<p>Okay, so this sounds really antisocial, but I’m not really sure where else to go about this issue.</p>
<p>Basically, I just found out I was invited to a New Year’s Party at the house of one of my very good friends. And immediately after that I was informed that her cousin was going to bring “a ****tload of alcohol”. And right after that, everyone was like “you’re going to drink, right?”</p>
<p>I’ve never really had alcohol before. I’ve had champagne numerous times with no effect, and the same with sips of wine. I’ve never tasted beer or liquor. My dad is a wine connisseur, and we have so much alcohol around my house in plain view…huge wine cabinet, always stocked, loads of liquor that no one drinks, beers in the fridge. I guess this is why I’ve never chosen to experiement with alcohol…it’s sort of like the way Europeans have less problems with drinking because the kids are always exposed to it. Also, there’s almost no alcohol culture at my school. Most parties are dry. Most people start drinking alone or with a friend or two when their parents are gone and there’s an open wine bottle.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m worried because I want to experience alcohol before college (I would NOT want to have my first experience at a party with a bunch of people I can’t trust), but I don’t want to make a fool of myself. The other bad part is that I have an addictive personality (ie. I get hooked to things easily), so I’d like to avoid the chance of ever becoming dependent upon any substance. My dad drinks a lot, and although he’s not an alcoholic, I just don’t like the way he downs wine like it’s grape juice or something.</p>
<p>I can trust these people, but at the same time I can imagine them egging me on past my limits. They’re cool, but sometimes they like to go too far. Also, she said something about mixed drinks, which I know can hit you harder and faster than beer and wine.</p>
<p>So I guess my question is, how do I know when to stop? How do I know when I’ve had too much without puking or making bad decisions?</p>
<p>Take a break after each beer (or especially mixed drink) and wait at least 15-20 minutes to make sure you’re not messed up yet. If you’re fine, then have another one and wait. If you feel tipsy at all then take a break for awhile. Just make sure you can stop. Since you don’t know your limit it may be tricky, but don’t play any drinking games or have too many mixed drinks at first, just take it easy.</p>
<p>This seems like a bad idea to me. I can just see the cops showing up and you getting fined (or maybe even arrested) for drinking/serving alcohol to minors. I’m assuming you’re all under 21. </p>
<p>I’d stay home from the party in the first place. And whatever you do, bring someone to be your Designated Driver.</p>
<p>make sure you have a friend there who is either sober or doesn’t drink much if it will be your first time; that way they can be an outside force telling you if you are going too far</p>
<p>wait until the party has gotten going a little before you start drinking- that way you can see just how crazy things are going to get and you will keep a level head in case you get in over your head. if things are out of hand, make sure you have a way to bail out (DD or friend). believe me the last thing you want is to be stuck in a place where you don’t feel safe while you have a foggy head</p>
<p>if you feel stupid while everyone else is drinking and you’re not either drink a soda or water- and yes have water in between beers</p>
<p>take it sloooooooooooow don’t push yourself</p>
<p>personally, i think that since you have till new years, you should schedule a sleepover or something with a couple good friends and “test your limits” with them… that way you’re in the company of people you know you can trust and will probably have a better time with.</p>
<p>i think you are definitely making a smart choice by wanting to try drinking before you go to school- you don’t want to go off to college with no idea what your limits are unless you are planning on staying sober for quite a while. personally, i think alcohol is pretty overrated but you need to know how to handle it</p>
<p>Well, we/she lives in a college town, so the cops will probably be closer to the university than the residential neighborhoods…plus it’s not a “party”, it’s more like a large gettogether. I’m not driving there, and I’ll probably end up sleeping over, so no worries about that.</p>
<p>I’m def. not a person who is influenced by peer pressure. However, I am influenced by “the moment.” I’m really big on “here and now”, “one time only” sorts of things (sort of goes with the addictive personality). So it’s really not others inflencing me, but me influencing myself. I think that makes sense.</p>
<p>As I said before, I really feel comfortable with these people and I trust them. I just need to figure out how to trust myself.</p>
<p>I love how hard it seems to be for people not to get drunk. I don’t drink, but from what I know about European culture (and agreeing w/ OP) the 21 drinking age just makes alcohol more of a forbidden fruit and only makes it harder for teens to learn discipline…</p>
<p>Make sure to eat about an hour before the party. Drinking on an empty stomach will cause you to puke.</p>
<p>As for your limit, it depends what you’ll be drinking. If you have hard alcohol such as vodka or cognac, I’m going to say don’t have more than 3-4 shots. It also depends on how drunk you want to be. A couple shots will probably get you tipsy (you’ll feel good and relaxed and a bit lightheaded) and a couple more will probably get you drunk (you’ll feel even more relaxed and won’t be able to think, also you won’t really care what you’re doing…). You’ll also probably want to chase the drinks with something as both don’t exactly taste good… </p>
<p>Also, a very important thing is NEVER lower your alcohol percentage. That means don’t drink something with less alcohol than what you previously drank. If you’re going to have beer, you can drink vodka after, but not the other way around. You will get pretty messed up if you do.</p>
<p>If you’re really not comfortable drinking, bring a 6-pack of sodas. Bring more than one 6-pack. Or bring cans of energy drinks. No one will hassle you as long as you have something in your hand and you’re just as fun to be around as everyone else.</p>
<p>That way you can have an awesome time w/o the lovely hangover on New Year’s.</p>
<p>Also about a history of addiction and imbalance in that area: you just might be genetically prone. The younger you start dealing with a dangerous substance such as alcohol, the more risk you’re putting yourself at.</p>
<p>Learn to resist peer pressure without looking like you’re resisting peer pressure–anyone can learn to do it! Just smile. </p>
<p>Because you’re uncomfortable with your father’s use of alcohol, even if it’s not an actual medical problem for him, you might just want to wait until you’re 21. Tell your friends you’re saving yourself and that you’ll be happy to get ****faced with them on your 21st birthday. Put a little machismo in it!</p>
<p>Drink SLOWLY. One drink can last for a long time- take small sips.</p>
<p>If you haven’t drunk before you don’t know your limit, so be careful. Personally I can’t handle much alcohol at all before feeling it, and although my friends might say “you can’t possibly feel under the influence after one glass of wine”, I CAN. Listen to your body, not your friends.</p>
<p>Its easy when you’re getting drunk to start thinking “whatever” and keep drinking. Be aware that it might happen and try to control yourself. This is when a sober friend helps a lot!</p>
<p>Good luck! Seems you’ve thought it through and are going to do it responsibly- that’s great! (I live in Europe, where we can drink from 18. Being able to go to a resturant and have a beer with a pizza or something is so nice. I really think the American drinking age is ridiculous!)</p>
<p>“Also, a very important thing is NEVER lower your alcohol percentage. That means don’t drink something with less alcohol than what you previously drank. If you’re going to have beer, you can drink vodka after, but not the other way around. You will get pretty messed up if you do.”</p>
<p>Um, I’m pretty sure you have this backwards. The saying goes:</p>
<p>Liquor before beer, never fear.
Beer before liquor, never sicker.</p>
<p>It’s amazing that almost everyone here makes it seem like underage alcohol consumption is okay and perfectly fine…and getting drunk at that! Don’t want to sound like a party pooper, but shouldn’t everyone here also be concerned with disclosing illegal personal information in a public forum?</p>
<p>If you really want to test your tolerance safely, do so with parent supervision and then “just say no” to the whole peer pressure party crap. I can’t imagine how fun it must be to damage your brain cells so quickly!</p>