Alcohol: The Dilemma

It seems as though everyone you meet has had some encounter with alcohol. Wether its a sip with your parents at dinner time or a weekend/party/social drinker. Everyone has an opinion on alcohol which is pretty much based on their individual experience with it. I have seen young people be responsible with alcohol and older people be very irrisponsible with it. So age is almost irrelevant when it comes to alcohol. Even though there is an age limit place on alcohol in our society I do not believe that your age excuses you from any inappropriate actions. It is just as sex is legal after your 18, it doesn't mean you are justified in going out and having sex. I believe that you should not drink until you are of age and when you are you should not get drunk. This is because Christians should hold themselves to a higher standard than the rest of society does. We are under the constant scruteny of the secular world due to the pledge we make to live good, God honoring lives. Many people we have heard speak take wishy-washy stances on alcohol and say "I don't think it is that bad as long as you are responsible". But in the end you are not being responsible if you are voluntarily taking part in breaking the law and disrespecting your body with a poisonous substance. True, that in moderation alcohol can have some positive effects on our bodies, a glass of wine is even recommended on occasion. However, when we put addictive substances in our body we are not exactly heading down the clean, pure path God wants us to walk, especially when we are younger. I may sound overbearing or unrealistic to some people, but by not drinking your really not missing out on anything and every time you put that bottle, cup or glass in your hand you are ruining your image to others and giving Christians an even worse name than they already have in the secular world.