(For English scroll down)

Vi har en sønn. Og beklager å si det, men han er en smart gutt. Han vet hva han vil, og hva han ikke vil. Han liker å feste, men i det siste har det blitt betraktelig mindre fordi han får spørsmål som: er du avholds? Hvorfor drikker du ikke?

Det er ganske enkelt: han drikker ikke alkohol fordi han ikke liker det (akkurat som kaffe, forresten). Han har prøvd ved flere anledninger, en slurk, men ikke mer.

Han opplever at hvis han ikke drikker, blir han ikke ansett som kul på fester. Men han vil heller ikke drikke alkohol for å passe inn. Da lar han heller være. Og jeg tror det er en sunn beslutning.

Jeg tror at den norske drikkekulturen har ganske mange forbedringsområder. Når mannen min og jeg dro på konserter i utlandet, gjorde vi det med barna og det var ikke noe problem. Men her i Norge må man være 18 år for å gå på konsert fordi det serveres alkohol. Uansett om du drikker alkohol eller ikke.

Det virker som hvert arrangement dreier seg om alkohol. Enten det er en konsert, en fadderuke, bursdag, russetid eller jul. Og det er kanskje naturlig at det serveres alkohol på enkelte arrangementer, men det skal ikke være hovedfokus. Et arrangement som skal være morsomt for alle, blir fort til en ikke så morsom fyllefest.

Men tilbake til ungdommen. I det siste har jeg sett mer og mer at alkohol, men også narkotika spiller en stor rolle for ungdommen i Norge. Det virker som om de fleste som drikker gjør det for å bli full eller for spenningen ved å få et rus. Og sistnevnte er ganske farlig.

At andre drikker og koser seg, må jo selvfølgelig være lov, men det må være grenser. Snart er det jul igjen med julebord her og der. Alkoholen vil flyte fritt igjen. Vi som foreldre er et forbilde for barna våre. Hva lærer vi barna våre? Ønsker vi at de skal bli akkurat som oss eller kanskje en bedre versjon?

Norwegians and alcohol

We have a son. And, sorry to say it, but he's a smart kid. He knows what he wants and what he doesn't want. He likes to party, but lately that has decreased considerably because he gets questions like: are you a total abstainer? Why don't you drink?

Quite simple: he doesn't drink alcohol because he doesn't like it (just like coffee, by the way). He has tried on several occasions, one sip but no more.

He notices that if he doesn't drink, he isn't considered cool at parties. But he also doesn't want to drink alcohol to fit in. Then he'd rather leave it. And I think that's a healthy decision.

I think that the Norwegian drinking culture has quite a few areas for improvement. When my husband and I went to a concert abroad, we took our children and that was no problem. But here in Norway you have to be 18 to go to a concert because alcohol is served. Regardless of whether you drink or not.

It seems as if every event revolves around alcohol. Whether it's a concert, a hazing week, birthday, exam party or Christmas. And perhaps it is natural that alcohol is served at some events, but that should not be the main focus. An event that should be fun for everyone quickly turns into a not so fun drunken party.

But back to young people. I see that alcohol but also drugs have taken on a slightly too central role in youth culture in Norway. It seems like most who drink do it for the sake of getting drunk or for the thrill of getting high. And the latter can be quite dangerous.

It must of course be allowed for others to drink and enjoy themselves, but everything within limits.

Soon it will be Christmas again with Christmas parties here and there. The alcohol will flow freely. 

As parents, we are role models, an example to our children. What do we teach our children? Do we want them to become just like us or maybe a better version?

© Copyright psyke59gradernord.com