Posted by: Chandler DeWitt on June 13, 2007 11:41AM EST I have made the strong promise to not drink and drive, or drink in high school. My parents do let me go to those parties, but if I ever went back on their trust, I would never be allowed to go out agin. With your parents I can understand, but I think they should trust you. My advice is to prove to them how trustworthy you are and talk to them. They should give you a chance to prove yourself.

Posted by: Steve on June 8, 2007 5:24PM EST Whitney, while it may seem like social suicide to not follow suit and be the under the influence of safe parenting, you are choosing a very wise path by saying NO. The beer, wine, or whatever type of alcohol you like will still be cold when you are 21 and older. It is so not worth drinking when you are still in high school no matter how many people are doing it. It may seem tough now, but you are going to see the positive results of your actions. Please check out my Teen Talk episode #1 on Underage Drinking (www.teentalkblog.tv).

Posted by: Jax on June 6, 2007 2:12PM EST I know the situation that you're in. During 9th grade I never would have thought that some of the people I knew would start drinking during junior and senior year. I did not drink and everyone in my grade knew this. Therefore, they did not invite me to parties that involved alcohol becuase they thought that I would ruin the party. I will tell you to stay strong with your morals. Being drunk is not attractive. I don't think that people who drink are bad people, I just think that when they get really drunk, they tend to make bad decisions. You can be really happy and not drink at the same time.

Posted by: BethJ007 on June 6, 2007 9:55AM EST I know exactly what you mean- I am in college and drinking is everywhere. I was fortunate that my friends in high school didn't really drink. I have two suggestions. 1) Talk to your parents. Let them know exactly where you stand on the drinking issue and that you are not going to drink. And let them know how it is affecting your social life. Maybe you will luck out and they will be a little more understanding. 2) If every event that your friends are having or going to involves drinking, make some events of your own! Invite people to go see a movie, or have a movie night at your house. Go to the mall with friends, or putt-putt golfing, or six flags. Maybe if you initiate a few fun things that don't involved alcohol, it will catch on. And if not, at least you will have the opportunity to hang out with your friends without drinking.

Posted by: Elizabeth King on June 6, 2007 9:50AM EST I would never ever drink and drive or ever watch somebody get behind the wheel after they have been drinking. Thats a hard situation with your parents. I think they should trust you and allow you to do stuff until you give them a reason not to. My only advice is to just sit down and talk to them. Since they know everything that is going on, all you can do is prove your trust to them. Hopefully you can work something out if you talk to them. Good luck!