The Truth About Forever discussion

I want to know: how do you feel about underage drinking in novels? Do you think it is a negative influence on teen readers? I realize that certain scenes of underage drinking/partying do add to the plot but when the characters don't experience any negative legal or physical consequences, then it seems that the novel is condoning underage drinking. But as we all know, underage drinking is illegal and can have legal consequences. I'm sorry if this question is worded weird. I know not everyone will agree with me..but I have always been against underage drinking and I've also always been against drunkenness...just my personal beliefs. Thank you!

I don't believe in underage drinking either, but then I'm against drinking all together for my own personal reasons. I really don't think drinking in books will influence any teens to go drinking just because kids will already have been influenced to do any kind of partying and what not just from attending school. It's the same with tv. I honestly think it just has to do with the people you hang out with and the people you meet in your everyday life.

Thank you for your response! I definitely agree that your friends will influence you and you have to choose the right friends so they won't peer pressure you into doing things you don't agree with. I feel like whether you're watching a tv show or reading a book with underage drinking you should still remember your morals and stick to them.

I think it depends. The USA is one of the only countries with such a high drinking age of 21. Most countries either don't have one or it's 18. Sarah's books are worldwide too so to some it may not be underage drinking. But I think if a teenager is going to go out and get drunk, the odds are they don't even read in general cause they're too busy drinking. Just my thoughts.

I think that it is wrong how they portray teenagers in books. Not everyone drinks, does drugs, etc. Not all of us are dumb enough to do something that harms our health and life.

Thank you Isabella and Ingrid. I agree that certain authors try too hard to relate to teens by portraying teens as disrespectful, lazy, party all the time, cuss a lot, sleep around, etc. Not all teens are like that. I wish they would show teens in a more positive light: helping others, working hard in school, etc. But it also takes work from teenagers themselves to prove that they are respectable. I appreciate all of your responses!

There's underage drinking in books because it happens in real life. And in real life not everybody who is drinking underage gets consequences. Books are better when they seem real. And underage drinking is real. People in middle and high school drink, more than you would think probably. I'm not saying every teenager drinks, but a lot do, so to make a book more lifelike the author puts things that really happen in real life in it.

It's true they do. And a book is a way of telling the story of what some teens go through and how they get themselves out of certain situations. And most teens that I've seen who go out and drink don't really care to read. I'm NOT saying all of them don't though. A lot of times also it all depends on how a kid has been raised and what they've been exposed too. Every teen can think for themselves though so it's up to them to make the right decision.

I don't think drinkings that big of a thing. I'm 17 and I 'underage drink' but it doesn't seem that way as my parents let me.

I think if you make drinking a big deal, it will become one. If I wasn't allowed to drink and I had the oppurtunity to do so, I would probably over drink. By including underage drinking in books, I think it's making it less of a big thin.

Maybe this is just because I am responsible when it comes to drinking and know my limit, but I don't believe drinking is that big of a deal. It seems to be more so in American books, due to them being stricter over there (can't go into pubs and stuff, but everyone knows teenages drink so why not put it in books to make it more realistic?

April wrote: "I don't believe in underage drinking either, but then I'm against drinking all together for my own personal reasons. I really don't think drinking in books will influence any teens to go drinking j..."

I completely agree on your dislike for overall drinking, but the unfortunate fact remains that lots of teenagers are in fact easily influenced by things they read. I know I hate to bring this book as an example, but look at Twilight. Look at what it's done to hundreds of teenage girls, now trying to adapt to the protagonist's character (which is super bad; not to mention completely unhealthy) and how they're forcing their partners to literally freeze their lips before kissing them (just to make it feel like a vampire is kissing them) so if teenagers are influenced by a vampire novel, than I'm pretty sure as they're reading novels about drinking or partying, they'll be urged to try it and welcome the time with open arms.

Now I'm not saying all teenagers are like that (after all, I'm 16) and I should probably have a little more faith in the young adult community. But that's hard to have when there are girls forcing their boyfriends to freeze their freakin' lips xD

You brought up a very good point. I guess some books can influence you to do things whether they be bad or good. I hadn't heard of the ice lips thing before but now that I put a lot of thought into it people have been doing some crazy things especially with the most popular books out there. I guess the only thing we can do is pray for everyone out there now and hope everything turns out okay.

I haven't heard of that lip thing before, that is just plain weird! And I guess it depends on the person themselves, I suppose because I'm quite mature, I don't get influenced that easy e.g. a book wouldn't peer pressure me.

What about a medieval society where the drinking age is much lower? Would that be acceptable?

Casey wrote: "What about a medieval society where the drinking age is much lower? Would that be acceptable?"

I think that would be acceptable because it's considered legal.