[xentronium]

> Well it is something else in Russia. Unfortunately it is ingrained into the social interaction protocol. You are setting up a business deal, you are expected to have a drink with a person. Family gatherings -- same thing.

Gatherings — yes. Business — not necessarily. At least, anecdotal evidence of my various relatives doing small to medium scale business doesn't seem to confirm that.

> Now this is all based what people in their 40 and older do. Not really sure how younger kids act these days anymore.

> Alcohol and drunkenness is a national scourge. Imagine drinking vodka in the volumes of that Americans drink beer. You know, nice tall glasses. Polishing off a half liter bottle of Vodka in one sitting between two people is not really seen as a spectacular feat just basic stuff.

Unfortunately, younger kids mostly act like their older role models with regard to smoking and drinking. I always feel so lonely in a drunken company :(

___

This raises a question: how realistic are high school parties in US as depicted in various movies? As in: gathering lots of people in someone's house and bringing lots of booze via fake ids?

[abrahamepton]

> This raises a question: how realistic are high school parties in US as depicted in various movies? As in: gathering lots of people in someone's house and bringing lots of booze via fake ids?

I went to high school at a public school in Chicago, and was (am) a nerd, so I never even heard about such things. But my wife, who went to high school in the suburbs of Denver, went to a few such parties - sometimes, if the parents were cool, they'd supply the booze. America!