I’m an 18 year old college student, and I don’t drink alcohol. While this may seem obvious because I am not of legal drinking age, it is no secret that some, if not most, college students will drink years before they are legally able. Whenever I tell people I don’t drink, I always feel like I have to give an explanation: “I am adopted from Russia, so there is a possibility that my birth parents were alcoholics and/or drug users.” This is the excuse I give. But I shouldn’t have to give out such personal information to justify why I follow the law. I feel so judged by my peers for not drinking until I give an excuse. I personally just don’t see the appeal in drinking something that is going to affect my well being, my health, and the way I act and think.
There is such a huge stigma on college campuses, especially with underclassmen. While most will say “Oh there is no peer pressure for drinking, no one cares,” that is technically correct. While there is never any direct peer pressure, the indirect pressure is always a huge presence. You go on social media, or even to class the next day and hear all about the parties the night before. I know that parties are not something I would enjoy, I know I wouldn’t have fun. But of course I have the part of me that wishes I was there, because I feel so lame when I am sitting in class with no fun stories to tell.
I live in ‘Healthy Living Housing.” This means that I signed a contract that states I won’t drink. Whenever I tell people which dorm I live in, I get “the look.” This is the indirect peer pressure. Once I state that I live in healthy living, I am automatically categorized into the group of “weird’ kids. Usually after the look, they laugh and say “Ugh I could never do that.” Okay? Doesn’t that say more about them than it does about me?
Obviously, I am not the only student on campus, let alone all campuses, that doesn’t drink. I know I am not alone. It is up to me, and other students who don’t drink to find activities and events to do. My current location on the beach gives me a wide range of choices. One of my favorite things to do it sit and watch the sunset. It gives me the most incredible feeling in my body, and I wonder if this is what people feel when they drink. I like to call this being “drunk on life.” I love the feeling of being caught up in the moment of what I am doing, and enjoying the world around me.
My goal as I continue through college is to find and create more “drunk on life” moments. I want to work to erase the stigma that you aren’t fun if you don’t drink alcohol. I will not let the indirect peer pressure get to me because I know that I am truly living my life to it’s fullest. For anyone who wants to get started, here is a list of some of my favorite drunk on life activities:
- watching the sunset/sunrise
- driving and listening to music with a friend
- hiking
- going to a sports game
- making food with friends
- karaoke in the middle of the night
- stargazing
- traveling somewhere new