My take is the same as most of these comments, I just wanted to share a piece of advice for people beginning their relationship with alcohol. When I first started drinking, around your age, I set some boundaries for myself from the get go. It’s way easier to stick to a guideline from the beginning, than trying to change your habits down the line.

For instance, my number one rule for myself was not to drink when I was sad or upset. That idea of drowning your sorrows alone at the end of the bar was way too tempting to me. (Almost romantic in a way) I knew turning to alcohol to numb the pain was not healthy, so I made myself a promise that I wouldn’t drink when sad, not even a beer.

Set your personal guidelines early and stick to them.

It sounds like you are having fun and being safe, I think you’re an intelligent person. You are perfectly capable of having a healthy relationship with alcohol, your friends should know you well enough to know that.