John Wayne (in character) said in The Alamo (1960):
"Republic. I like the sound of the word. It means people can live free, talk free, go or come, buy or sell, be drunk or sober, however they choose. Some words give you a feeling. Republic is one of those words that makes me tight in the throat..."
I agree with that quote. It's your life. You make your own decisions. Plenty of good folks live their lives drinking as they see fit. In the 19th century, saloons in the old West saw their fair share of drunken brawls and gunfights, and the pub and bar scene of the 20th Century led to a once popular TV series called 'Cheers'. All good. Alcohol can serve as a positive, bring great memories, and be a tonic. There are thousands of years of wisdom there.
Aside from my kids, it's none of my business what the younger generation does with their lives, but because I am a writer, I do have some observations I'd like to write about, and I'm concerned there is a lack of wisdom and guidance not being passed down from generation to generation in this era.
Alcohol is 100% legal (age-appropriate), is considered socially acceptable, and drinking a glass or two of wine a day is probably just fine. I don't care about that. I don't care if a group of friends get smashed at a party, or tipsy during football games, or at a party, or at a bar. It's your life. This is America.
My critique is on excessive alcohol abuse and blackout drinking, where it's become destructive to the person, and their family. Probably because I do care.
Over the last 5 years, I've seen excessive alcohol abuse on the rise, in more places than I can recall in the last 40 years. It's the neighbor who can't control her liquor who drunkenly stumbles down the street and does a face plant (not once, but twice) in the road across the street (and my doorstep the next time), and her kids have to grow up and live with this, and our kids have to make sense of what just happened.
It's 'some' (not all) of the younger generation getting into drinking at an early age (before legal age) and drinking getting out of control to the point a public scene is made time and again, and people close to the problem drinker are often forced to just accept the behavior. In the 1980s, parents threw troubled teens into drug/alcohol rehab for 60 days, and maybe they stayed sober after.
So here's my conclusion, and my not popular opinion:
1. Excessive, destructive alcohol abuse hurts families and friends, impacts judgment, and creates a risk of legal problems.
2. Alcoholism is seen as a disease. Long term, too much alcohol can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, among other deteriorating diseases.
3. Excessive alcoholism impairs (as I noted above) judgment. Judgment is one's ability to think clearly and make good decisions.
4. Excessive and blackout drinking damages reputations.
I don't have the answers, but 40 years ago, people handed out AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) books to those in need.
Maybe they should start again.