21 on drinks on the 21st birthday is a very common ritual for Americans who just turned 21. About 4 out of 5 americans celebrate like this. But what people may not notice is that even 10 drinks can shoot up the blood alcohol levels to .30, which is the point where the respiratory system slows enough that death is possible. In one case Jesse Drews celebrated his 21st birthday. His friends say he didn’t finish the 21 shots but instead drank around 10-12. No one is sure how much he drank because they keep hearing different stories, but his parents found him dead the next morning at 4:00 AM with a blood alcohol level of 0.38.

I’m turning 21 next month and I was actually looking forward to this celebration, but now this is scaring me. I’m probably going to just drink really small shots where its not even filled up half way and count that as 21 shots. I had a friend a few months ago who had to go to the hospital because of an overdose, on his 21st birthday, but he survived and was out of the hospital by the next day. Did any of you guys experience this celebration?

Ya I've heard of many people going to Las Vegas to get trashed too.  But I don't necessarily believe the 21 shots, that 4 our of 5 do this?  Maybe 4 out of 5 twenty-one year olds decide to drink but 21 shots is enough to overdose anyone.. that's 21 beers!  

I think it is 21 beers. Or 21 mixed drinks, not shots. I drank 21 beers on my 21st birthday. I had fun haha. I dont have an alcohol problem though.

21 drinks is so much! I don't drink now, but when I did I couldn't handle more than 4. On my 21st birthday I took it slow and just hung out with friends and family. I'm not in to the party scene, but even though I didn't drink, I still had a good time!!

Isn't there a shot in every mixed drink? so 21 drinks would be just as much as 21 shots wouldn't it?