Underage Drinking

[cymisgreat]

So I know there’s probably tons of forums about this already anyways, but the ones I saw didn’t exactly meet there question I’m shooting for…

So I’m a sophomore in college (under 21). Some of my friends consume alcohol underage. Obviously, it is illegal and morally wrong seeing as how it is illegal and we are to follow the law as Catholic Christians, as long as the law itself is not morally wrong.

Now I personally do not drink, but for the ones who do, I struggle with how to reach out the them. As it is sin, I want my brothers and sisters in Christ to be the best disciple they can be! But it just seems like if I said anything, they would feel like I’m judging them, and they would be turned off.

Now I try my best not to judge, (I had a whole conversion experience on judging; the Lord humbled me, it was great! ) but I still feel like they would feel like I am. I of course realize that drinking is just a sinful as my own sins. God views us all as His children, and does not want us to sin in any way. Drinking may not be something I struggle with, but with what I do struggle with, I see is on the same plane in terms of sin (disregarding mortal/venial classification for the sake of getting into a whole other debate…haha).

And to make things more hard for me to watch, is that some of these people have great relationships with the Lord and His Church, so to see them fall to such an easy temptations is disheartening to say the least…

So I’m wondering if anyone has any advice or words I could use to maybe point them in the right direction, or to turn them off of drinking and onto something greater?

Thanks to all!

 

[Whitacre_Girl]

Good for you for holding off until you’re of age!

As to the question. There is a lot to be said about preaching through actions rather than words. Any time you hang out with your friends and they are drinking but you are not, you are setting an example. If they ask you why you aren’t drinking, BAM! You then have a brilliant opening to share the reason why they shouldn’t be drinking underage either. Just be ready with your response so that you can be as cunning as a serpent but as innocent as a dove. I’d also like to add that in party situations there is a LOT of pressure put on the “non-drinker” to drink. If this is a pressure that starts to become overwhelming for you, then get out of the situation.

 

[ahs]

Good for you for holding off until you’re of age!

As to the question. There is a lot to be said about preaching through actions rather than words. Any time you hang out with your friends and they are drinking but you are not, you are setting an example. If they ask you why you aren’t drinking, BAM! You then have a brilliant opening to share the reason why they shouldn’t be drinking underage either. Just be ready with your response so that you can be as cunning as a serpent but as innocent as a dove. I’d also like to add that in party situations there is a LOT of pressure put on the “non-drinker” to drink. If this is a pressure that starts to become overwhelming for you, then get out of the situation.

 

[puzzleannie]

So I
So I’m wondering if anyone has any advice or words I could use to maybe point them in the right direction, or to turn them off of drinking and onto something greater?

Thanks to all!

at your age a strong, committed, sincere peer who takes a stand on their own actions, what they will and will not do, is the strongest influence. You have the chance to be what in politics is called an opinion leader. My girls still remember and have remained friends with a HS friend who was this kind of peer mentor to them. They would invoke “the Michelle rule”. If Michelle was going to the party, it would be safe, no drugs, etc. If Michelle was going to the movie, they would not be grossed out by sex and violence. and so forth. Glad to say DD was this kind of leader at her Catholic college and influenced many friends (including my future SIL) by simply saying quietly, non-judgmentally, no I don’t want to hang out there because it will only be drinking, by not hooking up or going to those kinds of clubs and so forth. You may not change behavior at that time but you have planted seeds simply by being the example of someone who is having fun and also sticking to what school is about.

 

[Rainman498]

I will agree with the others that the silent witness is the most heard and remembered. Getting in someone’s face about religious issues is a big turn off even for religious people, so I stick to prayer and example.