Modern day perspectives are changing, with recent years focusing on binge-drinking throwing up alarming statistics. Predominantly throughout Europe, the younger drinking age seems to go hand in hand with the excessive rise in alcohol related incidents.

The figures relating to the topic make interesting reading, with a 2006 report from the USA stating that almost 80,000 people a year throughout the nation die as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. This statistic has cost the United States a shocking $223.5 billion. Such appalling stats continue, with a more recent study, published in January 2012 reporting that 50.9% of people over the age of 18 admit to being regular drinkers, as opposed to just 13.6% of the same age denying it.

Further numbers highlight the global stigma of the problem, with both America and England falling victim to a mortality rate of thousands related to alcohol a year. Whether it be directly linked to excessive alcohol intake or even alcohol abuse, the facts are present and make unpleasant reading.

However, alcohol addiction and binge-drinking amongst younger adults is a recognized issue, while underlying matters exist and remain un-tackled. Drug abuse among the age 18-25 throughout both Europe and America is on the verge of becoming a bigger issue now than in recent years.

Many teenagers and young adults are turning towards drugs in the search for euphoria in the nightlife, with several different forms available, each slightly different if ultimately reaching the same goal.

Through my University, I was able to speak to a young gentleman who openly admits to both excessively drinking alcohol and abusing drugs when on nights out and social events.

The individual will be referred to as ‘John’ but his identity is known by Toonari Post. He spoke openly and honestly during the interview, confessing to his substance abuse.

Toonari Post (TP): When did you have your first alcoholic drink?

John: I would have said i was about 15, but i wouldnt say i started drinking heavily ’til i was around 16/17 and managed to get my brothers I.D.

TP: Did you find it easy to get alcohol?

John: With I.D saying i was 19, even though I was 16/17 it was easy, no-one ever questioned it, shop keepers were all more than willing to make the sale.

TP: When was it that you first took drugs?

John: The summer before my move to University was the first time i experiemented with drugs. Several of my friends often took MDMA, M-cat and pills and had no side effects. They used to go on about how ‘good’ it was and how i should experience it.

TP: How accessible are drugs?

John: Extremely easy to get hold of. We went away on a lads holiday and didnt even drink much whilst we were away because drugs were so easy get hold of and surprisingly cheap too.

TP: Why do you continue to take drugs as opposed to drink alcohol?

John: Drugs are cheaper, simple. The high you get from taking drugs/pills is totally different to drinking. Alcohol leaves you bloated, lethargic and feeling horrendous the next morning. Drugs have a different effect all together, much more enjoyable from personal experience.

TP: Are you not afraid of long term effects? Addiction for example? 

John: As a university student, i have four years on my course, then i’ll head out in to the world of work and I presume I will have matured by then, but for now, I’m just living my life as it comes, and going out and having a good time is part of that.

TP: Do many of your friends take drugs? Is it a recreational habit for you all?

John: We all do it together yeah, but when i moved to university it was something i had in common with alot of people, and we just went from there.

TP: What about the risks of what you’re actually taking? How can you know for sure?

John: You can’t be 100% sure, but with alcohol becoming more expensive and drugs so easily accessible, making you feel better and becoming much cheaper, you can’t complain.

TP: How do you feel knowing that over 50 people this year alone have died from taking such substances as MDMA and M-Cat?

John: It does make you think twice, but aswell as thinking of the bad effects you think about how good it feels when you take them. You feel on top of the world. Yeah it does scare me everytime i take any kind of drug but then again once I do, it feels good, so it all balances out in my eyes.

TP: How much would you spend on a night out, if you were just taking drugs?

John: Depends what drugs you are buying. Class A’s such as cocaine cost around £40 a gram normally, but others such as m-cat are around £20 a gram. So if you work out how much you’d spend on alcohol rather than to drugs, drugs are the cheaper and in many peoples eyes, the better choice.

Recession to blame

The tough economic climate has hit hard in more ways than you can imagine. Increasing prices of alcohol, rather than deterring youngsters from excessively indulging in alcohol, is forcing their hand in other directions, encouraging drugs abuse.

The factors add up, and despite the last decade or so being dominated by a culture obsessed with binge-drinking, increasing levels of peer pressure, alongside falling economic stability, all seem to be lending themselves to the trend that sees more and more young adults turn to drugs as opposed to alcohol.

In order for these potential disasters to be averted, younger children must receive better education concerning substance abuse from an earlier age. The current generations, with its ‘party-university’ mentality that for the majority revolves around having a good time, are still able prevent further damage, to themselves and society.

If not, this culture has the unfortunate potential of influencing younger generations, which highlights the argument for more information to younger children, teenagers and even younger adults, the age range where these issues lie.

The article Party Culture UK: How Drugs Become the Alternative to Drinking appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The holiday season means party time for many people.  However, hosts who serve alcohol should take steps to limit their liquor liability and make sure they have the proper insurance.

Social host liability, the legal term for the criminal and civil responsibility of a person who furnishes liquor to a guest, can have a serious impact on party throwers. Social host liability, also known as “Dram Shop Liability” laws vary widely from state to state, but 43 states including New York have them on the books. Most of these laws also offer an injured person, such as the victim of a drunk driver, a method to sue the person who served the alcohol. There are circumstances under these laws where criminal charges may also apply.  Even if the Dram Shop Act does not apply, a host can still be civilly liable under ordinary negligence standards.

“Because you can be held legally responsible for your guests’ actions after they leave your party, hosts need to be particularly careful,” said Ellen Melchionni, president of the NYIA.  ”While a social host is not liable for injuries sustained by the drunken guest (as they are also negligent), the host can be held liable for third parties and may even be liable for passengers of the guest who have been injured in their car.”

Whether you are hanging out with a small group of friends for cocktails or throwing a big family bash, remember that a good host is a responsible host and needs to take steps to ensure guests get home safely if they have been drinking.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Guests

If you plan to serve alcohol at a holiday party, the following tips promote safe alcohol consumption and reduce your social host liability exposure:

• Make sure you understand your state laws. Before sending out party invitations, familiarize yourself with your state’s social host liability laws. These laws vary widely from state to state. Some states do not impose any liability on social hosts. Others limit liability to injuries that occur on the host’s premises. Some extend the host’s liability to injuries that occur anywhere a guest who has consumed alcohol goes. Many states have laws that pertain specifically to furnishing alcohol to minors.
• Consider venues other than your home for the party. Hosting your party at a restaurant or bar with a liquor license, rather than at your home, will help minimize liquor liability risks.
• Hire a professional bartender. Most bartenders are trained to recognize signs of intoxication and are better able to limit consumption by partygoers.
• Encourage guests to pick a designated driver who will refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages, so that he or she can drive other guests home.
• Be a responsible host/hostess. Limit your own alcohol intake, so that you will be better able to judge your guests’ sobriety.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages, and always serve food. Eating and drinking plenty of water, or other non-alcoholic beverages, can help counter the effects of alcohol.
• Do not pressure guests to drink or rush to refill their glasses when empty. Never serve alcohol to guests who are visibly intoxicated.
• Stop serving liquor toward the end of the evening. Switch to coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
• If guests drink too much or seem too tired to drive home, call a cab, arrange a ride with a sober guest, or have them sleep at your home.
• Encourage all your guests to wear seatbelts as they drive home. Studies show that seatbelts save lives.

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The death of two 18-year-old boys, while partying at the end of August, was reported by the National Police in Getafe, Madrid. Another boy was hospitalized. After the investigation, police concluded that the boys died due to an overdose of a new drug composed of alcohol, speed, and a plant called Datura Stramonium.

The consumption took place in a remote and derelict old monastery where an underground rave party was taking place. Some thought that a 23 year-old male, nicknamed Cabe, must have been involved in the partiers’ deaths. According to party-goers, Cabe had offered free samples of his homemade drug to people.

As Cabe reported to the police “We [Cabe and his girlfriend] handled it for free to lure people to try it and open new markets.” Both Cabe and his girlfriend were arrested and charged of offense against public health and negligent homicide. Three days after Cabe’s public statement and arrest, an unrelated group of adolescent, intrigued by the media coverage of the incident, decided to experiment with the same toxic plant just for fun.

But the euphoria caused bizarre behavior of the boys.  Witnesses reported that one of the guys, at night in the middle of a crowded street, started to suffer hallucinations, was incapable to focus his vision, and was moving his arms as if he was trying to catch something in the air. He was unable to answer questions and only murmured indecipherable words.

A girl observing the scene decided to call the emergency service with her cell phone. Unfortunately the operator on duty did not believe her claims. It took the girl several calls to get an ambulance to come to the scene. Upon arriving, the ambulance was unequipped to care for the drugged up boy and drove him straight to the hospital – the boy was in a deep coma.

Datura Stramonium is an ancient plant with very toxic seeds and leaves that contains atropine, a drug with a wide variety of effects. Among others it can be listed as: delirium, hyperthermia, tachycardia or photophobia. There is not a maximum dose per person because it depends on the physical characteristics of the consumer so any quantity can be lethal.

The plant is also known as devil´s weed, devil´s trumpet, moonflower or Jamestown weed. Many are questioning whether the media should raise alarm concerning this drug. Last time there was a similar reported case in Spain, was during 2004 in Valencia; a Danish man was offering a beverage made from Stramonium to whoever wanted it and five people consumed the dangerous substance.

A week later, four more were intoxicated during a Gay Pride Parade due to the same media luring effect.

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At the tip of Baja California’s 1000 mile long peninsula lies Cabo San Lucas, known for one thing, at least in my area of expertise: hard partying. With a permanent population, according to the 2010 Census, of approximately 69,000, the Mexican getaway is a renowned holiday destination for the young and the restless.

Thus, where better to spend the All-American Independence Day weekend than in the most American city south of the border. All residents speak at least conversational English, even street peddlers and cab drivers, and the fear of drug war rampant in other parts of the country entirely absent.

Naturally, in booking my accommodations, I went for the resort celebrated for hosting boisterous festivities. ME Cabo Hotel and Resort surfaced a number of times during my quest, a fact which was reaffirmed upon arrival. I landed Sunday afternoon, just in time for the Stars and Stripes jamboree, and, with a poolside cabana, I was instantly projected into the heart of the insanity.

A deejay pumped out bass-heavy beats on a terrace over-looking the ocean, while beautiful girls in coordinated body paint kept the party alive. Drinks could be got either from the copious (and patient) wait staff or from the swim-up pool bar located in the center of the grandiose, balmy oasis. Finally, around midnight, the deejay sadly stowed his turntables as the last stragglers crawled inside to shower and continue their partying in Downtown Cabo.

Despite all the fun, that’s not all there is to ME Cabo. The tropical retreat boasts one of the best hot oil massages I’ve ever had the pleasure of enduring, along with a full menu of other delights from their in-house spa. Speaking of menus, ME’s collaborator Nikki Beach, located within and just beachside of the resort, never fails to serve up a mean plate of sushi and regional pleasures.

With several additional locations in the South of France, Las Vegas, and Miami, Nikki Beach never fails to serve it up hot and cool it right back down with a well-blended arrangement of classic cocktails.

Most importantly, the resort features the sort of customer service you generally find in a third world country, founded on a culturally innate generosity rather than corporate-driven greed. Thus, service is sometimes a bit slow, in that tropical manner, but with beautiful touches.

All rooms are well laid out with LED flat-screen televisions and enormous shower heads (a courteous feature I always look for), but the most impressionable detail was the delectably fresh strawberries dunked in creamy white chocolate delivered upon arrival, free of charge, and paired with slow roasted Latin coffee. Paraíso.

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This is what we’ve been waiting for – San Fermines 2011! One of the most expected events of the year in Spain has just begun in the capital city of Navarre in the North. For those of you who are wondering what the San Fermín Festival is about – let me tell you a bit about what the festivities offers, and why this event attracts the attention of people from all parts of the world. For the ones who are already in Pamplona enjoying the party, I just wish you the best time!

The first day of San Fermines brings up a lot of excitement and anticipation. The calm city with around 200,000 habitants during the year turns up and down welcoming thousands of tourists, and increasing the population to one million of people from all parts of the world who have come to Pamplona to enjoy the San Fermines.

Every year, the San Fermines start on the 6th of July. It takes place in a city on the North of Spain, in the Province of Navarre, called Pamplona. It starts with an event called “Txupinazo” exactly at midday where all the people gather in front of the city hall, and wait for the mayor to give out a speech and start the San Fermines.

At that precise moment all the people who are dress entirely in white, tie their handkerchiefs on their necks and begin to celebrate spoiling wine, sangria, water among themselves, and spread it among the people. The white color of the clothes acquire a purplish tone, and everyone soaked and smelling like wine, head up to the streets of the city center in order to find any bar or restaurant which have adequate the locals taking all the tables and chairs to have enough space for the people to dance and enjoy.

One of the most interesting and dangerous events of San Fermines is the running of the bulls, known as “encierros”.

Tomorrow the first encierro will begin at 8:00 a.m.  Each year, the encierros begin every morning starting July 7 at 8am and eventually finish July 14.

The bulls will be released and will start running through the old town’s streets for around 3 minutes until they reach the Plaza T.

The festivity ends every 14th of July at 24 hours, where people gather again in front of the city hall and light candles and sing a good bye song known as the “Pobre de mi”.

The Txupinazo is about to start and here is the program for today’s first day:

12:00 The Txupinazo. City Hall, there will be huge screens around the city to transmit the Txupinazo directly, for all the ones who cannot make it to the City Hall.

13:30 Folkloric Festival.

Afternoon:

16.30 Riau-riau. In the Cityhall Plaza

17.00 Gigantes y Cabezudos. This is an unusual and fun parade where the figures are called “Giants and Heady” by being really large in size and dimensions. The parade goes all around the Old Town.

18.00 Attractions for kids.

20.00 Vísperas Solemnes de San Fermín. In the San Fermin Chapel. An Orquesta known as the Sinfonic Orquesta of Navarre.

20.00 Terraza Rock & Wine. Funk Fatale vs. Göo!! And Dj.

Night

20.30 Caiman Show Orchestra until 23.00 hours.

20.30 Sinfonic Orchestra of the Valencian Comunity of Navarre.

22.00 Bull of Fire at The Plaza de Santiago.

23.00 Fire Works, at the Ciudadela Park.

23.30 Concert at the Plaza de los Fueros: Def con Dos y Arima Suta.

23.30 Vervain. Plaza de la Cruz. Orchestra Camaleón

00.00 Plaza del Castillo, Concert Iguana Tango.

The article Pamplona Awakes, The Party Begins: The San Fermín Festival 2011 appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

College students’ fantasies of becoming “famous” are quickly becoming a reality. With the rise of social media in our everyday lives, college students are taking advantage of social networking to get their talent recognized. These days, you no longer need a producer or an agent when you have a business, music, graphic design or  journalism major in your dormitory hallway.

Our society is accustomed to our celebrities having “connections,” knowing someone notable to help them make it big in the industry. However, what defines “connections” nowadays? It used to be knowing someone that could help you on the road to becoming famous, but now with the rise of Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, etc … “having connections” is not as exclusive. Now connections to any music sensation or artist are merely a click away on the World Wide Web.

College students and artists with a passion for their talents are benefiting from this. Aspiring artists are realizing that the power of a college network and friends can create opportunities to make a  name for themselves.  Only the rich becoming famous is a slowly dwindling stereotype due to the possibilities of social media. The ability to download movies, pictures and music for free on the internet is causing controversy with established artists all around, yet everyday musicians, especially college students, are not complaining.

From the dorm room to the studio is an increasingly common story that we hear coming from upcoming artists. These include Asher Roth and Sam Adams, two successful rappers who started from their college dorm room. In 2009, “I love college” was released by Asher Roth; a song about college parties he went to while attending West Chester University in Pennsylvania. After posting his verses and sending a friend request to a producer on Myspace, he quickly became a college sensation. The music video was shot at a fraternity house, put on Youtube and quickly climbed its way to the top of the charts. All Roth needed was his talent and social media to get his voice heard.

Who needs a professional studio, when you have your own microphone and video camera on your laptop for free? Just from one Youtube video, your music can spread like wildfire. MTV studios is noticing this and helping college students take their talent to the next level.  Launched in 2007, MTV studios run a college network called MTVU.  It is now the largest college network site and channel; broadcasting to over 750 campuses in the United states. With over nine million users MTVU has dedicated their site to college music, videos, contests, shows, and news.

Websites such as FratMusic.com and Collegeplaylists.com are websites for students made by college students themselves. College students are increasingly more interested in partying to music from their own peers, since they are one of the largest demographics in the music industry. Who knows better what they want to listen to than themselves? According to Billboard.com, in everything from country to rap, 2011s hottest artists are all under the age of 21, and what is the most appealing about them? They’re just getting started. College artists create a fan base that not only grows but lasts.

The power of a college network and social media gives college students the tools to make it big on their own. Most college artists are already well known on the web or at parties before they even get to perform live, which is slowly becoming a reality for some artists instead of a fantasy. Younger generations are slowly taking over the music industry, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon with each new artist getting younger and younger.  The rise of social media and the effect it has on the music industry makes it easier for artists to be recognized for their talent instead of who they know. Why go hire a manager and producer when all you have to do to start your career is to create a Facebook account?

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Mainz, Germany – Everyone that thought that the German people are serious should experience once in their lives one of the biggest festivities in Germany to change their minds. Well it is nothing more than the carnival season. The carnival is one of the main events that occur in the city of Mainz, which is located in the Rheineland-Palatinade State of Germany, close to Frankfurt. The city is known for its history and being the home place of Johannes Gutenberg.

Normally Mainz is a calm city offering a peaceful atmosphere to its more or less 200,000 habitants. But it all gives a 360 turn when the Carnival time arrives. The city transforms, the streets turn lively and the fusion of colors, music, and parades inundate every corner.  Every year the carnival starts on a Thursday and ends up on a Wednesday. This year, it all started the 3rd of March, at 11:11 am, where all the people was gathered at the SchillerPlatz, that is a square located close to the city’s center. The city was decorated with music stages for the live concerts, food stands that offered the traditional German food, and a miscellaneous variety of costumes.

The first need you need to make sure you count with for the Carnival, is a disguise. It is amazing to see how everyone puts a lot of effort in dressing up and having the most original and amazing costumes. Ages do not matter, you see all kind of people and all kinds of ages enjoying and disguising.

Nevertheless, the most important day of carnival is known as Rosenmontag. Compared to the previous days of the carnival, on Monday the celebrations expand throughout the entire city, and the whole Mainz is covered in parades, and music. This day is the most celebrated in the Carnival since all the people are on the streets looking at the floats that circulate across the city. The people wave at the people that are on the floats, and yell Helau! Helau! Throwing to the spectators, all kinds of things mainly sweets, cookies, chocolates. The parade lasts for around 3 ½ hours, and counts with around 200 floats and 9000 people involved in the parade. Dancers, clowns, marching bands, horses; cheerleaders are all part of the procession.

Mainz Eassenacht Shrove Monday parade is the second largest one in Germany. Cologne and Düsseldorf are also recognized for their carnival. Every year the carnival season leaves a good taste in the mouth, and their citizens are always expecting the next year to arrive, since it never stops surprising. It is amazing to see how traditions are being maintained, and it is a time where the world stops for Mainz, and it is time to celebrate and have a good time.

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In April 2010 there was an event on Facebook that attracted more then 60,000 RSVPs.

It wasn’t a concert, or a sale, or a protest.

It was what appeared to be a house party, started by an unassuming looking young woman named Kate.

It created not only the 60,000 responses, but a huge variety of other facebook groups – “Is going to try to get with Kate at Kate’s Party”, “We met at Kate’s Party”, “Kate’s party would have gone off” and “Osama Bin Laden is at Kate’s Party”.

And it turns out it was all a hoax – Adelaide man, Dave Thorne, created the event to highlight the failings of Facebook privacy settings.

It became a huge sign of how quickly information can be spread by social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook.

Currently there is another event that has surpassed Kate’s house party in terms of guests.

As of March 14, there are over 100,000 people who have responded to Jess Cooper’s 16th open house party.

The event includes an address and phone number, which the party event says is Jess Coopers’.

Facebook took down the page for Kate’s party after it reached 60,000 guests, and it was confirmed to be a hoax.

It is not yet known whether this new event is another hoax, or a powerful warning to always be careful of privacy settings.

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