alcohol at parties

[dream_labyrinth]

Why, oh why does every party of these people end with everybody getting as drunk as possible?

Today we had this little party to celebrate 5 years of our local history association, of which I'm a member. Of course, it's nice to sit together with all these people who are, for the most part, really friendly and I had some interesting conversations.
But sooner or later the motto becomes "Anything we drink now we don't need to carry home", and they just start drinking, drinking, drinking.
And the more they drink, the less likely are they to say anything sensible, let alone interesting.
So I decided to leave, because there is no way I can join, not drinking alcohol myself, and I would just sit around and be bored to death.
I don't understand the necessity of getting drunk, anyway.
I have said before that I don't drink alcohol. Simply because I don't like the taste of it and I don't like the idea of losing control over what I do. I've seen enough people act silly and stupid at a party, and this is just nothing I'd want for myself.
I'm not one of the people who'll preach about the evil that is alcohol if you get a glass of wine or a beer or even a cocktail. But the concept of getting so drunk that you can't talk straight, or even wake up the next morning and don't remember parts of the night is something that is completely alien to me.
Really, what's the point? I can't see that it makes the party nicer, or more fun.

Often it is hard to get non-alcoholic beverages. While there is a large selection of wines, beer and hard liquor, for people like me it's water, drink it or leave it.
Not that I mind very much, it just seems strange to me.
With some people who were there tonight I remember having a huge discussion once. There was another celebration going on, and they had sparkling wine. And I had a glass of water.
No big deal, you'd think.
But it was.
They pretty much accused me of spoiling their party. Why is it so important what I drink? Why is it so hard to accept that some people might not want to drink alcohol.
I know there isn't much alcohol in a glass of wine, but the rule I set up for myself is no alcohol. And it isn't really anybody else's business.

I leave them alone. If they start drinking too much for me to enjoy their company, I say good night politely and leave. Why can't they leave me alone?

Comments

[scatteredlogic.livejournal.com]

I have no idea, but there seems to be a time during a lot of people's lives (usually their late teens to early 20's) in which the use of alcohol is very common. I suppose some of it is that they think it "relaxes" them and makes them more enjoyable to be around and the fact that you're not drinking either makes them feel guilty that they are or they're just determined to have you join in the "fun."

Good for you for not being pressured into doing something you don't want to do. And it's definitely no fun being the only sober person around a bunch of drunks. ;)

[dream-labyrinth.livejournal.com]

I think I could understand it if they were in their early 20s, but most of them are in their fiftes and sixties. You'd think they would have learnt by now. But I suppose it's a "traditional" thing.

[masochisticzoe.livejournal.com]

I think it's something social and recreational, and some alcohol does taste good. Underage drinking just seems to be the norm for my surroundings, I don't think about it all that much. Personally, I drink on occasion, I get drunk on occasion, and I stay completely sober on occasion. And I don't hate other people who do, or don't, or don't care either way, becuase it's their decision to make for themselves.

For me it depends on my mood and surroundings: I'd hate to be at a frat house surrounded by cigarette smoke and completely drunk people if I were sober, it'd totally gross me out, but having something myself would make it less shocking and disgusting. That's either good or bad depending on your perspective.

As for peer pressure? I hate it when frat boys get completely smashed and scream at each other and chant 'chug it' and feel threatened by the possibility that someone at the party might be sober enough to actually remember what happened the next day. And I hate it when friends who don't drink get all bitchy about alcohol.

It's like politics, just mind your own damn business and let people do what they will anyway. I'm glad you're not a jerk about not drinking, I don't see what the big deal is either.

[dream-labyrinth.livejournal.com]

Well, I think in Germany it is very much a social thing. Not drinking is not accepted, unless you're a recovering alcoholic. (And probably not even then.) At least not in my area. So if you're not drinking, you must be weird somehow, and strange, and no fun.

[masochisticzoe.livejournal.com]

It's a social thing, or stress relief, or just an I'm-bored-what-now impulse that affects most of the people around me. I'm a student at a small rural-ish university. A lot of the white kids, especially the Long Island or downstate 'city' kids drink on weekend because there's nothing to do out here in the sticks. All the black and hispanic kids hang out at the student union or dance clug, and the Asians play pool and study.