Call me naive.
Well I am rather.
I was slightly shocked, on Saturday to see quite so many people completely 'out of it' and hammered through drinking too much on the streets of Chester.
Yes I read the papers.I know our appalling record for being the 'binge drinking' nation.
Remember I teach teenagers.
I have so far seen all three of my eldest stumble through the door in a variety of not so good states.
I really does worry me. However I am glad they feel they can learn their tolerance of alcohol whilst living with me, where I can at least look after them, than waiting until they leave and be stumbling through a strangers door.
Of course I wish they didn't get in such a state.
They are over 18, in the eyes of the law they are considered adults, so there is very little I can do when they reach this age.
Grounding is ineffective.
Punishing them, fairly futile, especially as when they are in such a state they have punished themselves enough by making a complete fool out of themselves anyway.
It seems some sort of 'right of passage' that I have to watch, until it is out their system, and they can drink sensibly again.
I think the most shocking thing is watching how many people my age and a bit younger , have very obviously not learnt this lesson.
I cannot fathom the appeal of spending a fortune, getting so drunk you look stupid, throwing up all the alcohol you have spent a fortune drinking, looking so embarrassingly degrading, and then feeling ill for several days.
Sorry, but that does not constitute in my mind a fun night out.
In Europe it is so very different. My husband and I spend many hours discussing why.
Children in many countries are introduced to alcohol at a very early age, where it is acceptable for them to drink with their parents. This does not turn them into binge drinking, alcoholic teenagers.
The pubs and clubs in Prague are filled to the brim with people eating and drinking to the early hours. However the only binge drinkers are the 'stag' do's from the UK. How embarrassing. When I lived there they had quite a reputation. Not least, with the street thieves who saw them as very easy pickings!
Whilst sitting on the street with my (slightly worse for wear 18 year old-yes her dread of mother seeing her drunk came to fruition) we were approached by a group of people all dressed in blue. On their coats was emblazoned "street pastors". They offered us foil blankets, flip flops and water, and asked if there was anything else they could do to help. They didn't start to 'bible bash' but seemed genuinely concerned for our welfare. They left quite an impression on our group who were very grateful for the items they handed out as the temperatures by 3 am were nearing 0!!! not so glamourous at that level in a skimpy dress. On realising I could conduct a logical conversation, they bid us goodnight and moved on.
The next day I googled them. I was amazed to find out that they have been operating for 8 years now. Set up ' to respond to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue".
For more information about them take a look at their website:
http://www.streetpastors.co.uk/
There are over 250 teams operating around the UK. They are out in city centres on Fridays and Saturday night between 10-4 am.
I am so very pleased to know when my children go out that they are also there. Susie told me that a few weeks ago when she was out, she got separated from her friends and they waited with her till she found them again.
I was so impressed that I have emailed them to see if we can start this in Llandudno too.
It was good to see such a positive end to the evening and encouraging to know that there are people , willing to walk the streets to take care of our children as they take their first, wobbly ! steps into the adult world.
No comments:
Post a Comment