Wow! I've never really fully appreciated the differences in global culture (in relation to alcohol consumption). I have grew up in Ireland and we have the highest amount of binge drinking in the Europe (probably the world).
My experience (and the experience of my friends) has been of drinking heavily 2 nights per week since we were 14. I'm 20 now, so that's a good 6 years*52weeks= 300+ days of heavy drinking. During most 'sessions' we would drink until we have an extremely limited memory of what actually happened in the latter stages of the day. I would say we have a 700ml bottle of wine and two litres of beer/cider each night or if we are in a pub, perhaps 10 pints of beer. Some drink more, some drink less.
Since abround age 18, I have noticed a large influx of harder drugs coming into our nights out. Ecstasy, Cocaine and Marijuana are rife and on some occasions I have friends on about 6-8 ecstasy tablets per night. I personally avoid the hard drugs and have achieved a large degree of respect from my friends who I feel are adictted. Perhaps not adictted on a physiological level, but on psychological level - strongly influenced by fear of rejection, peer pressure and the (false) belief that the can disdain from the habit at any time of their choosing. (I believe I have just summarised delusion
)
Although I say I avoid hard drugs, I have to raise my awareness to accept that the alcohol problem (note: not commonly regard as a problem in our country) and to remove all poisonous substance from my mind.
One other point... I believe that I have had some of the best experiences of my life whilst under the influence of alcohol. It is a social lubricant that can induce some beautiful characteristics in people. However having my nose broke on two occasions by drunken people would hardly substanciate this theory
To Finish:
I think that alcohol enhances confidence levels and is a personal development tool for the lazy. (Trés expensive too)
Me? I intend to increase my confidence and use it to develop myself throughout the other 98% of the week when i'm not drunk.
That would eradicate the need for such a tool