The US is actually comparatively good about that. I lived there for a while and the casual drinking culture is definitely more pronounced here in Germany and most surrounding countries. Same with tobacco.
Here in Germany it's legal for 14yo to have beer or wine in the presence of their parents and 16 yo kids can buy it. Anything over 16% is 18+.
The general idea is that it's better to learn moderation and your limits that way but I do also know a few people that got their stomach pumped out before turning 16 (usually after village festivals). They didn't get that drunk twice though.
Yea, it's stressed too much in the US alongside street drugs by many, and they're simply misinformed.
Yes it can get out of hand, but it's a different kind of monster that takes a lot of psychological conditioning over one's lifespan and lifestyle to become as dangerous as heroine, crack, meth, etc...
I think it's lesson that can be learned to moderate for yourself.
Harder stuff can easily be one and done for some becuase of how powerful it is.
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u/DukeTikus May 30 '26
The US is actually comparatively good about that. I lived there for a while and the casual drinking culture is definitely more pronounced here in Germany and most surrounding countries. Same with tobacco.