Today, I have drunk in moderation.
I dislike that staying sober is such a significant decision to make.
Why is the choice to refrain every once in a while deemed a shocking announcement, necessary to relate to a reasonable excuse as an explanation for why such an outlandish stance has been taken? I suppose it's just that it's uncommon among students, and as ever, everyone is expected to conform to the norm or else risk social shunning. Of course, everyone commends you on giving up smoking, but giving up binge drinking, what are you on some like health kick? Boring.
I don't have a problem with drinking alcohol myself, I don't have a problem with other people drinking alcohol in general. I've been drunk before, I know what it's like and I'm finding more and more that I don't like it. I know I have enough money to buy drinks, enough time to spend in bed the morning after, and enough pills and water to negate the effects of the night before. But what if I don't want to experience those consequences in the first place? What if I'd like to be aware of my surroundings and remember the good times, save my money for something that I can actually appreciate for longer than a couple of hours? I can see that part of the point is that most people don't actually enjoy spending time in dark, sweaty, noisy pits packed with people, and wouldn't dream of choosing to do so when totally sober, because it's nauseating. But if it's at a party or a pub or a barbeque, I don't mind not being completely off my face, because you know, interaction often has more satisfaction - with less friction and fewer tears - if that's the case. I can still be fun without alcohol, honest!
On the jukebox: The Magnetic Fields ~ Love Is Like A Bottle Of Gin - but a bottle of gin is not like love
I dislike that staying sober is such a significant decision to make.
Why is the choice to refrain every once in a while deemed a shocking announcement, necessary to relate to a reasonable excuse as an explanation for why such an outlandish stance has been taken? I suppose it's just that it's uncommon among students, and as ever, everyone is expected to conform to the norm or else risk social shunning. Of course, everyone commends you on giving up smoking, but giving up binge drinking, what are you on some like health kick? Boring.
I don't have a problem with drinking alcohol myself, I don't have a problem with other people drinking alcohol in general. I've been drunk before, I know what it's like and I'm finding more and more that I don't like it. I know I have enough money to buy drinks, enough time to spend in bed the morning after, and enough pills and water to negate the effects of the night before. But what if I don't want to experience those consequences in the first place? What if I'd like to be aware of my surroundings and remember the good times, save my money for something that I can actually appreciate for longer than a couple of hours? I can see that part of the point is that most people don't actually enjoy spending time in dark, sweaty, noisy pits packed with people, and wouldn't dream of choosing to do so when totally sober, because it's nauseating. But if it's at a party or a pub or a barbeque, I don't mind not being completely off my face, because you know, interaction often has more satisfaction - with less friction and fewer tears - if that's the case. I can still be fun without alcohol, honest!
Plus, it makes it easier to laugh at people, and less likely that people will laugh at me.
On the jukebox: The Magnetic Fields ~ Love Is Like A Bottle Of Gin - but a bottle of gin is not like love
Yep!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been drinking at all for the past year for obvious reasons and didn't drink before university. It's not that I have a particular moral stance against alcohol or anything, although I do hate hate hate the way that it 'justifies' things that would otherwise be completely unacceptable. No. It was because it was much, much easier to say "I don't drink at all" than try to justify having just a little bit, or knowing where to draw the line.
And yes, I do actually like being able to remember a genuinely fun evening for what it was!
Amen.
ReplyDeleteIt's not worth it really, in the long run. I got over that hurdle of "having" to be drunk and on many occasion made it out sober and had a jolly fine time. I roll my eyes a little at people who "have to be drunk to have a good time", surely that shows how boring they are..
I drank more before uni than I do now I'm there. And the one or two times I did get drunk whilst on prozac were not a success - but I couldn't just give up, OH no, because i did used to be such a binge-drinker. One or two events taught me some very salutary lessons before and during university which I am glad to have learnt although I wish they hadn't been such *drastic* circumstances. There are some nights when being drunk is just perfect, and other nights when it's great to be sober, and so long as no lines are crossed and I never again do anything that offends or angers another person becuase of how drunk I am I see no reason for that to change at the moment. There are some people in my group of friends who when we go out are always and invariably utterly trashed, and I do think that's a bit sad, really. Although there was a time when every time I went out to a party I would be the most drunk person there for certain and I do regret that. There's a time and a place, I think, and so long as you know when and where that is, that's fine. And actually I've had some great sober nights in dark sweaty dives with my slightly-less-than-sober flatmates, oddly enough. Not something I would have ever predicted. My flatmate J had sex with some guy the other day - she did know him, they're starting to be an ongoing drunken thing - but she doesn't remember anything from the first or second bar and certainly not the bit where she brought him home and had sex with him and I can't see how that's in any way fun or a good thing. But then, sadly for her, nor can she, I think. And I really don't want to be still getting more than tipsy as an adult. There's something a bit sordid about that although I coudln't put my finger on why, and put like that it does seem kind of age-ist. I guess everyone expects students to be grimy and irresponsible and once you've done that for a few years it should surely lose its appeal.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the first blogs that I am actually in full agreement with you on. Shock! I think I need a drink ;)
ReplyDelete(lolz I'm so funny.)
Actually, scrap that first paragraph. Since you mentioned it - Drink is really awesome, m'dear :D
Hope you had a nice time oot and aboot and your bits wobbled. DANCING FOR THE BOYS DANCING FOR THE BOYS DANCING FOR THE BOYS.
White would have been a better look though. I reckon you will regret the black.
Feel free to have a meal or two with us. I would recommend anything, ever, that does not contain black bean sauce.
I never used to drink, then I drank a lot for a bit, then I almost stopped again. There's a time and a place and there are some times in life when getting completely obliviated (word?) is a Good Thing, and it can make an evening fun. However, you can have just as much fun on one drink or no drinks, and its the variety that keeps life interesting!
ReplyDelete"I do hate hate hate the way that it 'justifies' things that would otherwise be completely unacceptable"
ReplyDeleteQFT.
@standingonthebrink: This is the thing. Binge drinking is often significantly reduced in frequency or severity once one is no longer a student. Smoking, social or otherwise, often isn't. It gets harder the longer you leave it and the more you think you could do it if you wanted to, the less likely you are to make that break for good. Just sayin', loike.
As an aside, I've found that insisting that you are not drinking makes it all the more likely that people will want to get you drunk. Free drinks FTW?
I've found that too, about the 'i'm not drinking' tapwater nights thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm giving up smoking over the summer. It *will* happen. Much as I will miss it, I am determined.
And Callan, you have not got completely obliviated for the last time ever in your life. It will happen again. It goes that way. Just so you know. Not that 'obliviated' is a word.