I guess the thing with alcohol is that in the short term it helps you feel good. Relaxed and calm. It helps you feel more sociable. It helps hurtful comments roll off your back (it gives you a thicker skin) and it helps you find other people to be witty and entertaining whereas you might not find them so very amusing in a more sober frame of mind.

Of course for every high there is a low and things turn sour... But in the short term it can be very appealing.

I guess... People who tend to over-use or abuse alcohol are people who really do have a hard time of things without it. For them to think the short term upside is worth it. Otherwise... Why would they do it?

It is hard being a kid... You need to learn so much to make your way competently in the world... It is really hard when parents don't have a bunch of skills that would be really useful... How are we supposed to learn when they can't teach us? Can take years... That's for sure...