drunk sixteen-year-olds is becoming a tautology in some places. At 16 I didn't get drunk - not out of some innate moral superiority but because I didn't have the money and nor did any of my mates. The occasional illicit half of bitter was about as much as we could manage.
We got into home brewing as we could make a gallon of beer for the price of a pint in the pub. First brew we just had a half to taste it and it was so strong that I think we just sat there in a daze while it wore off. We then were making about 8 gallons a week, so we had to have parties once a month, just so we had bottles for the next brew! One problem was that by making your own, you get used to the strength, so pub beer didn't really have any effect, which is the main reason many drink. All that meant to us was that we could hold our drink (in both senses) and not get stupidly drunk. I still retain the ability to drink (steadily) and not get a hangover. Possibly when I lose that ability, I'll know I've got old!!
Model railways is also a hobby of mine and I have a subscription to Railway Modeller Magazine. I was very pleased to see the article on Rod's magnificent layout which I had seen some photos of previously. It's a monumental achievement and ranks among the very best of railway modelling. He'd previously had an article in an American magazine called Model Railroader in which he was quoted as saying he was prouder that his layout was featured on the cover, than any awards he'd ever received in music. Some other musicians also involved in the hobby are Neil Young, Roger Daltrey, Jools Holland (his layout was featured in the same magazine a couple of months ago) and the late Frank Sinatra.
I can definitely appreciate this hobby/passion, I had a basic Hornby set up when I was young, but it never developed too far.
Apparently as a child he had wanted a Hornby set for Christmas but his Dad bought him a guitar instead!
A wit on Twitter (@manglewood) said: "It was deeply irresponsible to publish this. Generations of people who have looked up to Stewart might now start dabbling in the dark, deadly world of model trains."