The author explores the societal pressures and expectations surrounding abstaining from alcohol, particularly the perception of 'enlightenment' that often accompanies such a choice.
I haven't drunk alcohol in seven years. It's not a moral decision, but to drink even just a glass of wine makes me feel drawn out and hungover for three days (it might be because of my enzymes, but I'm not sure) – so it's never worth doing. It's occurred to me recently that a decent proportion of my friends either don't know this, or forget.
This is likely because I get visually ambiguous drinks like lime sodas and I guess I'm lively at parties; the last one to leave the dancefloor and all that. And also, because I try not to mention the fact I don't drink. Initially, this was, if I'm honest, because I'm Asian. If I explained I didn't drink to, say, a new colleague, they would cock their heads to the side and do a sort of sympathetic nod as if to say “say no more”. I got the impression they thought I was devoutly Muslim or similar. Now I avoid saying I don't drink it because it doesn't fit with how people think of me. Even if I were to say something as cringe as “I don't drink, but I'm fun!” people inevitably wouldn't believe me – and I don't blame them. Because when someone says something like that, I find out they are not only inherently dull (I would imagine even with alcohol) – but also that they're preachy about how much better a person not drinking has made them, and therefore annoying. Isn't it the same with anyone who lays claim to being ascetic and virtuous? Someone who informs me they're “a morning person” becomes instantaneously unlikeable.? The historical purpose of Christmas parties is to obtain Dutch courage to snog the man you've fancied for a while (, not your married boss/Alan Rickman). Or to drunkenly bond with a co-worker you'd hitherto found frost
Alcohol Social Pressure Perception Sobriety Enlightement
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