Garland, TX — Mid 2024 I turned to my husband and said “I don’t know why I drink alcohol, I don’t like it but I feel like it’s part of being an adult.” I was 39 and realizing I had fallen to something I thought I left behind in high school, peer pressure. The ads, grocery aisles, and movies tell me I should drink and my friends passively say the same. But was it really for me?
For context I’ve never been a heavy drinker, the fruity ones were the best of the worst in my opinion, so I’d order one when out to dinner or when we would vacation. At most I drank once a week but even that was a stretch. Was I an adult now that I had these overpriced beverages in my hand? Would I be seen and accepted now that I was partaking in the consumption of aged grapes and potatoes? And most importantly, if that is the test for adulthood, did I really want to be a part of “that club”? In my heart of hearts, the answer was no, but my behavior was proving otherwise each time I did choose to drink.
The moment I said it out loud was enlightening to me. It was one thing to fall prey to peer pressure but once it was known and shared, I didn’t want it to go any further. I began ordering Shirley Temples or just water or juice instead. I liked these more, even if they caused a snicker from other adult bystanders. In addition to the chuckles, I began getting questioned about my reasons for not drinking. I waded through their assumptions that alcohol was a problem for me and that was the crux of my decision. Now when the “Whys” come, I’ve landed on “I just don’t like alcohol”, which seems sufficient for most people, but also it’s:
- I’m cheap and alcoholic drinks are more expensive than juice or water.
- I’m a control freak and don’t enjoy being even this much |—| inebriated.
- It feels misaligned to be a counselor for people who’ve lost their worlds due to alcohol, so I do it to show solidarity.
Your reasons not to drink may be:
- It’s Dry January or No Alcohol November.
- You prefer one of the millions of flavors of soda.
- Addiction runs in your family.
- You don’t like who you become when you drink alcohol.
- on and on and on and on…
To me your reason isn’t as important as long as it’s your truth. Sure, it’s nice to have a month with a catchy slogan to get behind, but also “just because” works too. Perhaps someday you might have a similar enlightenment, which I would love to hear about.
If you are considering changing your choices about alcohol, perhaps sharing your choice with friends and family may build in some accountability for you. You may also consider visiting one of the alcohol-free bars or create your own mocktail at home. Regardless of what you choose to do, I hope you at least ask yourself why like I did. You may be surprised at what you find.
