No party sans alcohol

[1]

Even with the permissible limit set on the consumption of alcohol, seems like teenagers refuse to follow the rules. In a recent survey by Assocham conducted under its Assocham Social Development Foundation (ASDF) in which more than 2,000 teenagers between the age group of 15 to 19 took part, most said they initially took to drinking to be at par with their peer groups. More than just that, teens give us a sneak peak into their lives where partying “with alcohol” is a must.
Lavanya Jain, a DU student says, “We don’t really drink often, but whenever we do, it’s mostly to celebrate an occasion or event. We don’t ever drink to beat stress. And my parents know about it, so I don’t really think there’s anything wrong with it.”
It is interesting to see how easily a 19-year-old confesses how she drinks “once in a while” with friends to celebrate.
For some it’s celebration, for others it’s a habit. “I started drinking with my cousins and now I enjoy it twice a week to chill out with friends. It’s never really to beat stress, but I won’t deny that for many of us, alcohol has become a necessity when we decide to party,” says Richa (name changed on request).
What’s triggering the trend even more are the fruit flavoured beverages. So, if you can’t flaunt vodka, try breezers. “I don’t consume alcohol at all, but when I see my friend having colourful drinks, I opt for a breezer just to chill. There are no parties without alcohol these days,” shares Shweta, a Class 12 student.
While for many kids, their parents know about their “drinking habits”, others have no qualms in hiding it from their parents and are indulging in a couple of drinks as they are living in hostels here.
Says Shireen, a second-year student, “I live in a hostel, so I can go out to drink when I want. We don’t really go to pubs often as it is really expensive, so we enjoy ourselves at our friends’ homes. Most of us don’t have easy money flowing in. I come from a well off family, but don’t spend a lot. My parents don’t know that I drink often, but they know I drink sometimes.”
Interestingly, in a survey, 45 per cent of 12th graders in metropolitan cities were found to be consuming alcohol excessively, at least five to six times in a month while 40 per cent of girls reported having their first drink between the ages of 15 and 17.
As the survey points out, Tapasya, a school teacher sheds light on the topic, saying, “It’s just about being ‘cool’ in your peer group. I don’t think youngsters drink to beat stress. But I realise that drinking has become a trend in most parties today, and parents in a way are encouraging it.”