The commercial, which I must admit is inspired marketing, says much about what’s weird about us.

The ad, part of a series, introduces viewers to a bon vivant, bearded man for all seasons. He’s done everything. He fears nothing. He’s:

“The most interesting man in the world.”

Advertising what? Hemorrhoid cream? Car wax? No, he’s plugging the beer he drinks. And we should all want the same.

Interesting? Why, exactly? Since when did beer ever make anyone interesting?

Granted, if you have a few beers, an uninteresting person on the next bar stool might appear more interesting than he or she otherwise would be. But you with a few too many? No. You look a little silly. And behind the wheel you look a little deadly.

The other day after seeing the commercial, I bounced the “most interesting” line off my 21-year-old son.

So, does drinking beer make a person interesting? I asked him.

“More like typical,” he said, thinking of his peers.

Interesting.

That’s always been the irony about the rush by teens to embrace the drinking culture. They think they’re rebelling. Actually, they’re falling right in line. They’re conforming.

They’re also being used — by skilled merchandisers who’ve implanted in their skulls the equation, with fellow peers making the same herd-mentality pitch: Beer equals fun, equals daring, equals sex appeal, equals “interesting.”

These influences combined, we’ve managed to make beer our culture’s No. 1 symbol, ahead of the flag, ahead of the cross. That’s certainly the case as acted out by too many youngsters as they approach that magic age of 21.

But we have reason to hope.

A pretty nifty tradition which bucks the drinking culture is going strong in several area high schools. It’s Project Graduation — the chemical-free graduation party.

My son went to such an event the night he graduated from Waco High. Three years later, I was curious: Was it a smarmy, restrained, adult-contrived affair? Or did he and his friends actually enjoy themselves?

“It was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done,” he said.

Pleased, I checked with Tammy Lyons, Waco High’s parent sponsor for this year’s Project Graduation party.

She’s expecting about 100 kids at the event next Saturday night.

They’ll be in line for some great prizes, like a laptop and refrigerators. They’ll have good food. And if my son’s experience is characteristic, they’ll have a memorable time — donning inflatable sumo wrestler suits, playing dodge ball, foosball and more.

Lyons has a graduating senior at Waco High, Jacob, who she says is looking forward to getting to say one last goodbye to his friends.

Contrast his situation to those of the kids who are going to find a remote location, drink themselves silly and then possibly risk their lives driving home.

The Jacob Lyonses of the world will remember graduate night vividly and fondly, as did my kid. For others, graduation night will be stumble-bumble haze, and maybe a slow dance with a commode.

So, that’s what it’s like to be an adult. Very interesting.

John Young’s column appears Thursday and Sunday. E-mail: jyoung@wacotrib.com.