Weddings

Why do weddings always have to involve alcohol? In our traditional Hmong weddings it's mostly about the drinking that matters the most. The groom will be seated at a table next to his best-man. Then the in-laws will welcome him into the family with alcohol. He will have to drink usually one cup of beer and the in-law will drink one in return. The problem is, there is so many relatives in the brides-maids side, which means he will have to drink a lot, and sometimes they use big cups too, which I think is a little un-cool. The groom does have helpers, usually his best-man will drink for him, and other relatives that stand behind him that he can pass the drinks to them. The groom can't refuse any drinks though, he must drink most of what is given to him.
From what I think, I think they do this so that both sides of the family will become more familiar to each other, and see the crazy sides to each family, but I'm not sure, it's just what I think. I think this way is bad because the groom drinks way too much, more than he can take in. Sometimes he will even get liquour shots. I've heard somewhere that some have even died from intoxication during their wedding. Who would want to die on their wedding? I think that's just kind of crazy. The sister of one of my friends got married, and on their wedding day he had to call the ambulance because his sister's soon to be husband drank so much that he fainted and became really pale. They had to take him to the hospital and pump out all the alcohol. I think that the Hmong weddings should be changed in a way that doesn't involve alcohol, maybe to drink casually, but not forced. Drinking should be a choice at your wedding!