“Why’s that?”
I’ve gotten asked that a lot ever since I decided to stop drinking alcohol.
During the last couple weeks, everyone has assumed there’s something wrong, that something happened or I’m in some transitionary period or quarter-life crisis.
Frankly, I wish I had some compelling backstory to provide rationale for such an eye-raising decision when, in reality, drinking is something that I just don’t take enjoyment in.
I shouldn’t be surprised, though. With alcohol so ingrained into the culture of college — not just the culture of SVSU, but also that of most universities — I can see the confusion. It’s not something one encounters frequently. More often than not, it’s the other way around.
With that said, however, I’d still like to flip the beginning question on its head to anyone who’s asked it to me: “Why’s that?”
Why do we assume people in their early 20s are going to naturally fit into the mold of casual drinking? Wouldn’t it make sense that there’d be a few exceptions to the rule?
Every time I was asked this question, it was like I was constantly thrown into a classic Jim Gaffigan routine: the comedian makes the remark that no one ever asks you why you’ve stopped doing something else.
“You don’t use mayonnaise? Why? … Are you addicted to mayonnaise? … Is it OK if I use mayonnaise?”
If you must know why I decided to stop drinking, however, I’ll tell you. Simply put, I just didn’t enjoy the way it made me feel.
Whenever I drink, even on the most casual occasions, unfortunate side effects begin to take hold. I sweat profusely, my nerves intensify and my mind goes in a million different directions — attempting to keep track of everything being said for fear of being left behind in a conversation.
I didn’t enjoy who I was — anxiety-ridden, not necessarily obnoxious or reckless — whenever I drank, so I decided to put the brakes on my own personal alcohol use.
Sadly, in a college setting, this is a lot easier said than done.
Just to be clear though, I’m not talking about the act of drinking itself — it’s pretty easy to avoid attending parties at SVSU without much effort. I’m talking more about the idea of drinking, and how it comes up so frequently as a part of college culture.
Over my years here, I’ve heard so many people answer questions about their weekends with descriptions of some sort of testosterone-fueled rager that featured alcohol.
Not only that, but every time a story like that begins, people see it through to the end — detailing everything they drank that night, everything that happened and everything they hope to do next time around.
Don’t get me wrong, if drinking is your thing and it’s a way you connect with friends or take an edge off, I’m happy for you.
However, being in an environment where alcohol is used as a default measurement for how much fun you can have or as a social barometer of how accessible you are, it makes it extremely difficult to find a place in that community.
With that said, I’ve never felt better than I have over these past few weeks.
Even in the most casual of settings, when I’m immersed in situations where alcohol plays a role, I’ve become more comfortable with being a fun sober person than a fun drunk person.
It’s elating to know I can relax and keep up with conversation without relying on alcohol.
So, if you’ve ever thought about giving casual sobriety a chance, I’d say go for it. Even in a university setting, the decision can lead to an eye-opening, productive way of living.
Oh, and to answer that question: because it was my decision.
