"I'm sure my perceptions were colored by being at a Gymnasium, but I did also interact with kids from other schools." I was at a gymnasium as well ... and we w

"I'm sure my perceptions were colored by being at a Gymnasium, but I did also interact with kids from other schools." I was at a gymnasium as well ... and we were drinking with the teachers on occasions. "However the data I've found says alcoholism is about twice as prevelant in the USA as in Germany. Healthiness of drinking behavior isn't all all or nothing thing but a spectrum." It is of course possible, that you have it even worse. But my point was that I cannot confirm, that we have a healthy drinking culture in germany. We do have a drinking culture and some of it may prevent some escapades, but all in all I do not think it is healthy as indeeds promotes regular drinking as something normal. "It's also possible (indeed likely) that many of the Germans kids I knew started drinking before 16 and that accounts for some of the differences I observed." Very likely. We started with beer with 12 ... and the first time totally drunk was with 14. "tendency to celebrate and brag about losing control, especially among the young for whom it is more novel" And this was (and still is) totally a thing as well.