should wait until you're legal. Lots of alcoholics started very young. It doesn't matter when you start. ANother few years wont hurt to wait.

Answer 6

i believe i started around age 10 so ya id say your behind

Answer 7

wait until your older. it's one thing to have a glass of wine at christmas with your family.... quite another when it's with your friends. if you start drinking with your friends the pressure to get drunk will increase dramatically. and if you're afraid of becoming a drunk... then just plain don't drink. if you feel you have the disposition to become a drunk then it's not a good idea at all to start drinking.

Answer 8

I'm not sure where you live and the corresponding legal age... but if you're in Aust, it's only one more year! If America... err well you're not drawn to it, so why succumb to 'peer pressure'.

Just don't drink now.

I think it smells putrid anyway... but I'm only 13 and people say it improves.. later.

Answer 9

I started when I was 17, but only an occasional one.  If you don't fancy it don't have it.  Never mind what your friends do, do your own thing.  Yes I enjoy a glass or two of wine now, but I drink because I want to, not because have have to.

Answer 10

15! as long as you drink when you want to and not when you need to you won't become addicted.

Answer 11

If you dont want to drink then dont just because your friends do it doesnt meen you have to alchole is classed as a drug if you dont want to drink dont drink you wait until you feel you are good and ready to drink but until then enjoy life :)

Answer 12

never start and you will have a wonderful life/

i was born drinking and never stopped til i was 65...

trust me you are not missing a thing by never starting!

Answer 13

I started drinking when I was 11 and by the time I was 13 i no longer liked to.

I found no point in it.

But I was lucky to have been able to do it in a safe environment, if you are going to try it, be in a safe place where you wont hurt yourself.

And truthfully there is no point in alcohol except for messing with your mind. So honestly why drink it?

Answer 14

You are worrying over nothing.  Perhaps you have been listening to dubious advice.

Drink if YOU want to.  If you don't want to, then don't.  Quit worrying about what your friends will think, it will not condemn you to a problem later.  Be the individual you are, be yourself whatever that is.

For what it is worth, there is a counter argument that the younger you start the less maturity you have to resist it.

Plenty of people go naturally through life not or hardly drinknig - be yourself - you sound like you have a good natural healthy attitude to not drinking.  Celebrate it.

Answer 15

Don't start at all. Don't waste your life. Don't pee your hard earned money down the drain. Don't bow to pier pressure. Stand up and be strong. It's a man who can say NO! How can it be good for you in any way? Don't become a slave to the drink. I don't touch the stuff. I don't take anything that will effect my thinking or judgment in any way. Not even tea or coffee. Use your life for a higher purpose. Human life is meant for self realization. Get a copy of Bhagavad-gita As It Is and check it out. It helped me so much, gave real purpose in life. Take care. Best wishes. GOURANGA GOURANGA GOURANGA

Answer 16

i started when i was 14