Whats that smell...

Can't say I've known many 23 year old blokes that drink red wine. Is he shouting at pigeons yet?

Shouldn't laugh I suppose but I know that nagging him won't help.

moneypenny20

What were you doing when you were 23? I sunk a bottle of Teachers when I was 17. I thought nothing of it at the time, well until I was heaving in a ditch miles from anywhere later on of course. Seriously, we all go through it, some continue, some slow down, some stop completely because they become complete lightweights. He's 23, what you expect him to be doing?

irishbloo

Drinking alone is fine.But drinking alone while hiding in the wardrobe is a worry.

asprilla

nothing wrong with drinking a bottle of red wine, alone or otherwise.

Ok, there is 7 to 9 units of alcohol in a bottle of red wine. But the last time I looked, that's no different from a 6 pack of beer.. and we all know that beer is good for us.

In summary, I would say that kids, and adults, should drink in moderation.

DeadVim

Right ho, you've got my attention 'shouting at pigeons'? Please explain

I agree, nagging won't 'help' btw ...

DeadVim

Indeed, at least he isn't taking an interest in the collected works of Andrew Lloyd Webber ...

asprilla

come on... who hasn't got shitfaced on red wine and then started abusing pigeons?

DeadVim

I have been drunk on red wine but it was all free and I didn't enjoy it.

Much

sheene

One of the symptoms of Cancer is weight loss, but if you lose weight, that does not mean you have Cancer. The gist of the original remark was that drinking is not a problem, but if allied with behavioral traits, such as drinking alone, drinking repeatedly to excess etc then that could be a symptom of becoming an alcoholic. Of course there is nothing wrong with drinking alone, unless, perhaps, you become over defensive.

Funny isn't it, how it is perfectly acceptable to defend one recreational drug (alcohol), even justifying and laughing about the abuse of that drug, yet mention taking any other narcotic, no matter how small a dose, and suddenly that is very wrong. All drugs, including the simplest aspirin, when taken to excess will damage the body, or the mind, or both. Alcohol can wreck lives and families, even communities, but it is big business and we have all been brainwashed into thinking that even drinking to excess is just a giggle. It is almost cheaper to buy alcohol than water for gods sake.

As a drinker, smoker and occasional happy person, this is not preaching. We need to do whatever it takes to get through life, but please look at the level of alcohol abuse that is going on with very young people today, look at the social problems alcohol is causing. We are still not doing enough to stop young people from smoking, me included, but next time you have a drink, take a look at the bottle - can you see any health warnings? Why do you think that no other recreational drugs are freely available? Perhaps they think we will be too drunk to notice.

Hebe

To the OP the answer is yes. Step son same age and been drinking heavily for a period of time. This culminated in him driving drunk last week crashing his car (thank god not hurting anyone or himself) and fleeing the scene.

Alcohol is not the "better" or "safer" drug to take.

The young man is now under the Alcohol Rehabilitation Service and has attended his first AA meeting.

It now appear that what we saw him drink was only the tip of the iceberg.

Hopefully we can now deal with his drinking and grief issues and help him find himself a way forward in life that doesn't require drink to dull his pain and he achieves a full and happy life from now in.

This young man requires all the support we can give him regardless of his age and to his father he will always be his child.

sonlymewalter

Glad to hear your step son is OK and no one was hurt:sunglasses:

Just to clarify though that what happend here was an exception. Most kids have drink, get drunk, throw up and feel crap. It's all part of growing up. Parents know when it's more than that cos they experience things like this that are out of the norm, just like you did.

Other than that drinking and getting blathered is part of growing up.

Dreamy

My 20 year old son drinks red wine... I worry about him


(I mostly worry about his health, because that shiraz is mine, all mine and if he keeps glugging it I won't be responsible for my actions)

iamthecreaturefromuranus

I can beat that... by 23 I was divorced !!

Hebe

I agree that kids getting bladdered etc is all part of growing up.

However, drinking on your own at that age and a bottle of wine is not "normal" As I have matured I will pour myself a drink but I can't remember as a young adult doing the same. They normally go out and drink with their mates or have a few drinks at home with friends before hitting the town.

I do think it is an early sign that there may be a problem

It was one of the 'signs' that I was concerned about before all this happened.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

I must admit that I drank staggering amounts in my late teens, early twenties... but I really don't remember sitting down and drinking on my own.

I do now.