This column’s shorter than normal because one question was used for the Fairfield-based column Information Desk. I didn’t have any other drinking questions submitted, but I did want to answer these. Keep sending in those questions!
I pretty much have avoided drinking in high school. Now, as a freshman, I really don’t want to drink now either, but it seems everyone is doing it, especially on the weekends. Should I let my guard down and just try it?
-Sober after all these years
Time to get a ton of letters, but to sum it up in a way only this column’s title could promise: No.
Less than 60 seconds ago I had a pre-med student telling me I should get the party started and that everyone is drinking right now (I believe the phrase was, “who isn’t?”). It’s 1:30 in the morning on a Thursday night, and I’m responding to you instead of holding a beer in my hands. Oh yeah, it’s tempting considering my floor this particular night is full of parties, but I know I’ve got class in the morning.
The nice thing about this campus is there’s all types. I know of some people who would play the Chicken Soup for the Soul board game as a form of nighttime entertainment. Others would find it a thrill to play Dance Dance Revolution on the Playstation until 2 AM.
While the arrows may all be glowing in one direction, and the dance seems easy to follow and enjoy, it’s more important to be true to yourself. If you’re the type of person who prefers to just hang out and watch movies instead of drink, find good company who does the same. There’s substance-free floors which can provide a great amount of entertainment of the non-drinking variety, and FUSA has events three nights a week which can keep you occupied and having fun. The school’s like Baskin Robbins – there’s 31 flavors. Find which one you like the best and go with it, and if you’re not liking one, there’s always another to try next time. Remember, there’s always Mega Bingo!
Occasionally I want to go out and socialize, but I don’t want to drink. Should I still go out and have a good time with my friends?
-Social, but dry
I’m already tapped out of funny comments, but I’ll still answer the question.
There are pros and cons to this. Of course it’ll be cool to hang out with your friends, and you can get out and meet new people. Parties definitely offer a cool social situation when you want to have some fun. But then there’s the icky stuff – people will constantly be offering you drinks, and then there’s the different planes you’ll be on when one person has drank a bit and you haven’t. Some things just seem funnier to people once they’ve drank a bit… and you will probably wonder what planet they are from. Then, of course, if you’re under 21, there’s all those rules and regulations and such that go on and on in the handbook which could but you in a bit of a spot for just being in the presence of underage drinking.
If you’re cool with being around people who will definitely be in a different mindset as you, there’s relatively little harm in it. But beware that you’ll be seeing things without the benefit of beer goggles, and that will make everything seem less attractive at times. Thanks for asking.
Have a question you want answered? E-mail joconnell@fairfieldmirror.com and he may answer your question in a future A Word of Advice. Questions are answered online every Monday and Thursday, and the best of A Word of Advice runs occasionally in the print edition of The Mirror. All questions answered in the column were submitted by college-age students and may have been edited for length and/or content
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