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Oi! I'm curious about what others peoples twenty-first birthdays were like. Maybe by listening to others I could actually figure out what I can do about the problem I have. Mine is not too far off from now, and I'm troubled about what my mom said she would do for my twenty-first. It's disturbing that she actually said she was going to get me drunk. I know she is just trying to make me happy, but sometimes she just won't take a hint. Is it really neccesary to celebrate your big 21 by going out to drink. I don't think I sound much like it, but I'm pretty much a straight arrow. I've never drank in my life, and the only time I ever did was because I was tricked. I've only smoked once, and that was it. I never smoked again after that. And right now I think I sound pretty pathetic for asking others advice. I'm barely able to dig up the courage to actually type all this down. Any words of advice would really be welcomed.

I'm of the opinion that most (most, not all) things should be tried at least once, in controled circumstances. But Being 19 though I don't have any useful advice except for a little fact that a disproportionate amount of alchohol posioning cases come from celabratory 21st birthday drinks.

I'd be more worried about that nearly a quarter of your life is over!!!

I'm 24 and I don't drink--nor have I ever smoked (allergic to the stuff anyway).

Obviously it isn't necessary, and I personally think it's stupid to celebrate your 21st birthday by getting drunk, though in moderation might not be out of line.

I don't think it's pathetic to ask for advice, though this may be a strange place for it--and it's certainly courageous to do so. Hang in there! :)

Heh...for my 21st, I was knocking on angry people's doors at 9 in the morning...
XD

Shoot - it's your birthday - YOU do what YOU want! If you don't want to drink, don't. Simple at that.
;3

Technically Tuna is right. However, I'm of the opinion that, with the guidance of a responsible friend who isn't going to let you drink your age or do something else likely to kill you, you ought to really go out and hit the bars hard on your 21st. At the very least, it teaches you through hard experience (the very best teacher) where your limits are and why you shouldn't go beyond them.

I was one of the first of my friends at college to turn 21, so I had to drive back to my parents' place to have one of my older friends take me out. It really wasn't so bad...I didn't get violently ill until 5 am, some three hours after I'd gone to sleep. My mother said that she was impressed that I managed to clean most of it up too (didn't quite make it all the way to the toilet...though I did make it to the bathroom). For the record, though I've been sick several times, I've never blacked out or passed out.

All that said, I'm glad I don't know you IRL. It's my habit to be there with my friends when they hit 21, and I drop $40+ on that night. Mostly because part of the way I moderate their drinking is by drinking with them. Unfortunately, my poor body doesn't really tolerate that sort of abuse any more. (That's why I'm glad I won't be there -- nothing against you; I just can't handle twenty-first birthdays any more.)

If you do decide you want to go out, I'm sure we can offer some suggestions as to things you might like and things you should avoid.

@ TheSpiffman

Well I asked for advice and recieve a slap in the face that a quarter of my life is gone. joking. :P Thanks for the advice for whatever it's worth. Doesn't exactly help me in my case against my mom though. She is dead set on getting me drunk on my birthday. Thanks though.

@John_and_Yoko

Thank you for telling me it's not necessary. Everyone I've asked where I lived has said I should. I'm not exactly the most courageous person really.
I'm really extremely shy. I guess that happens when a guy is raised around girls most of his life. :oops: Thank you again.

@Tuna

:shock: :lol: Now that's funny. Thank you.

@ Avwolf

Wow. I think Wynni is right. You really are wise beyond your years. I don't think I should go out to drink though. The time I was tricked into drinking alchohol I really didn't like it all that much. Thank you for your wisdom.

You're welcome. :)

I'm shy too, but I know what I'm comfortable with and what I'm not. And it's not good to listen to people telling you you "should" do something like that, especially if you yourself don't want to. Trust me, it's best to be able to stand up for yourself (that's the best thing you can do for your 21st birthday, really--prove you're that grown-up enough to make your own decisions).

Mmm, point to John_and_Yoko. And believe me when I say that no matter how strong the peer pressure is, if/when you're out drinking and you want to stop but your friends don't want to, it's going to be worse -- and harder to stand against because alcohol's reduction of your inhibitions (what I call "alcoholic apathy"). Now, depending on the people around you, it might be more or less...I'll admit to pressing my friends a little too hard when I think they can take more, but a good friend won't let you go too far. So if you're afraid about making the right decisions sober, know that you won't make the right decisions drunk.


*chuckle* Actually, I'm a terrible influence. Part of it is that I love mixing drinks for parties. So, in my opinion at least, it's just that you haven't found the alcohol you like yet. ;) Now, the following might not be really useful advice right now: if you choose not to go drinking, then offering recommendations won't help. But most people end up drinking something eventually, so maybe this will help then.

Mark my words: a lot depends on what you start with. For instance, if you try to start drinking with beer, you won't ever like it -- beer's a taste you grow into. I'd also not start with whiskys, because they have a very strong flavor. You want something that's either quick and decent tasting (I like Jagerbombs, but they'll hit you like a hammer to the back of the head after about five minutes), or sweet and soft without a lot to them (X-Rated and pineapple is a good one for this or Kahlua and cream). If you want novelty, try a Cement Mixer (it's a shot of Irish Cream and a shot of lime juice; you take the shot of Irish Creme and hold it in your mouth, then do the shot of lime juice, and swish the combination around in your mouth a little. I happen to really like them, but the texture gets to some people). Cement Mixers are fun to order for your friends to watch their reactions. :twisted:

I'll quit poking you about it though...Goodness knows I shouldn't be pushing you to do things you don't want to do (in this case anyway), and this way there's more Guinness for me. :P

I had a casual 21st. Few friends and I headed out to to woods outside of town, had a campfire at dusk and knocked back a few light drinks. Nobody got puking-in-the-bushes hammered, or remotely close to drunk. Just a fun time with some guys, socializing, all that jazz.

*shrug* You don't have to go get piss-drunk to have fun, in my opinion. As much as some of my buddies have tried to convince me, waking up with an offering to the porcelain goddess is not "fun."

@avwolf

I figured that the beer was a taste you grew into. XP My dad used to drink beer when I was little, like when I was 4 or 5 years old I think. I vaguely remember asking him to quit, and he did. He never drank as far as my knowledge goes. I don't really like talking about my dad lately so I'm going to steer off from here. The Cement Mixer sounds like fun prank to pull. :twisted: I think you may be right about not finding the right alchohol avwolf, though I think I should stay away from it altogether. I keep too many secrets in my head as it is, and from what I've heard about being drunk I'd rather they stay up there. I got a good laugh though. I feel a little better.

@ fastchapter

Well I don't think I would like give offerings to the porcelain goddess. I've had too many stomach viruses in my past to prove it. It's still good to know that I don't have to get piss-drunk. :) Thank You for the advice.

I would like some advice on how to approach my mother. She really is dead set on getting me drunk, and I really don't want hurt her feelings. It's embarassing that she even wants me to get drunk. She really is a good person who has taken care of me, but she doesn't when to take a hint. I think she likes teasing me as passtime when she is bored. Are all mothers like that?

It's a bit harder for me to talk here since I've had access to Beer legally since I was 16. I can understand the idea behind the 21st birthday parties though.
I don't believe in the idea that you have to have been drunk atleast once in your life. I'm always the most sober one and seeing the things my friends do when drunk quickly affirmed my beliefs on the point.



But in another kind of way I can see where you're coming from. I've never been really drunk, Though I've been affected by alcohol or inebriated lots. My friends have tried loads of times to get me drunk, and failed. :D

On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with enjoying a drink. As long as you can keep it your drinking moderate, there is some good drinks to enjoy on the market.
I personally enjoy a good whiskey once in a while. I have 2 bottles at home and they're still the same ones as 4 months ago.


These tips should only be used if you can't talk your mother or friends out of it.
-Drink slow. Alcohol is something you have to learn to appreciate, it tastes bitter. Usually by the time my friends would have had 18, I only would have had 9 (not on the first time though).

-They usually use the tactic of just heaping beers on you, forcing you to drink faster. Don't drink faster, just smile and accept the beers. The extra beers you get, hand them out to others, as if you're treating them.

-Don't think that Alcohol doesn't affect you, simply because you don't feel it directly. If you don't feel it yet, it means that it'll come all at once. Take a moment to try and gather your thoughts, take a few deep breaths to get some more air, outside or toilets are good for this. (Usually try to do this when alone, otherwise they'll think you're feeling sick.)

-Make sure that you've eaten enough, an empty stomach makes it worse.

-Stick to one kind of beer if you're going to drink lots or for the first time. If you're going to drink lots of different beers, well, you'll get drunk faster.

- Don't drive when you've drunk. You'll only mess up lives if you do.

- When you feel sick: stop drinking or drink even slower. Maybe they'll laugh at you being a pantsy or whatever. Just nod and go your own way, you'll be better for it in the morning.

-As a precaution: A bucket and a towel next to your bed.

@Trabian

:shock: Where do you live?
Good tips to know in case I can't worm my way out my situation. I certainly hope I can get out this without drinking.


*thinker pose* I wonder what Wynni would say.

Sometimes, yes.

Mmm, this is a tough call. Can we assume that you have told your mother that you're simply not in the mood to drink a lot on your 21st? If you can't convince your mother that you don't feel like drinking, see if you can't convince her to compromise -- tell her that you'll go have a drink or two, but you don't want to end up spending all night in the bathroom. Then play it slow and safe. As a newbie, you'd get drunk on nothing, so there's no need to be doing shots all night. But if she'll compromise on letting you pick your own drinks and drink at your pace, you can stretch two or three low proof drinks all the way to last call, and, with the right ones, you won't suffer much. And if you do it right, there won't be many serious consequences -- no hang overs, etc... However, each drink lowers your inhibitions, so watch yourself.

But your first defense is, of course, to insist that you really don't feel like going out and getting sloshed, and there are much better ways to spend your birthday. And since it's your birthday, shouldn't it be up to you?

I had several friends who didn't drink until they were 23 or 24. Eventually, the pressure of imbibing college friends tends to get to you, but there's no shame in sobriety. There's more shame in drinking if you do it for the wrong reasons -- take me, for instance. I usually drank specifically to reach the point of not caring. I sought refuge in the apathy granted by inebriation. I no longer do that often, but there was a time.

I'd just tell her you don't want to drink on your birthday if it's going to be because of some social obligation. If people are expecting you to drink in excess, just tell them you're sorry to put a damper on things. They should understand, even if they do keep joshing you. I doubt your mom really has her heart set on getting you hammered, so just tell her you won't. Either that, or on your birthday, just don't drink a lot. A sip here, taste there. Sample flavors rather than gorge yourself. Its what I've been doing *since* my 21st, lol.

Personally, I prefer the sweet drinks. Anything with fruit, sugar, or vodka mixers. If it doesn't taste good, I don't drink it, :)