5 reasons why I don't drink alcohol as a college student
Just because something is popular does not mean that you should do it.
One of the most popular things to do in college is to drink. It is heavily promoted by people as a way to fit in and gain a social life. Yet, despite those so-called benefits, I have decided not to participate in the process. I have had 2 drinks in my life at the age of 21. This is because there are serious drawbacks to drinking alcohol that could hurt me long-term. I know that there are many others who think the same way. If you know someone who wants to quit alcohol but is struggling to do so, I’m here to help.
I just want to give a disclaimer that there are people who do well with alcohol in moderation. My parents are one of them. My opinion isn’t the right one for everyone out there. However, there are also many people in denial of their addiction and bad habits. I want to be a voice for those who need it.
My addictive personality
As someone with autism, OCD, and lots of ADHD-like symptoms, I tend to have high levels of interest and obsessions of things that I’m interested in. Therefore, I have to be careful with what I choose to like. I have already struggled with internet addiction, finding the right foods to eat, consistent bedtimes, and getting enough rest in my daily routine.
Even though most people say that moderation is possible with alcohol, I know that isn’t true for me. I know that if I’m having a rough day, I am looking for an escape. If something like alcohol is readily available, my impulses will want me to go for it. With the dangerous potential side effects of drinking, I personally think it’s best for me to avoid taking the risk entirely.
It is finally important to say that your willpower won’t lead you in the right way. Discipline is doing what you need to do when you don’t want to do it.
Alcohol is a toxin to the body
This one should be obvious. Over the year, there has been tons of science saying the dangers of alcohol. From liver disease to cancer to pregnancy problems, there are lots of negative side effects of drinking too much alcohol long-term. It is also a huge driver of weight gain.
Even the short-term effects of alcohol are bad. Hangovers suck. Getting blacked out means that you have lost your consciousness. It causes you to feel more tired and worse on average. Why would you want such a substance in your system?
As someone who is trying to live a long, healthy life, drinking alcohol goes against my goals. Alcohol will negatively affect my physique and energy. As someone who has struggled with both, I don’t want to hurt myself even more. It is important to not let short term pleasure affect long-term goals.
Worse off than the physical side effects are the spiritual side effects of alcohol. As someone who believes in God, I find alcohol counterintuitive to my values. God doesn’t want me to put poison in my body that causes you to act improperly. God wants you healthy, fit, and emotionally intelligent.
It doesn’t enhance your social life
This is probably the most controversial of my 5 opinions, which I understand. There are definitely benefits from going to parties and large social events. You can meet lots of people through going to such activities. The bar can be a great way to chill after a hard week. I can tell you that I spend less time with my friends because of my sober ways.
Yet, these pleasures are fleeting. Getting hungover the next day isn’t fun. Going to the bar is often an escape for facing your problem. These habits will get expensive over time. Most importantly, many of the friends you create doing these activities are superficial. They are often people you can’t call on when you’re struggling.
This topic gets me to the next point. In my opinion, it is more important to have a few quality friends than many mediocre ones. The people who you spend time with can influence your actions, opinions, and career. Why spend time with low value people who will hurt your future? Is the dopamine hit too high? There are many better and more meaningful social activities than getting wasted on a Saturday night.
One key thing I must say that there are many amazing ways to meet people without drinking a sip of alcohol. If you’re in college, one huge ways are through interest and athleticclubs. You can also meet people through class study groups, especially if you’re in a tough class like STEM. Another huge place to meet people are through religious groups. I know that religion gets a bad rap in the modern age, but it can do a good job of building community and discipline.
Finally, I must say that a key way for making friends is talking through strangers. When in your library, take off your headphones and say hi to your neighbor. Talk to the person in front of you when getting food at the dining hall. In a world filled with technology, it’s so important to be engaged in the real world.
It’s pricey
We are already living in an economy where necessities like food and rent are getting more expensive by the minute. People are struggling to make ends meet. The job market is getting brutal. With this being said, why would you want to spend money on a toxin like alcohol?
At face value, some alcohols might not look expensive. When I did a google search, a 12 pack of Truly Hard Seltzer is $20 dollars. That doesn’t seem terrible at all.
However, that ignores two things. First of all, Truly is a low-end brand that tastes terrible. Good tasting alcohol is much, much more expensive. Second of all, alcohol is addicting. People will buy it every week. That cost will add up over time, especially if you’re not good at controlling how much you drink.
As someone who already spends a ton of money on food because of health, buying alcohol is not an option for me. I already need to work on how to properly budget my money. Alcohol will put me in danger of spending too much, especially with how I can struggle with balance.
I don’t even like the taste
This one is personal bias. I’ve tried alcohol twice: one being a mixed drink and the other being an apple cider. I don’t remember the exact details of how they tasted, but both felt very weird and bitter. I know plenty of other people who have similar feelings towards alcohol. If you’re gonna spend money on a fun drink, why not spend money on something you like?
My personal favorite fun drinks are Olipop soda or a non-alcoholic kombucha. They are much better than regular soft drinks and have amazing flavor.
I want to thank everyone who made it to the end. I know I say that after every article, but it means a lot for people to take time out of the day to read my stuff as an aspiring creator. Whether you’ve known me for many years or are some rando from the internet, I hope that you got something out of this. I wish everyone the best of luck on their journey in life. Finally, I hope that if you’re a college student, that you avoid peer pressure and make the best decision with alcohol for you.
This is an interesting message to send. I think it's the correct one though.
I have been drug free and alcohol free for years, but it's not a bit of information I allow out into the world very easily. For whatever reason, invites to things tend to dry up once people know that about you. The odd thing about this is that I'm an eccentric anyway. I was a theatre kid in high school. I'm no stranger to performing for audiences. I'm wilder without the alcohol than my friends are with the benefit of alcohol. I know this because my friends (real ones) invite me out anyway, because it's not as if you can't go to a bar and be a non-drinking member of the team.
I've never understood the mentality of those who so despise the idea of having a non-drinking party member. Perhaps this is a unique perspective from somebody who was born with such low inhibitions anyways, but I don't need alcohol to pretend to be stupid for a night. Real friends get this. Fake ones don't, but you still need to be coy with the 'I don't drink' card to give yourself a chance to make a real friend sometimes.
The social pressure that exists around alcohol is a real thing. It's similar to the stigma that exists around coffee actually. I often ask my friends that if you have to so heavily modify the drink (sugar, cream, etc.) to make it taste good, why don't you just drink something that tastes good? The answer is that they are addicted to coffee, but they often jump through some ridiculous mental hoop to explain why their constant coffee drinking is not an addiction, but rather something else. Alcohol drinkers do the exact same thing.
I have no hatred for people who drink alcohol. I look at them similarly to the way I look at heroin addicts. Just because you got hooked on a substance that's legal does not give the moral high ground, and does not give you the right to try to hook me as well. I have started many fights in my life over somebody attempting to peer pressure me into drinking alcohol, refusing to take no for an answer. It's a bad spot to be in.
In sum, I respect your choice Adam. It's the same choice I made, because if alcohol is not helping you accomplish your goals, why even partake? It's fun sure, but what is fun worth? Especially such a fleeting and replaceable brand of fun? It's a question more people ought to ask themselves in my opinion. I asked myself. So did you, and we came to the same conclusion. I frankly don't understand why more people don't end up in the same spot.
I like the way you think, it makes a lot of sense! There are loads of things to become addicted to in this world and very difficult to avoid all of them. But if there is one thing to avoid it is alcohol, the most important reason is that it is so normalized and promoted that it is easy to unwittingly consume a lot of alcohol 'because of being social'. It is pushed on you, when you don't drink in a social environment, people will even rudely say that you're no fun for not drinking, it is very weird.