For those of you who don't know, I'm teetotal - this means I don't drink alcohol, smoke or take recreational drugs of any kind (bar caffeine - I'm a Coca Cola fiend). I made the decision not to partake in these persuasions because of the way I've seen them affect the people around me - in fact, I've never taken any of these substances. I've always been a non-drinker, a non-smoker and a non-drug user.
I actually believe alcoholism is becoming a serious problem in our country. It's no longer just a social lubricant that people use to help them relax and function better around new people - it's become a culture in itself and somewhat of a way of life for some people. It's not that I'm anti-fun; I'm just against self destruction of such massive proportions.
1. Social drinkers - I think a lot of people would call themselves social drinkers. They drink mostly at social gatherings, at clubs, pubs, bars & parties. They don't necessarily drink often and they don't necessarily drink a lot. Social drinkers use alcohol as a way of helping them to feel more comfortable with people and 'limber up' their social muscles.
Ironically, alcohol actually clouds senses and lowers inhibitions - I've known social drinkers who are absolutely sure that they're more charismatic when they're drunk, when in reality they're brash, abrasive and nonsensical.
In a way, though, social drinkers are probably using alcohol in the healthiest way; however, I personally used to be much less socially confident than I am now. I was a little geeky, I got bullied in school and I wasn't popular with the opposite sex. These days, I'm confident enough to walk upto pretty much anybody and have a congruent and pleasant conversation with them, without the use of any mind altering substances. I got here through working through my fears and learning about the science & art of human interaction. It could be argued that it's healthier and more rewarding in the long term to put in the time and effort & exercise the willpower to push through social anxiety free of alcohol or drugs.
If you can feel confident and powerful without any help, it makes you free and unlimited in your interactions and it's a skillset you can call upon in any situation, day or night!
2. Escapist drinkers - I think this is where we get into potentially dark and dangerous territory. We all need a means to escape from the mundaneness of everyday life and feel alive once in a while. For some people, alcohol is that way out. It baffles and troubles me to see some people work all day, every day, all week, every week only to go to a club at the weekend and spent unfathomable amounts of money on getting as drunk as possible, as if it's the answer to anything.
I believe people do this because they feel a lack of direction or purpose in their lives - or maybe a sense that they're going in the wrong direction. Escapism is about getting away from your feelings about your life - so, logically, there must be something imbalanced or unsatisfying in your life if you're willing to spend lots and lots of money every week to escape from it, right? Maybe.
Escapist drinkers tend to be more at risk of developing a dependency upon alcohol - using it a means of coping regularly, instead of spending the time & money they use drinking on solving problems in their day to day lives & working towards greater goals that would satisfy & fulfil them.
I think this comes partially from today's 'instant win' attitude that we see in society. But, I'll write another blog on that.
I'm not saying that these are the only two reasons that people drink - I'm sure people with greater personal experience with alcohol will be able to educate me better on this subject. I'd like to share my personal experience as a non-drinker.
The Benefits
1. I save a lot of money. The money I would spend on alcohol on a night out, I can spend on new clothes, video games, or stuff for my career - instruments, promotion & the like. I can also spend it on getting out of town if I want to escape for a weekend... it kills less brain cells than seventeen pints of cider!
2. Because I'm not fuelling a habit, it means I actually have to earn less money in order to live a satisfactory lifestyle - this means I can work less hours a week and spend more time on the things I love and my goals. The extra time I have is invested in working towards making my life better in the long run - giving me less desire to escape from it.
3. I probz got more brain cells left than u. Jus sayin.
4. I'm socially confident in all situations, without alcohol, as mentioned above.
5. I remember my nights out. All of them. And I can use the brain cells I've kept alive to store those memories for longer, too!
6. No hangovers. I've never had one. Seriously, I don't know what that feels like. Jelly?
7. I don't do things I regret because of alcohol. I don't cheat on my girl on a drunken whim, I don't get in fights, I don't say stuff to people that I shouldn't have said. I mean, we all make mistakes... but I make my mistakes sober and I fix them sober, too.
8. I smell great all the way through the night - a lot of guys in particular tend to start smelling kinda funny when they start drinking a lot. I'm super fresh all evening. ^_^
9. No one takes advantage of me, or spikes my drinks. I've heard some awful stories about this.
10. I keep my dignity - no throwing up on street corners, no stumbling down the road chanting expletives, no tripping over and scuffing my face on the concrete. I guess I probably take myself too seriously...
I'm not here to judge and I'm not here to challenge - I only wish to share my experience & feelings about an alcohol-free lifestyle. Maybe you'll try it out and like it as much as I do. Either way, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Alcohol apprehensions for your mammoth minds.
Katsuo
Under the terms you just gave, I am a social drinker. Sometimes, however, I wish I'd never come across alcohol at all. I started drinking when I was 13, and went out for 'piss ups' nearly every weekend til I was 16. At the time, it was amazing. I didn't give a shit! I was having fun, you now? There was a phase where I probably was using it as an escape too, because my dad became ill and I had no other way of dealing with that kind of shit back then.
ReplyDeleteOf course, there's that little thing called hindsight. Now, I wonder how much better I may have done in school if I'd never gotten into that stuff - I'd always been bright before then, was capable of getting some of the highest grades. I still didn't do too bad in my GCSEs, but I know if I hadn't been into the stuff I was, I'd probably have excelled. It led onto me being the kind of person that said "I've only ever been average, I don't expect anything more."