Alcohol

Too much of anything is too bad. Too much sun gets you sun burnt and dehydrated, too much water makes you drown, too much sitting makes you weak, too much chocolate makes you sick, and too much alcohol makes you stupid AND sick. As with anything, self control is needed to ensure that something doesn't turn from a good thing into a problem. (I use the term "good thing" loosely here.) Now some people, under their own personal conviction, avoid alcohol altogether, and I cannot, with good conscience, try to convince them otherwise. If they have had bad experiences or seen other people have bad experiences, then that is their prerogative. I, however, do not see a problem with alcohol...in moderation.

I think that one of the biggest problems in the United States is alcohol. It causes so many deaths and unwanted pregnancies and familial problems that the good that comes from it certainly, in my eyes, doesn't outweigh the bad. I think it's funny though, because in most European countries, the drinking age is eighteen, and in some cases, even 16. The problems that these countries have with alcohol is so much less than the problems that we have here in the United States. Because the drinking age is so high, many teens are tempted to rebel against their parents and over-indulge themselves. In these European countries, drinking is a social thing and even little children have wine with dinner. They grow up with it around them and aren't even very curious by the time they reach the ripe old age of 16--they understand what it is and the effects that it has and don't need to go crazy and wild like the teens of America who have a strong desire to taste the forbidden fruit.

Now, I am not a huge consumer of alcoholic beverages. While I myself do not consume a large amount, it doesn't mean that I haven't ever been around people who have consumed considerable quantities. I do enjoy them occasionally, but would much rather watch and study those people who are under the influence as they mill around, bumping into each other, thinking that they are the funniest people in the world. I vividly remember one time I was walking along the street, and ahead of me I saw a very intoxicated early twenty-something male who had just finished smoking his cigarette. He promptly threw it on the ground and tried three or four times to stomp it out, but without prevail because he kept stepping missing and stepping right next to it. As I was walking by I deliberately stepped on it and after a full two second hes looked up at me (he had been staring intently at it to see if he had gotten it or not) and said, "Dude... ... Thanks man." And tried to hug me. I told him he was welcome and left without collecting on my hug.

Alcohol's affect on the body is relaxing, and the more you drink, the more relaxed you feel. (That is, until your abdominal muscles are clenched for half an hour trying to expel the poison from your system) Due to this, people who are under lots of stress tend to turn to alcohol as a remedy to their pain. I think almost everyone can agree that this is unhealthy. People use alcohol as an escape from the reality which they cannot, or do not want to, deal with. Nevertheless, the problems are still there the next morning when their drunken stupor has worn off, and more often than not they have created for themselves a new set of problems.

Controlling oneself is they key. Of course, the more that has been consumed the less control one has over them self, and the more self-control that is needed. Quite the catch-22. Have I ever had too much? Perhaps, but now I know my limit and that there is no good that can come from it. I have never done anything that I regret while under the influence of alcohol, and I never intend to have so much as to impair my good judgement.

Lastly, let us discuss the different types of drunks. The loud drunks who think that they are hilarious and tell stupid jokes and stand on tables. The contemplative drunks who tell you all the amazing ideas that they have had, and always come up with conspiracy theories of why everything is the government's fault. The wild drunks who take most of their clothing off and run around making obnoxious noises and saying "Dude, we gotta go do SOMETHING..." And let's not forget the people who keep telling you that they aren't drunk, even though it is very clear that they are.

The next morning is always the funniest though. Without fail, they always tell you that they feel so horrible, and they are never going to do it again. They always do.