You will rarely see me at a party. And not the childhood kind (musical chairs and cake and I’m there) but the alcohol kind. Last time I got invited to a party I declined and instead attended youth group, ate KFC and went home and read a book. That pretty much sums me up.
I don’t drink and I don’t want to. I only had my first (whole) drink a couple of months ago at my Nanna’s house. And even then it was about three sips of Frangelico served in an antique shot glass. I’m eighteen in just under a year, and even when I do hit that milestone, I am not yet sure if I will drink. I know I won’t get drunk.
I have nothing against alcohol. My parents drink regularly but they don’t abuse it. That’s what worries me about alcohol. Mass consumption. I don’t care if you drink. But getting so off your face that you are ill and suffer short term memory loss is a tad stupid. Alcohol is such a sensitive substance. It can be abused very easily. For someone who has never been drunk, there seems to be a very fine line between ‘having a couple’ and getting smashed.
This is a section from one of my favourite books, Raincheck on Timbuktu, whose main character and narrator, Lucy, is a bit like me. “Now there’s pressure to make every second count. To go to a party, consume beverages of an alcoholic nature, break into liquor cabinets. What is the attraction to alcohol anyway? It tastes revolting and makes you look like a loser. My favourite bit at parties is that point in the evening where everyone starts doing their best impressions of mother birds, spewing their guts up.”
Don’t forget about the ‘liquid courage’ aspect of alcohol. Alcohol has the amazing ability to lower your inhibitions and insecurities. This is often used to one’s advantage as alcohol is an instant confidence booster. On the other hand when too much of this nervy substance is devoured, the consumer will find themselves participating in often unordinary activity. This is usually not remembered until someone laughingly recounts the story the following morning, much to the recipient’s regret.
I understand that some people feel the need to get drunk for a number of reasons, whether that is to ease pain, cure boredom or have some ‘fun’. But there are far more fun things you can do with your time. Things that don’t involve chronic vomiting, wasting excessive amounts of money and sending embarrassing “I love you” text messages that you discover in your sent box the next day. I’m thinking jumping castles, road trips, a bit of dressing up. Do whatever you want; all I’m saying is that there is a lot more fun to be had than late nights and glass bottles.
I don’t drink and I don’t want to. I only had my first (whole) drink a couple of months ago at my Nanna’s house. And even then it was about three sips of Frangelico served in an antique shot glass. I’m eighteen in just under a year, and even when I do hit that milestone, I am not yet sure if I will drink. I know I won’t get drunk.
I have nothing against alcohol. My parents drink regularly but they don’t abuse it. That’s what worries me about alcohol. Mass consumption. I don’t care if you drink. But getting so off your face that you are ill and suffer short term memory loss is a tad stupid. Alcohol is such a sensitive substance. It can be abused very easily. For someone who has never been drunk, there seems to be a very fine line between ‘having a couple’ and getting smashed.
This is a section from one of my favourite books, Raincheck on Timbuktu, whose main character and narrator, Lucy, is a bit like me. “Now there’s pressure to make every second count. To go to a party, consume beverages of an alcoholic nature, break into liquor cabinets. What is the attraction to alcohol anyway? It tastes revolting and makes you look like a loser. My favourite bit at parties is that point in the evening where everyone starts doing their best impressions of mother birds, spewing their guts up.”
Don’t forget about the ‘liquid courage’ aspect of alcohol. Alcohol has the amazing ability to lower your inhibitions and insecurities. This is often used to one’s advantage as alcohol is an instant confidence booster. On the other hand when too much of this nervy substance is devoured, the consumer will find themselves participating in often unordinary activity. This is usually not remembered until someone laughingly recounts the story the following morning, much to the recipient’s regret.
I understand that some people feel the need to get drunk for a number of reasons, whether that is to ease pain, cure boredom or have some ‘fun’. But there are far more fun things you can do with your time. Things that don’t involve chronic vomiting, wasting excessive amounts of money and sending embarrassing “I love you” text messages that you discover in your sent box the next day. I’m thinking jumping castles, road trips, a bit of dressing up. Do whatever you want; all I’m saying is that there is a lot more fun to be had than late nights and glass bottles.
If you want to have a stubby when you watch the footy, a glass of wine with dinner or drink Bailey’s out of a shoe, that’s cool. But think of this quote before you get incredibly wasted: “Never drink to feel better; drink to feel even better.” I know that I may seem a prude. But that doesn’t bother me in the slightest because I’d rather have my dignity intact on a Friday night, unlike the person who ends up in the gutter.
