I was cheeky, I was drinking from about 14 even in the local but it was relaxing, 2-3 tops, and again not encouraged by family but at family gatherings I wasn't stopped - I was just probably watched a lot more than I thought I was to make sure I didn't go over the top also.
I've been very drunk on nights out before, but never to the extent I got involved in any real trouble and nor to the extent I wasn't with it enough to find my way safely home at the end of it.
As you say the taboo or right of passage or something new isn't there, so you don't treat it as such.
In fact my drinking buddies often ended up putting an end to the night when those who hadn't drank before joined us as they hadn't learnt control, so we spent nights making sure they were home safe etc before hitting one of our homes for the play station or whatever because we still had hours left in us lol
Along with that though came the idea of clubs and bars being able to open 24 hours, as it seemed to put an end to getting in a few cans to finish the night off if you wanted once home, too many just stayed out and then hit problems because of lack of tolerance kicking in.
Think it's illegal in public places but not so sure about the home to be honest. Everybody knows I have the occasional night when I've clearly had too much on here and I've been too engrossed in a thread or argument to realise I've hit my level and it's time to log off, so it happens to all, but if that's going to happen better to be safely home in my mind and make sure it's a rare occurrence not a weekly deal. But even then, for all my nights over the years, I know I've been able to catch myself, not hit submit, and logged off 5/6 times easily for every 1 I missed.
I equate the 'being engrossed' element to just enjoying the night out - especially if you've already preloaded - even for those look out for the limit can miss it at points. And if you've got somebody you're trying to impress, mates egging you on for one more, that would make it even more difficult as the inhibitions go.
Ha - never had a hangover!
As you say it's about balance, education, and not (especially at that age as it's natural to want the world) really being introduced to it without having the grounding first to know what the signs are.
But I do think for the vast majority, having a night in one of these places if operated properly and then getting a bill at the end that they can't worm out of would make many wake up and think, and even if they only halved the level of preloading the next weekend, that would have a dramatic difference to behaviour.